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Is anyone familiar with the Hermitage of the Holy Cross, a ROCOR monastery in West Virginia?

I just found out that they have recently established a skete about 20 minutes from where I live. I'm planning to visit it soon, and I'd like to learn something about the W VA monastery, if anyone is familiar with it or has visited it.

Jaya:

Glory be to Jesus Christ!!

Have you checked out their website?

www.holycross-hermitage.com/ [holycross-hermitage.com]

Bob

Do you have the address of the Skete?

Bob,

Yes, I've already been looking at their website, but I just wondered if anyone had any personal experience or impressions to share.

Yes, they are on Allyn Road in Hiram (Ohio).

Until recently, it was an OCA Monastery (St John the Theologian), but the monk I spoke with today, Fr. Nektarios, said that the 2 OCA monks have now retired to the Ukraine, and that it is now the Skete of St John the Theologian under ROCOR. He and one other monk were sent here from the Hermitage of the Holy Cross in W VA to establish this as a skete of Holy Cross.

Dear Jaya,

Please forgive me - it's just "Ukraine." "The Ukraine" applied in Soviet (and Tsarist) times.

Happily, they are no more.

God bless,

Alex

Alex,

Nothing to forgive. As I was writing it, I couldn't decide what to write, because there was something in the back of my head telling me that it was now just "Ukraine." I must have heard or read that somewhere (maybe here on the forum), but I wasn't sure. I actually changed it back and forth a few times before I posted it!

Dear Jaya,

Not a problem at all!

Even Ukrainians have trouble looking at themselves as a free nation.

I understand that even the Sheptytsky Institute prefers to write the capital city of Ukraine as "Kiev!"

Although I was once extremely offensive to the Administrator over that nonsense, today I couldn;t care less!

I believe the Administrator hails from Virgenia . . .

Alex

"The" Ukraine refers to the border region between Muscovy and Poland; it's an historically valid term, within an historical context. The modern nation state called Ukraine occupies a portion of the region once known as "the Ukraine".

An English language equivalent of "the Ukraine" would be "the Marches" (as in the border between England and Wales) or "the Borders" (the region separating England and Scotland).

Dear Stuart,

"The borderland" came from the error of translating the Slavonic "Oukrayiny" which does indeed mean "borderlands."

But it is a myth that this is the source of the name "Ukrayina" which has no "Ou" at the beginning.

The former word was used by Russia and Poland in a hegemonic sense which was later used to deny that "Ukraine" ever existed.

In fact, the name "Ukraine" occurs six times in the "litopysy" beginning in 1169. From what I've read by scholars "over there" nowadays, the term was popular among the people as their self-identifying name, whereas "Rus'" was the administrative name of St Volodymyr's/Vladimir's empire.

"The Ukraine" was always seen by Ukies in this negative light and while I don't deny any discussion such as you have raised, it just isn't going to "play in Peoria." Peoria, Ukraine, that is.

Alex

I understand the point and the sensitivity of Ukrainians and I personally do not refer to Ukraine as 'the'.

However, to native English speakers, the distinction is not always wrapped around any historical narative but rather, it is simply within the peculiarities of the spoken English language. We refer to 'the United States', 'the Netherlands', 'the Philipines' or 'the United Kindgom' for example, without meaning or implying any pejorative or lack of sovreignity. On the other hand, we don't place 'the' in front of France, Germany or Italy as a counterpoint. We did, however, refer to 'the USSR' back in the day.

Likewise, English speakers also can refer to a non-sovereign region such as 'the Badlands' or 'the Outer Banks' in a totally non-perjorative manner. Likewise, I live in 'upstate New York.' No one calls it 'the upstate.' Nor does anyone refer to 'Cape Cod' as 'the Cape Cod.' That would sound odd, to say the least. (But you would refer to 'the Cape of Horn.')

So, when English speakers use the 'the' in regards to Ukraine, Ukrainians should not assume that any insult is intended as the sensitivity to the distinction is simply not behind the use of the 'the'. For example, a flurry of indignant letters to the local tv station following a Ukrainian Independence Day 'puff piece' about flag raising will only result in the event not being covered next time around.

No wonder why my grandparents never quite got the hang of English.

If only your grandparents had have had a guide like this one, making the rounds of British media [bbcamerica.com], DMD.

Enjoy.

Lol....

Getting back to the topic, I have been very impressed by this website--the monastery has an exceptional gift store, and offers molebens to various saints for the faithful, in exchange for the customary donation.

I would also be interested to hear if anyone has been there...

Slavipodviznik/Alexandr, maybe?!?

I found this on the internet: (a woman and her family visit the monastery; from her blog)

http://dailyweaving.blogspot.com/2011/06/monastery-visits-part-i-holy-cross.html

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!