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Monastic Tips for Self-Isolation: Trees by the Water

Monastic Tips for Self-isolation: Scripture and Prayer

MONASTIC TIPS FOR SELF-ISOLATION: Balance

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We’re honored that you’ve visited the website for Holy Archangel Michael and All Angels Skete located in Weatherby, Missouri! Take your time to discover beauty, goodness, and truth. We believe that these trails ultimately will lead you to the most wonderful of human experiences: inner freedom!

Surrounded by the beauty of nature, the music of the trees, the songs of the birds, and the presence of our Creator in nature, our souls have a chance to catch their breath.

We are three communities serving God as one, Holy Archangel Michael and All Angels Skete (led by Hieromonk Alexii), St. Xenia Sisterhood (led by Abbess Brigid), and, the Protection of the Virgin Mary (led by Abbess Sergia). The skete has three brothers; and St. Xenia's has three nuns and one novice; and Protection has one nun. This past year Nun Mariamna was blessed to move to Kansas City to assist in the St. Elizabeth Convent in midtown Kansas City, Missouri.

Thanks to the mercies of our Kind Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ, the prayers and sacrificial gifts of many, the monastery property has a total of 80-acres, with 15-acres of farmable pasture, 65-acres of forest, trails, and ponds, and 7 well-built structures. Since closing on the property on October 14, 2014, our mortgage has gone from $387,000 to $97,000 (as of 12/31/20), thanks to the assistance of many with down payment and monthly donations.

Due to Covid-19, we have been closed down during this past year. We are hoping to reopen slowly this coming year. When weather permits, we have outside Sunday liturgies starting at 10 am with social distancing.

At the monastery, we have:

Daily cycle of Church Services, praying for benefactors, the departed and many in need
St. Gabriel Orthodox Cemetery on one acre of monastery land with fifteen buried here.
During normal times, pilgrims come (mostly from the Greater Kansas City area, but others from Des Moines, Omaha, Lincoln, St. Louis, Denver, Idaho, Alaska, and as far away as Eritrea, Ethiopia, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, and Russia).
Retreats from parish groups.
Prayer walks though the trails
Prayer ropes, and wooden prayer beads made from monastery trees (made by the sisters)

Additionally, with the help of volunteers and some contract labor, we have:

Added a new barn/shed, and a new greenhouse
Planted a two-acre vineyard, now it year 4. (1800 vines and 16 varieties are growing). We are hoping to produce communion wine this year!
A thriving beehive that is producing honey! We distribute on a donation basis.
9 chickens and one rooster!
Discovered wonderful mushrooms, morel, oysters and others!
Nearly finished with a new men's library, six new men's cells, and three new women's cells
Installed a new fence to protect the vineyard from deer, who enjoy our vines :)

So, "slowly, slowly" things are growing! For regular updates, see our our Featured Posts. We continue to look for those who would like to join us in prayer, farming, woodworking, herbal remedies, and to volunteer in helping to build the monastery! Our prayer is that by visiting this website, you can catch a glimpse of a new beginning. Perhaps what you will take away is simply to do your part “not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good” (St. Paul to the Romans 12:21). Peace to you and yours.

Thank you for your visit!