Hanover, Illinois, March 27, 2025
Photo: bdoca.org
The Athonite Saints Orthodox Hermitage of the Orthodox Church in America’s Bulgarian Diocese of Toledo opened in Hanover Illinois in 2023. At that time, the property consisted of just one cabin.
Since then, under the guidance of Hieromonk Savvas, the monastery property, a site of 25 acres near the Mississippi River, has been steadily developing. In particular, construction is underway on places for the monks to pray, sleep, eat, and work.
The Hermitage reports:
As of January, 2025, the Chapel, cells, small refectory, and carpentry shop are under construction with interior wooden flooring, siding, and furniture having all been crafted from mature trees responsibly harvested from the property, with a 3-to-1 tree replacement program completed to ensure sustainability. Additionally, this winter, the Chapel’s interior furnishings, including the icon screen, will be custom-made by skilled local craftsmen, reflecting the care and tradition befitting such sacred spaces.
As spring 2025 approaches, we are preparing to complete the final exterior work on the Hermitage. While the building is already watertight, heated, and equipped with running water, in the very near future we will be installing a durable metal roof and wooden siding. The property will be further enhanced this spring through mulching, planting a vibrant green lawn, and adding evergreens.
Photo: athonitesaints.org
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.
Services are celebrated primarily in English, with Greek and Church Slavonic also being used.
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