Visitors

Arrival

All visitors are asked to stop at the “bookstore/gift shop” upon arrival. If a monk is not immediately available when you arrive, we kindly ask that you call the Monastery. Please use the parking area and not park your car in front of the church.

Proper Attire

Visitors must be properly attired to enter the Holy Monastery grounds. In general, clothing should be modest and loose-fitting, and include the following:

• Orthodox clergy must wear a cassock (raso) in the Monastery and an outer cassock (exoraso) in the services.
• Men must wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts
• Women must wear long skirts, long-sleeved blouses, and scarves. (Please, no pants/slacks (unless worn under skirt), no tight-fitting clothing, no skirts with slits, hats, low-cut blouses, or sheer or small scarves)
• Shoes/sandals must be worn with socks at all times. Please do not wear sheer stockings. Please wear flat shoes— No high heels, platform shoes or open-toed sandals.
• Pilgrims staying at the Monastery during the day and all those attending church services must observe the order of the Monastery.

If you are not properly attired, please go directly to the “Bookstore”, where there is a limited supply of clothing for your use. We ask that you remain properly dressed when Monastery grounds, since the fathers often are outside in the common areas.

Respect for the Monastery Environment

Due to the sanctity of this Holy place we kindly ask that you respect the quiet and solitude of the Monastery while on the grounds. Visitors are not permitted to enter the monks’ living quarters. Also only with the blessing of the Bishop/Abbot entering the dining hall during services is allowed. Cell phones must be left on the silent/vibrate mode while on the grounds.

Smoking anywhere within the Holy grounds is strictly forbidden.

Loud talking and laughing are always inappropriate.

Children should not roam freely on the Holy grounds, but remain under parental supervision at all times.

No pets are allowed on the monastery grounds. The only exception is guide dogs for the blind (guide dogs are not allowed inside the churches)

Divine Services

All pilgrims visiting the Monastery are expected to attend all scheduled church services. Cell phones must be turned off during the church services and meals in the dining hall.

When entering the Church for the Divine Services, we ask that you venerate the icons only when the Holy Doors are closed.

We ask you that when you take the Bishop or Priest blessing, simply bow and kiss their hand. Please do not cross yourself and do not make a prostration in front of them.

All guests are asked to please follow the order set up by the Monastery.

Please note that in the Orthodox Church, men stand on the right side in the church and women on the left.

During the Holy Liturgy when the Holy Doors are open please avoid any unnecessary movement; this includes veneration of icons.

Respect at the Trapeza (Dining Hall)

All may be seated in the Trapeza during a formal meal.

We ask that you maintain quiet during the meal as a reading for our spiritual nourishment takes place.

Holy Communion

Holy Communion is truly the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and just as it sanctifies and becomes for those prepared provision for eternal life, it may very well become “fire burning the unworthy” for those who are not. We therefore ask of all Orthodox Christians to prepare with confession and to have permission from their Spiritual Father before receiving Holy Communion, and also to prepare with the required fast as established by the Holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church.

We kindly ask that all pilgrims maintain quiet during Holy Communion.

When the Holy Cup is brought forth from the Altar for Holy Communion, the veneration of icons should stop as the Lord is present in front of you in His Precious Body and Blood. We ask that you do not venerate the icons in the front of the Church as you proceed up to receive Holy Communion. Also we ask that you not venerate the icons after receiving the Precious Body and Blood of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Pilgrims who receive Holy Communion should take antidoron/anafura right after receiving from a tray held by one of the monks.