www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Melkite monastic community on the West Coast?

I recently ran across a reference to "Holy Martyrs Skete" which is apparently Melkite Greek-Catholic. It is, I understand, on the west coast somewhere. Being on the west coast myself I'm always on the look out for places of pilgrimage and/or retreat. Does anyone know more about this?

Thanks!

Fr. James

The priest at Holy Martyrs is the chaplain to the woman monastics at The Mothers of Holy Theophany (Romanian) in Olympia, WA (I assume Holy Martyrs is near there).

The communities had a gathering, mentioned here, at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Ukrainian) in Redwood Valley, CA

http://www.monksofmttabor.com

Jova,
Thanks for your feedback. Do you know if Holy Martyrs is a canonically erected skete? I've not heard of it before. Also, do you know who the archbishop is in the photo that you gave a link to? He has a gold cross on his klobok so I presume he is an archbishop.

Thanks

Bless Father,

That is Fr. Joseph Stanichar. He is the Abbot of Duchovny Dom.

Nelson

Father James:

Father bless!!

I thought the person pictured was an archimandrite due to the fact that his mantiya is black, rather than a version of color. Bishops, purple; metropolitans, blue; EP, red; MP, green.

Bob

Bob,

The Lord bless!

In high Russian usage all these distinctions exist. For example only Archbishops have a small cross on their black Klobuk, Metropolitan on a white klobuk. Bishops, a black Klobuk with no cross. There are also many variations for the Mandyas.

In Greek usage, from Abbot to Ecumenical Patriarch, formal choir dress is the same except that bishops wear a panagia!

Fr. James

Nelson,

The Lord bless!

Thanks for the info. I met Fr. Joseph once and failed to recognize him in the photo.

Fr. James

Father James:

Father bless!!

Confused. Have seen pictures of His All Holiness, Bartholmew, in red mantiya, as well as Archbishop Demetrios and Archbishop Iakovos.

Bob

I think Fr. James was referring to the klobuk not mantiya.

The Lord bless!

Bob,

There are two practices coming into play here.... The Greek and the "High Russian" or "Slavic" usage.

In Greek usage the prelatial mandyas from Abbot to Patriarch is always 'porphyry' the 'imperial color.' Porphyry is a purplish-red. Sometimes the fabric is more purplish, sometimes more reddish but from Abbot to Patriarch the same color is worn! The high Russian usage has a more elaborate hierarchical color scheme.

So what one sees can vary depending on the tradition that is in play. This can all be confusing but we should try to be informed of and faithful to the traditions so that we don't legitimize the accusation that Greek Catholics are just playing dress up. That's why I asked about the klobok with the cross. As far as I know only Russian (Slavic) Archbishops have a cross on their klobok.

Fr. James

Father James:

Father bless!!

I always focused on what the person was wearing on his chest. Panagia means bishop of higher; cross, archimandrite or proto-priest. Seems to me a bit easier--for me, anyway--a bit easier to give the proper reverence.

Bob

Thought I would put my two cents in since I am "the priest at Holy Martyrs Sketes."I am a Melkite Greek-Catholic hieromonk who is the retired dean of Eastern Catholic military chaplains for the USA and Canadian Forces. I serve as the priest chaplain for the nuns at Holy Theophany Monastery and have done so for 6 years. (The Melkites and the Romanian Greek-Catholics both follow "Greek" usage rather than Slavic usage)
Holy Martyrs Skete is the residence of the priest-chaplain. I hope that this clarifies.

X.B. Good to hear from you, Father Archpriest! I trust you are having a luminous Pascha! B.B.
Economos Romanos, unworthy presbyter
and greatest among sinners