Hanover, Illinois, July 24, 2023
Photo: bdoca.org
A new monastery recently opened in the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church in America.
Last month, the OCA’s Bulgarian Diocese of Toledo announced:
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Alexander, the Bulgarian Diocese is pleased to announce the formation of our latest monastic hermitage. Athonite Saints Orthodox Hermitage, 9658 S Lost Horizon Road, Hanover, IL, is now open to visitors. For more information, please contact Father Savvas at velianoski@icloud.com.
The hermitage is in the very early stages of establishment, more information will be provided as things continue to progress. For now the property consists of only one cabin, which is used for everything from services to small visits.
Photo: bdoca.org
The Diocese also provides a brief history of the Hermitage:
Fr. Savvas arrived in America for the first time in 2013 and stayed at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Libertyville Illinois. After a brief stay there, he left for Downtown Chicago where he was hosted by a family who provided him with a place to live.
While staying with this family, visitors from all around area began to arrive and spontaneously the group started to look for place where Fr. Savvas could continue with his dedication as monk. After a period of research this location was found. Fr. Savvas said this property resembles the Holy Mountain, very suitable for his future life as a monastic.
And according to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Burton, Michigan, the Hermitage was consecrated on July 15.
Services are celebrated primarily in English, with Greek and Church Slavonic also used.
The Athonite Saints Hermitage is the third monastic community of the Bulgarian Diocese, in addition to Holy Cross Monastery in Castro Valley, California, and St. Romanos Hermitage in Williamston, Michigan.
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