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St. John the Forerunner Monastery Katholikon Consecrated in Washington
Hundreds of faithful gathered as the katholikon of St. John the Forerunner Monastery in Washington State was consecrated after three decades of monastic growth.
LYNDEN, WA — As reported by OrthoChristian, the katholikon of St. John the Forerunner Monastery in Washington State was festively consecrated on Sunday, September 27, with approximately 600–700 faithful reportedly attending the celebration. The monastery was founded in 1995 by Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona.
The consecration was led by Metr. Gerasimos of San Francisco of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Geronda Paisios of St. Anthony’s Monastery in Arizona, Gerontissa Melanie of St. John the Chrysostom Monastery in Wisconsin, and Gerontissa Markella of Life-Giving Spring Monastery in California also attended. During the Divine Liturgy, Robert Seidel was ordained to the holy diaconate.
The monastery’s origins date to 1995, when local physician Gerald Timmer donated nearly 50 acres to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco for the establishment of a convent. Metr. Anthony then contacted Elder Ephraim, who helped establish the monastery with three nuns brought from Panagia Hodigitria Monastery in Volos, Greece.
The sisterhood has since grown to approximately 20 nuns and novices. The monastery is supported through the sisters’ handiwork and donations from the faithful, with icons, prayer ropes, incense, beeswax candles, and other products available through its online store.
The consecration follows similar developments at other monasteries founded by Elder Ephraim. The Church of St. Joseph the Hesychast at the Nativity of the Theotokos Convent in Pennsylvania was consecrated on September 5, while the foundation stone for a new chapel at Panagia Prousiotissa Monastery in North Carolina was laid September 13.
Previously, the UOJ reported that a new Church of St. Joseph the Hesychast opened at a Pennsylvania monastery.
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