Georgian Orthodox monastery opens in Oklahoma (+VIDEO)

Piedmont, Oklahoma, November 30, 2020

Facebook Facebook     

The Georgian Orthodox Church has opened a new monastery in America.

In a video posted on the Facebook page of His Grace Bishop Saba (Intskirveli), the Georgian Orthodox hierarch serving in America, a monk gives a tour of the new Monastery of St. James-New Studion Monastery at 20000 N. County Line Rd Piedmont, Oklahoma 73012.

Bp. Sava hands the abbot his abbatial staff. Photo: Facebook Bp. Sava hands the abbot his abbatial staff. Photo: Facebook     

Another post shows that Bp. Saba served at the monastery recently, with about 45 people present, including clergy, monastics, and laity.

The buildings and territory, about a 20-30 minute drive north of Oklahoma City, formerly belonged to a Catholic Carmelite Monastery, and thus are already well-equipped to house an Orthodox monastery, though there is still work to be done. In particular, the church will need an iconostasis and icons and other familiar features of an Orthodox church.

Facebook Facebook     

The plot on which the monastery buildings sit is about 40 acres, while there is another adjacent 80-acre property also belonging to the monastery.

Facebook Facebook     

The building housing the church, library, 27 cells, infirmary, kitchens, trapeza, reception area, and several spacious rooms that could be used for various art studios is 48,000 sq. ft. in size, built in 1985 by the Carmelite sisters.

There is also a courtyard and a large pond on the territory.

Watch the full video tour below:

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, and WhatsApp, and Parler!

11/30/2020

Comments
Angelica9/1/2021 1:06 am
Blessings, May the ArchAngel Selaphiel protect your prayers. I do not see a contact number enable to request a visit? I will be traveling to Orthodox Monasterys beginning next month to pray. I am a single 48yoa female traveling solo in my minivan.
Jim Fox12/30/2020 5:24 am
We welcome you and look forward to visiting. St. Elijah Orthodox Church Adukt Fellowdhop of St John the Divine.
Joanna Wilson12/25/2020 6:08 pm
Christ is born, Glorify Him !! Had the opportunity to join you for Vespers recently with a group from St James Stillwater, Oklahoma. Many thanks for the hospitality. We have "regrouped" and are planning our next visit for a day party when we can be an organized work party. A beautiful way to begin the New Year. Much love to you all.
Gabriel12/8/2020 1:55 am
This is awesome. My patron is Gabriel (Urgebadze) From Georgia. I would love to make a pilgrimage, I'm only a few hours away. Is there some way to contact the monastery to set up a visit?
David12/2/2020 9:32 pm
We visited! It was wonderful! They invited us to stay for vespers. The service was simply beautiful. We just wanted to welcome them and thank them for establishing an Orthodox monastery in Oklahoma. We presented them with the Icon Made Without Hands from Holy Cross Monastery ROCOR in WV, also a little incense from the same. We included some heirloom popcorn kernels which garnered some smiles as the Nativity fast has begun. They were so warm and full of peace. Daily liturgy is being held. 8:30am was the time they said it would be good to arrive. We hope to return many times. We live only a little more than an hour away, so we hope to make it often. I think we may have been the first guests to sign the guest book. We floated all the way home. It was majestic.
Γρηγόριε12/2/2020 5:20 am
Άξιος A needed monastery in Oklahoma!
Interested12/2/2020 12:50 am
Is there currently a way to donate to this new monastery or contact them yet?
Elizabeth12/1/2020 10:01 pm
Glory to God!
Nick12/1/2020 9:01 pm
Also, Weldepet'ros, Fr. Anastasios (the hieromonk in the video) was helped thoroughly by one of the families that goes to the OCA parish in Tulsa. He visited the OCA parish as well as the GOA parish (and I presume the Antiochian one, though I don't know for certain). I.e. everyone knew this was happening under the Georgians and no one thought anything against it -- we're just happy to have a monastery in OK. However, I get that it just furthers the jurisdictional mess in the USA.
James12/1/2020 8:41 pm
Weldepet: The OCA's monastic presence in the US is so weak that it would never enter their heads to start up in another country.
Weldepet'ros Hailedawit12/1/2020 7:51 pm
Very kind of the Church of Georgia to jump into the North American Orthodox jurisdictional alphabet soup! So I take it the OCA is free to open monasteries and dioceses in Georgia if it wishes to expertly help grow the Orthodox Faith there?
Lukas12/1/2020 8:41 am
δόξα τω θεώ!! Oklahoma has been in need of an Orthodox monastery!
David Burrows12/1/2020 3:01 am
Glory to God!!! This is the best Christmas present ever! Greetings from Enid, OK. We can't wait to visit!! St. Nino pray for us! St. James pray for us!
Nicole12/1/2020 2:05 am
Axios! An answer to prayers and wonderful good news!!!
Matthew11/30/2020 9:32 pm
Glory to God!
Here you can leave your comment on the present article, not exceeding 4000 characters. All comments will be read by the editors of OrthoChristian.Com.
Enter through FaceBook
Your name:
Your e-mail:
Enter the digits, seen on picture:

Characters remaining: 4000

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×