diana stefan | Apr 5, 2018

The best place to escape .. driving one hour and a half from London you can rich the sounds of nature car park for free Service we attend was at 12 Short walk to the old church Free tee in the canteen Nice small souvenir shop

Slavica Sissel | Sep 3, 2017

I will never forget my visit to Essex last August, together with my husband. I was such a beautiful spiritual experience.. I wish I was living in England so I can visit the wonderful fathers and sisters often. God bless and protect this home of holy souls..

Marios Gerogiokas | Oct 21, 2017

Peaceful serene atmosphere. Very hospitable. The liturgy brings you closer to Heaven and invite you to be a partaker in simplicity humility and sincerity.

Nikolaos Sidiropoulos | Dec 28, 2017

The Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist is a monastic community for both men and women, directly under the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is located in Tolleshunt Knights, near Maldon, Essex, in England, and is the oldest Orthodox religious community in the UK. The religious community was founded in 1958 by Elder Sophrony,[1] under the jurisdiction of Metropolitan Anthony, Metropolitan of Sourozh and ruling Russian bishop in England, with six monastics from a number of nations; soon after, in 1965, the Monastery moved under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The community consists of men and women living the monastic tradition of a Christ-centred prayer life. Currently, there are just under 40 monastics in the community, the majority of whom are nuns, with a smaller number of monks.[1] HistoryEdit The Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist had its beginnings largely in the person of Elder Sophrony. After his departure from Mt Athos, where he had been a disciple of Saint Silouan the Athonite, and his subsequent move to Paris, he was to live in a Russian old-people's home, assisting the priest there. Soon, two men would seek out Elder Sophrony, desiring the monastic life. They were allowed to live at the old-people's home, using the repetition of the Jesus Prayer in lieu of liturgical books and eating the food that the old-age inhabitants didn't eat. There were also a few nuns living at the home at this time.[2] By 1958, Elder Sophrony had six people living around him, seeking the monastic life. Realising that such a situation could not continue, he went to Tolleshunt Knights, near Maldon, Essex, England to inspect a property; in the spring of 1959, the new Community of St John the Baptist was formed at the same property, under Metropolitan Anthony's omophorion. The monastery, from its beginnings, had both monks and nuns, due to Elder Sophrony being unable to oversee two separate communities.[2] The Monastery of St John the Baptist moved under the omophorion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1965, becoming Patriarchal; later, the monastery would also be titled 'Stavropegic'. Repose of Elder SophronyEdit The monastery had been informed that the only way that it could bury people on its property was to build an underground crypt, which it proceeded to build, and to which Elder Sophrony said that he would not repose until the crypt was ready. Then, having been told of the expected completion date of 12 July 1993, Elder Sophrony stated that he "would be ready". On the 11th, Elder Sophrony reposed; and on the 14th his funeral and burial were held, attended by monastics from around the world. Mother Elizabeth, the eldest nun, reposed soon after on the 24th, according to Elder Sophrony's words that he would repose first, and she would repose soon after.[3]

Otto Braile | May 21, 2017

A fountain of peace, a piece of heaven, where soul discovers roots. God's hidden blessing.