St. Anthony`s Monastery

Today, we did a day trip Florence, AZ to see St. Anthony`s Greek Orthodox Monastery. In the middle of the desert we discovered a breathtaking oasis. In the summer of 1995, six monks arrived to establish St. Anthony`s Monastery. Upon their arrival, the fathers began the necessary construction: building first the main church, living quarters for monks, a dinning hall and guest facilities. As the monastery expanded more chapels were built, avegetable garden, a vineyard, citrus orchards, and an olive grove soon followed. An elaborate system of gardens, pathways, gazebos and fountains portray the monastery its extensive grounds an oasis in the desert. The monastery follows the rule of monastic life in which over 40 monks and novices hold all things in common and follow a daily schedule of prayer and work under obedience to their sprirtual father. The monk`s daily program begins an hour or two before midnight with personal prayer time and spritual reading, followed by the cycle of morning prayers and the Divine Liturgy. After breakfast and rest period the monks begin their work day, attending to prayer and their tasks until evening. Tasks include grounds keeping, tending to the various gardens, orchards and vineyard, construction, woodworking, publishing and food preparation.
All guests are to be appropriately dressed: men are required to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and women long skirts, long sleeved blouses, and a head scarf.
Check out the pictures by clicking on the top Photo Album Link http:/public.fotki.com/777-777 located at the top centre.