Boscobel, Wisconsin, July 20, 2026
Fr. Menas and Abp. Daniel. Photo: saintpaulsmonastery.org
St. Paul the Apostle Monastery in Boscobel, Wisconsin, hosted its first hierarchical services in 20 years on July 11-12, when His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest (OCA) made an archpastoral visit for the monastery’s patronal feast.
On Saturday, the Archbishop was greeted by the monastic community and the faithful gathered for the festal weekend. Archpriest Herman Kincaid, Chancellor, served Great Vespers, followed by a meal in the trapeza, the diocese reports.
On the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, His Eminence presided over the Divine Liturgy, assisted by Fr. Herman, Fr. Menas, Superior of the monastery, and Deacon Justin Hickman. A formal monastic meal was held afterward in the trapeza.
Photo: saintpaulsmonastery.org
During the visit, His Eminence also met with monastic inquirers and possible candidates for the St. John of Chicago Institute. Over 100 pilgrims gathered for the event.
St. Paul the Apostle Monastery was canonically established within the Orthodox Church in America by decree of Archbishop Daniel on March 11. The community, led by Hierodeacon Menas (Thomas), was founded in 2022 with the blessing of the late Archbishop Peter of Chicago of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, who reposed in 2024. Fr. Menas is a monk of more than 50 years, 26 of which were spent at St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery in Arizona, and the brotherhood carries the Athonite spiritual tradition of St. Joseph the Hesychast and Elder Ephraim of Arizona to the American Midwest while conducting its life and services in English.
The property was previously home to the St. Isaac of Syria Skete, which for nearly four decades was associated with Orthodox monastic life in the region, though the new brotherhood is entirely separate from that community.
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