Canonical Establishment of Holy Resurrection Monastery

Holy Resurrection Monastery began its canonical life on August 4th, 1995 when Bishop George blessed its first members to live as novice-monks as a Public Association of the Christian Faithful. Over the past few years the brothers have lived the monastic life under the supervision of the Bishop and developed their own Typikon, or "rule" which they submitted for approval to Bishop after a review by officials of the Eparchy and of the Sacred Congregation for Eastern Churches in Rome. In their letter to the Bishop formally asking for approval of their monastic Typikon, and which Archimandrite Wesley read before the Bishop and congregation at the ceremony, the brothers said:

"This Monastic Typikon is the fruit of over five years of practical experience in the realities of a lived monastic life. We have labored daily to live up to the high ideals with which you charged us in 1995.... We have built, through God¹s grace, a strong, stable community founded on charity, disciplined asceticism and, most importantly, a flourishing liturgical life. We are financially stable. We have earned the respect of numerous pilgrims and other visitors, including many clergy, and have even developed an enthusiastic group of around 30 local families who worship regularly at the Monastery. All this has been a privilege and an honor, and we deeply desire that we may be allowed to continue to follow this vocation for the rest of our earthly lives."

Nearly 100 people attended the historic service of Canonical Establishment and monastic profession, including many clergy and religious of the Eparchy of Van Nuys. About 20 people from the monastery¹s extended community travelled with the monks to Phoenix from Newberry Springs. After the service, the pastor of St. Stephen¹s Pro-Cathedral, Father Stephen Washko and his parishioners hosted a reception for the monks and their guests. In his brief homily at the end of the service, Bishop George revealed that he had dreamed of establishing a monastic community in the far-flung Eparchy of Van Nuys even before he was made Eparchial Bishop. He noted that, though four men seemed a small number, through prayer they could do great things. He charged the monks with remaining faithful to the vows they had just made, so that they might be a sign of God¹s presence among his faithful, and that the Lord might bless them with new vocations.

The monks of Holy Resurrection Monastery are Hegumen Nicholas and Fathers Moses, Maximos and Basil. (In the Eastern tradition, reflected in the Typikon approved by Bishop George, all professed monks are addressed as Father, whether or not they are priests.)

More Photos on pages 2, 3 and 4