Monastery of the Holy Assumption returned to diocese

An enjoyable, upbeat story.

(OCA DOW) - At a recent meeting of the Holy Synod, the Monastery of the Holy Assumption in Calistoga, California was returned to the Diocese of the West. The monastery is the oldest Orthodox women’s monastery in the Americas and had been in the Diocese of the West since its founding. However, in the late 1980’s, when both the buildings and the monastics were in need of attention, Metropolitan Theodosius, serving as locum tenens of our diocese, designated it as stavropegial (see here) and placed under his omophorion as Metropolitan. With most of the buildings in disrepair, the remaining nuns were moved to another location.

His Beatitude then appointed Igumen Sergious (Gerken) as Priest-in-Charge of the vestiges of the monastery. With no regular salary or income, Father Sergious, through the generosity of many, has transformed the grounds into an oasis of flowering plants and greenery. The main building of the monastery,which was in danger of falling down, has now been beautifully remodeled. It is only a few plumbing fixtures away from being ready for the next page in its history.

Though the designation as stavropegial may have put the monastery on a national stage, it broke the healthy and essential link between the monastery and the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of the West. With its return to the diocese, we can now work to mend that relationship. Bishop Benjamin has appointed a Board of Trustees consisting of himself, Archpriest Ian MacKinnon, Archpriest Michael Regan, Archpriest Lawrence Margitich and Igumen Sergious to oversee the business affairs of the monastery.

We are grateful to God for the return home of this historic part of our diocese and welcome Igumen Sergious into the brotherhood of our clergy.