July 3, 2015
Wayne, WV: Summer Life at Holy Cross Monastery

"Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit."
- Amos 8:1

Summer is always a busy time at Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV. In previous summers at the monastery, large construction projects kept many of the monks busy. Though there are no such construction projects this summer, this doesn’t mean that the summer has been spent idly. Far from it! In every area of the monastery, there is nothing but active and productive labor undertaken in obedience for the sake of Christ and the monastery brotherhood, as well as to serve the monastery’s pilgrims and the Church at large. The monastic brethren work fervently in order to make the monastery a place of prayer and retreat, while also laboring to produce goods useful to the faithful and pleasing to God.

The farm has been growing by leaps and bounds in the last few years. The monks have dairy goats, chickens, bees, a large raised-bed garden and a new high tunnel greenhouse that was funded by the Natural Resource Conservation Service. With both the raised beds and the high tunnel, we have tomatoes, eggplant, beans, peppers, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, beets, onions, Swiss chard, melons, zucchini, bok choy, and lots of fresh herbs. Fresh, ripe tomatoes have recently appeared on our refectory table from our garden, and they are delicious! The high tunnel has provided some very healthy vegetables for the monastery, and the monks are looking forward to a bountiful harvest in the months to come.

In the last few weeks, the monastery has seen a rapid springtime expansion in most areas on the farm. Recently, the monastery received three new bee colonies, which were placed in new hives on the hilltop that the monks call Golgotha. About 60 new baby chicks arrived a few weeks ago. A total of 18 goat kids have been born this spring, and they are a very healthy and happy bunch.

In the Hermitage soap room, preparations are being made for the 2015 Nativity catalog season. The production of Hermitage scented candles has been in the works for about a year now, and with God’s help, the monks hope they will make a nice addition to line of goods produced here at the monastery.

Although larger construction projects have been forgone this summer, there are still many smaller projects to work on. More candidates plan to arrive this summer, and living quarters are being made ready for them. New cells are being finished, while old cells are being renovated.

Bishop George’s former residence has seen quite a few changes this summer since his departure to Australia. The house is being transformed into what will officially be called the "St. John of San Francisco House" once work on it is completed. The new St. John’s House will function as a place for monks to go for quiet during the day, a reception area for guests and families of monastics, guest accommodations for visiting priests and hierarchs, and office space on the upper floor.

The monastery’s Skete of St. John the Theologian in Hiram, OH has been working in cooperation with the monks in West Virginia to expand the selection on their new website (stjohnskete.com), which offers quality church goods, including vestments for deacons and priests, icons, liturgical items, and more.

It is a well-known saying of the Holy Fathers that "obedience is higher than prayer." The monks at Holy Cross Monastery struggle to balance their many obediences with a lengthy cycle of prayer, both private and corporate. Yet in taking part in these various summer labors in obedience and out of love for God and their brothers, their very work becomes a living expression of prayer and an offering of sacrifice to God, born out of love for Christ and His commandments. From this offering, the monks at Holy Cross Monastery wish to bring forth spiritual fruit during these summer months, as also at all times. Please pray that God help the monastery brethren and strengthen them in their labors.

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you,
that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should abide."
- John 15:16

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Please visit the Holy Cross Monastery website, as well as its Facebook page, for further updates, photos, spiritual reading, monastery-produced gift items, and more.