Cleveland, November 29, 2023
Photo: Facebook
His Grace Bishop Irenej and the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America has plans to expand and beautify March Monastery in Richfield, Ohio.
To support the project, a fundraiser was held on Saturday evening, November 18, at St. Sava Cathedral in Cleveland. Attendees were treated to a traditional Serbian dinner and a number of artistic performances throughout the evening, the diocese reports.
Photo: easterndiocese.org
The program began with a performance by the folklore group Tradicija, followed by a poetry reading by Milica Mijatović.
Then, Bp. Irinej presented the monastery plans designed by architect Lazar Noel Cupkovic, including monastic cells, a library, an expansive dining room, “and many other features proper to a traditional Orthodox women’s monastery.”
And speaking of the history of the monastery, Bp. Irinej emphasized how previous generations had laid the foundation for the monastery, “and now, our generation is blessed with the opportunity to expand on this foundation.”
Photo: easterndiocese.org
His Grace then offered a personal donation to the project—the first of many that evening.
The diocesan report concludes:
Although much more is needed for its completion, with God's help and our newly energized inspiration, we are prayerful that it will be completed in the near future through additional fundraising events and heartfelt donations to the project which can be sent to the Diocese at any time!
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Monastery Marcha was established as a women’s monastery in 1975 by then Diocesan Bishop His Grace Bishop Dr. SAVA. In 1974, Mother Evpraksija and Mother Anna had arrived there. The site had been the episcopal headquarters of the Eastern American and Canadian Diocese which subsequently moved to Edgeworth, Pennsylvania.
In 2001 the new monastery church was constructed with the archpastoral blessings of His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN. His Holiness Patriarch PAVLE with several concelebrating hierarchs and a large number of clergy were present for the consecration of the new church.
Monastery Marcha celebrates July 13/26, the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel as the monastery slava.
Mother Anna (Radetic) was the first American-born Serbian Orthodox nun. Sister Georgiana (Zaremba) and Sister Antonia (Spanja) were the next two American-born women to enter the monastic life at Monastery Marcha. Sister Anastasia became the third American-born woman to enter monastic life through Monastery Marcha. Fr. Seraphim (Steve) entered monastic life at Monastery Marcha and is currently active caring for the grounds and making candles. Fr. Simeon (Grozdanovich) initiated the making of candles and cared for the grounds during the initial years of the monastery’s existence.
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