Church of St. Joseph the Hesychast opens at Greek monastery in PA (+VIDEO)

Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, September 11, 2026

St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church ~ North Royalton OH St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church ~ North Royalton OH

A joyous spiritual event was held at the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, on September 5, as the convent’s new Church of St. Joseph the Hesychast was officially opened.

The convent, led by Gerontissa Theophano, has a direct spiritual connection to St. Joseph, as it was the first monastery founded in America by his own disciple, Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona.

St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church ~ North Royalton OH St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church ~ North Royalton OH

The opening of the church and Divine Liturgy were led by Metropolitan Savas of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh.

A number of clergy, monastics, and laymen visited the monastery for the church opening. Among the special guests was Elder Paisios, abbot of St. Anthony’s Monastery in Arizona.

A video of the event was published by Orthopraxia Press:

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Learn more about the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery in an interview with Gerontissa Theophano, “About the Benefit of Obedience and Elder Ephraim.”

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9/11/2026

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