Villa Nueva, Guatemala, December 11, 2017
Photo: www.spc.rs His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro (Serbian Orthodox Church), administrator of the Diocese of Buenos Aires and South and Central America, made his first canonical visit to the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Villa Nueva, Guatemala last week, reports the monastery website and the site of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The metropolitan was welcome by abbess Mother Inés, along with the sisterhood and the monastery priest Fr. Ignacio.
Photo: www.spc.rs The Monastery of the Holy Trinity was founded by Mother Inés In April 1986 with the blessing of the late Metropolitan Damaskinos (Papandreu) of Central Europe (Ecumenical Patriarchate), built near Lake Amatitlán from the contributions of numerous benefactors. The cornerstone of the monastery’s beautifully-frescoed church was laid in November 1992, and the church was completed in November 2007, then being under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Antioch. Along with Mother Inés, the sisterhood includes Mother María, Mother Ivonne, and Mother Alexandra.
Photo: www.spc.rs The nuns and the monastery were recently received into the Serbian jurisdiction under Metropolitan Amfilohije.
The monastery also operates the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage and the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies which provides online university studies. Unfortunately, the land given to Mother Inés for operating the orphanage in Guatemala City was confiscated by the government in May, reportedly to be used for children with more immediate needs. The boys currently live with Fr. Ignacio, and the girls at the monastery.
Photo: www.spc.rs His Eminence was accompanied on his canonical visit by Rev. Stavrophore Alexis Peña-Alfaro, parish priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Recife, Brazil. Celebrating his name’s day with the nuns on Wednesday, December 6, Met. Amfilohije consecrated the antimension in the monastery church. After the Divine Liturgy, the children of the orphanage sang Christmas carols in honor of Met. Amfilohije and his patron saint, St. Amphilochius of Iconium.
Photo: www.spc.rs After lunch, His Eminence visited the Church of the Holy Transfiguration, as well as the orphanage and institute for the education of poor youth led by Mother Inés.
Photo: www.spc.rs
Photo: www.spc.rs Met. Amfilohije also celebrated the Divine Liturgy the next day at the monastery, joined by Fr. Alexis, Fr. Ignacio, and Fr. Antonio of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Guatemala.
Photo: www.spc.rs Thousands of Guatemalans were also received into the Ecumenical Patriarchate in January, 2010, and more individuals and entire communities have been entering the holy Orthodox Church since then.
