Katholikon at Elder Ephraim monastery in Washington state consecrated

Goldendale, Washington, September 30, 2026

    

The katholikon at the Greek Orthodox monastery founded by Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona in Washington state was festively consecrated on Sunday, September 27.

According to attendants, there were about 600 or 700 faithful in attendance for the consecration of the church at the St. John the Forerunner Monastery, which the venerable Elder Ephraim founded in 1995.

    

The service was led by Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, with Geronda Paisios from St. Anthony’s Monastery in Arizona, Gerontissa Melanie from St. John the Chrysostom Monastery in Wisconsin, and Gerontissa Markella from Life-Giving Spring Monastery in California in attendance.

During the Liturgy, Robert Seidel was ordained to the diaconate.

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Photo: stjohnmonastery.org Photo: stjohnmonastery.org     

St. John the Forerunner Monastery was founded in 1995, when local doctor Gerald Timmer donated nearly 50 acres to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco for the construction of a convent. Metropolitan Anthony contacted Elder Ephraim, who had already begun planting monasteries in America, to help establish St. John’s as well.

The sisterhood began with three nuns that Elder Ephraim brought from Panagia Hodigitria Monastery in Volos, where he also served as spiritual father. The convent began small, but by the grace of God, there are now 20 nuns and novices.

The monastery supports itself solely by the handiwork of the nuns and donations from the faithful. The sisters’ icons, prayer ropes, incense, beeswax candles, and more are available from the monastery’s online store.

OrthoChristian has already reported on similar news at two other Elder Ephraim monasteries. On September 5, the Church of St. Joseph the Hesychast was consecrated at the Nativity of the Theotokos Convent in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, while the foundation stone for a new chapel dedicated to the Evrytanian Saints was laid at Panagia Prousiotissa Monastery in Troy, North Carolina, on September 13.

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9/30/2026

See also
Foundation laid for new chapel at Elder Ephraim’s Panagia Prousiotissa Monastery Foundation laid for new chapel at Elder Ephraim’s Panagia Prousiotissa Monastery Foundation laid for new chapel at Elder Ephraim’s Panagia Prousiotissa Monastery Foundation laid for new chapel at Elder Ephraim’s Panagia Prousiotissa Monastery
The Liturgy and consecration service were chanted by the visiting nuns of St. Paraskevi Monastery in Texas. New catechumens enrolled at Macon’s Greek Orthodox church New catechumens enrolled at Macon’s Greek Orthodox church New catechumens enrolled at Macon’s Greek Orthodox church New catechumens enrolled at Macon’s Greek Orthodox church
Several men and women were formally enrolled as catechumens at Macon’s Greek Orthodox Church earlier this month. Church of St. Joseph the Hesychast opens at Greek monastery in PA (+VIDEO) Church of St. Joseph the Hesychast opens at Greek monastery in PA (+VIDEO) Church of St. Joseph the Hesychast opens at Greek monastery in PA (+VIDEO) Church of St. Joseph the Hesychast opens at Greek monastery in PA (+VIDEO)
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.

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