www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Holy Cross Monastery

Hermitage of the Holy Cross in West Virginia is amazing! I was there with my family a couple years ago for their annual pilgrimage and it was a trip we will never forget. We are looking forward to returning again as soon as possible. Unlike Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, (which we also love very much), they do all of their services in English (Znamenny chant). I would expect that the Skete in Ohio will be a great blessing to people in that area.

Dear Recluse,

I am glad that you came out of seclusion to tell us about your visit!

Did you stay there overnight?

Did the monks or the abbot have time to speak to any one?

Were you offered a meal?

Can you please give us a little more insight into what a day spent in their monastery is like! I think that a lot of people would like to know..

Yes. The annual pilgrimage is usually the last weekend of September or the first weekend of October. On Saturday afternoon there is the Great Procession followed by a Moleben and then a buffet supper for the pilgrims. They usually try to arrange one of the miracle-working Icons to be at the pilgrimage for veneration (such as the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God). This year, the Hawaii myrrh streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God will be there.

Saturday evening begins the Vigil with Litia. Many of the pilgrims also have Holy Confession at this time. Sunday morning is the Hours and the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy. Afterwards, there is a huge banquet to break the fast. We usually arrive on Friday and stay at one of the many nearby hotels. The monastery is very isolated in the middle of the woods with a narrow and winding road to get there.

Bishop George and Abbot Seraphim are always there and very accessible. Sometimes the Metropolitan is there with the monks. Many priests from different jurisdictions come to concelebrate with them.

It is a glorious pilgrimage!

Alice,

Thanks for this link! That was interesting (and that photo and story of the fawn was so sweet).

Like you, I'm very impressed with the monastery's website.

Recluse,

Thank you so much for sharing about your experience at Holy Cross! Maybe I will be able to go there sometime for the pilgrimage. It sounds wonderful!

Closer to home, I'm planning to visit the skete this Sunday.

You are welcome, my friend.

I hope you can visit there some day and receive the great blessing of this pilgrimage. Please let us know your experience when you visit the Skete. I am not far from Ohio and would love to visit there also!

I did go to the skete on Sunday. The little church is lovely, and the chanting was beautiful. The 2 monks were very welcoming and down-to-earth. It turns out that they only arrived a few weeks ago! Fr. Nektarios said that for now they are only able to accept visitors on Sundays and feast days for liturgy, but once they get more settled and get some of the needed repairs done, that will change. I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

Thank you for sharing that Jaya!

Wonderful! I will be planning a trip soon!