This page is also available in:
العربية
This page is also available in:
العربية
Location: California
The nature of the location of the monastery is similar to St. Anthony’s monastery in the desert of Egypt, as it is far from urbanization and it is not likely to expand to it.
The Establishment of the Monastery
The idea of establishing a monastery in the state of California in the United States began when His Grace late Bishop Maximos, Metropolitan of Qalyubia visited St. Mark’s Church in Los Angeles in 1973.
When late Anba Maximos had visited, he found that the deacon Eng. Magdy Saad (currently His Grace Anba Tadrous, Metropolitan of Port Said) and the deacon Eng. Atef Ishak (currently His Grace Anba Deskores, the general Bishop), wanted to seek monasticism so he spoke with the priests there who love monasteries and considered buying a land that would be suitable for a monastery in California.
Accordingly, they began looking for a land and with the blessing of the Lord and St. Anthony, they found the current land which was owned by an American who works with some Egyptians so he told them about it. The land was then bought in December 1973.
Eng. Atef Ishak personally looked after the place with the help of some beloved brethren.
In February 1977, they dug a water well. During this period, Eng. Magdy Saad was ordained a monk and was names Father Arsanius, Anba Bishoy, then the he was ordained as the Bishop of Port-Said.
The first Liturgy was held in the monastery in November 1973, where late Father Arsanius Aziz (priest of St. Takla Himanot Church) and Father Kirollos Farah prayed. Also, Magdy Saad (His Grace Bishop Tadrous, Metropolitan of Port-Said) and Eng. Atef Ishak (His Grace Anba Deskores, the general Bishop – who is the first monk to be ordained in the USA by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III to look after the establishment of the monastery), also attended the first Liturgy held in the monastery.
In 1989, Pope Shenouda III sent four monks to establish the monastic life in America and they were: Father Karas St. Bishoy (later became the Bishop of St. Anthony monastery in California), Father Polykarpos, Father Benyameen El Baramousy, Father Shenouda El Antony (later became Bishop Yostos, Bishop and abbot of St. Anthony’s monastery in the Red Sea). Father Polykarpos then moved to serve in the Diocese of New Jersey in Cedar Grove and then Father Pavlos St. Bishoy came to the monastery.
Saint of the Monastery:
Saint Anthony
Description of the monastery:
Retreat house: for families and individuals to come for retreats in the monastery.
The building is about 15 minutes away from the monastery and it was part of a Byzantine monastery that was purchased to be part of the monastery.
There is a daily spiritual program that people follow when they come to the monastery to spend time.
Churches of the monastery
1- Anthony’s Church – in the main building of the monastery
2- Moses’ Church – it was built in 2012 and is decorated with beautiful motif according to the Coptic architecture and it accommodates a large number of visitors of the monastery
3- Marina’s and St. Abanoub’s Church – this is only for the monks
The monastery’s abbots and heads
His Grace Bishop Karas, Bishop of St. Anthony’s monastery, California, USA 1993 – 2002.
After the departure of Bishop Karas, Father Benyameen El Baramousy was supervising the monastery (under the leadership of Pope Shenouda III (2002 – April 2006).
Father Anastasy was then chosen and was ordained to supervise the monastery.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II then issued a Papal Decree Number 14/2013, for the monastery to be part of the Diocese of Los Angeles and Hawaii and for H.G. Bishop Serabion to look after the monastery.
The monastery was recognised by the Holy Synod on Saturday, 29th of Bashans, 1709, corresponding to June 6th, 1993. It became the first recognised monastery outside Egypt and on the same day, Father Karas St. Bishoy was ordained to be the abbot of the monastery. The monastery grew more during his reign and many monks were ordained until the time he departed in 2002.
The first Liturgy prayed after the purchase of the land of the monastery was prayed outdoors in November 1973. Father Arsanius Aziz, Father Karas Farah, Eng. Magdy Ishak (H.G. Bishop Tadrous), and Eng. Atef Ishak (H.G. Bishop Deskores) prayed the Liturgy that day.
Immigration and Consecration
When we talk about the monastery, we have to talk about the early beginnings of the emigration from Egypt to the United States, when a group of young people immigrated to the United Stated in the late 1960s.
Then they heard about a Coptic priest arriving to America who was sent His Holiness Pope Kirollos the 6th. There was no Coptic priest there at that time. They welcomed the priest with great joy on November 9th, 1969 . There was a house for an Egyptian and with him was 15 Coptic families and he had accommodation for the priest as well. This priest was Father Bishoy Kamel.
Few days later, the hall that was located on the ground floor of this house was transformed into a meeting room for studying the Holy Bible and Coptic hymns.
As for Liturgies, a Syriac Orthodox Church was rented for that purpose.
Father Bishoy Kamel announced to the congregation that there will be an early Liturgy daily from 6-8am and Vespers prayers and sermons on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings.
Father Bishoy Kamel then collected donations to buy a church and indeed, God’s hands was with him and they bought the first Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States, which is St. Mark’s Church in Los Angeles, California.
We also have to mention that many of the young people who gathered around Father Bishoy Kamel have completely changed their lives, and some of them have dedicated their lives to our Lord Jesus Christ, and among them were people who had eagerness towards monasticism and they became like pillars in the Church. Two of them are H.G. Bishop Tadrous and H.G. Bishop Deskores.
Moreover, many of them have became priests, working with the great power that was kindled in their hearts from the Spirit of God when they have met Father Bishoy Kamel, the great man.
