Monastery of Saint Anthonios Arizona
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History
It was the spring of 1995 when Geronda Ephraim and a few others first drove down a dusty dirt road in the Sonora Desert to inspect a potential site for St. Anthony’s Monastery. As they were approaching the property, they all heard church bells ringing out of nowhere. Geronda Ephraim was spiritually informed that this was the place where they should raise the Cross for the foundation of the monastery.
The first monks arrived in July 1995 from Philotheou Monastery. After clearing the northeast corner of the property in the blazing summer heat, they placed two trailers there—the first buildings of the monastery. One of the trailers housed the chapel for their daily services, the refectory for their meals, and the monks’ living quarters; the other trailer became the first guesthouse. By the autumn of 1995, more monks arrived. They were soon followed by many young monastic aspirants from various parts of the United States and Canada who wanted to join the brotherhood and assist in the construction of the monastery.
Geronda Paisios, the abbot, assigns daily work duties and directly oversees the physical and spiritual activities of the monks.
On January 17, 1996, the monastery celebrated the feast of St. Anthony the Great for the first time. In a service presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco, Priest-monk Paisios was enthroned as the first abbot of the monastery and new monks were tonsured. The construction of the main church had begun in the fall of 1995, but had not yet been completed. Thus, a large blue tarp served as a makeshift roof to cover the many of pilgrims who came to honor the saint. Their presence bore witness that the desire for the monastery was strong and would allow no obstacles to stand in the way of realizing this dream.
The monastery grounds started to take their present shape with two trailers on one side and another two on the opposite side. This arrangement formed the main courtyard in front of the church. At the same time, the refectory was also built next to the church, following the custom of Athonite monasteries.
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”– Colossians 3:17
“You show your good intentions to God, but everything depends on Him, on whether or not He gives to you. God is the beginning and the end. His grace is the driving force that activates all things.”– Saint Joseph the Hesychast
“The more you love Him, the more you will receive. The size of His gift, be it great or small, depends on your love, whether it is great or small.” – Saint Joseph the Hesychast
The Monastery Today
Once the basic structures of the monastery had been built, the landscaping progressed, citrus and olive trees were planted, a vineyard was planted, and other chapels were constructed. In keeping with the Orthodox tradition, St. Anthony's Monastery has one main chapel for the daily services and other smaller chapels dedicated to various saints for the glory of God and to honor these saints. Most of the chapels serve as shrines for the holy relics of these saints. They also serve as places for memorial and supplicatory services and for the faithful to pray privately during the day.
There are a total of nine chapels on the monastery grounds. In addition to the main church, which is dedicated to both Saint Anthony the Great and Saint Nektarios, there are chapels dedicated to Saint Nicholas, Saint George, Saint Demetrios, Saint Seraphim of Sarov, Saint Panteleimon, Saint Menas, the Nativity of Saint John the Forerunner, and the Holy Prophet Elias (Elijah). A ninth chapel, dedicated to Saint Menas, will be soon completed. The saints to whom these chapels are dedicated are among the most beloved by the Orthodox Christian faithful worldwide. With its many chapels and its elaborate system of gardens and pathways, the monastery is truly an oasis in the desert. Since its humble beginnings, St. Anthony’s has become the largest Orthodox monastery in the Western Hemisphere. The harsh summer conditions of the Sonora Desert deter neither prospective monks nor the many pilgrims who come from all over the world to receive spiritual guidance and participate in the life of the monastery.