Holy Transfiguration Monastery

ICONOGRAPHY WORKSHOP at the Monastery.

Here is our icon workshop with 16 students diligently and sometimes prayerfully presenting the icon of Great Martyr George. We had readings and reflections on the history of the icon itself and the hagiography related to St. George and the slain of the dragon.

We had the visit of one of our local iconography first Leslie who shared with us and insight regarding the fact in this particular icon that we were copying the white horse is looking directly into the eyes of the dragon. As if to suggest that the representation of evil cannot cause good to be deflected or overcome. We must not let any fear of evil keep us from doing what is good.

We also had the opportunity to visit the Natural Pigments in Willits, CA where so many of the materials that we use on the icons are produced. As usual Tanya and George and their staff assisted us in acquiring materials that we needed as well as providing us with very interesting facts and information about the creation of materials used in the making of an icon throughout the centuries.

We look forward to presenting another iconography workshop in February. In addition to the announcement that our friend Raymond Vincent will return to offer a class in the Monastery in that first week of May. Details will be forthcoming on our Facebook and website pages.

God bless you,

+Abbot Damian

Ukrainian Catholic Mothers

The Ukrainian Catholic Mothers at Prayer Bi-Annual pilgrimage to Holy Transfiguration Monastery. We are blessed once again by these wonderful women of faith who not only visit the Monastery throughout the year but support us with their prayers, their witness to Christ in Sacramento and San Francisco and their constant loving support of each member of the monastic community.

ICONOGRAPHY WORKSHOP in Spokane, WA

Abbot Damian held another wonderful iconography workshop in Spokane, WA on October 2 - 6. Here are some capturing momentos of the event.

Love Believes All Things

Our postulant Br. Jared Fairfield has written a reflection on Paul’s Hymn to Love, Heraclitus’s Ever-lasting Logos, and the Way of Total Surrender. Please follow the link to read his reflection.

Monastic Conference 2019

Holy Theophany Monastery - Olympia, WA

Every year the Monastics (monks and nuns) of Eastern Byzantine Catholic Traditions that live in western United States, meet for several days to share their lives of prayer, fraternity, and common struggles and challenges. The annual conference was held this year on August 20-23 at Holy Theophany Monastery, a Romanian Greek-Catholic Monastery of Nuns, in Olympia, WA. They were the hosts for such important gathering, and as usual, they went our of their way to make this event as hospitable and fraternal as possible. Praised be Jesus Christ for Eastern Catholic Monastic life. 

NEW ICONOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

Nov. 11-15, 2019 - starting at 4:30pm with Vespers.

This is an exceptional opportunity for individuals interested both in the sacred art of traditional Byzantine iconography as well as the practice of this art in the contemplative beauty of a monastery. Each student will be instructed in the construction of an icon from the drawing application of gold leaf, of painting with natural pigments tempered with egg yolk also known as egg tempura. 

In addition to classroom instruction there will be the opportunity for each student to participate in the daily routine of the monastic discipline including morning prayers, Divine Liturgy, noon prayer and Vespers, as well as private prayer in the beautiful setting of the pristine forests of northern California.

There will be 3 simple but healthy meals each day. The cost is $550.00 for room and board and materials and instruction. 

Space is limited, but we will have a waiting list. To reserve your place, please call the Monastery at (707) 485-8959 or contact Petro at petropia3@gmail.com (please include phone number).

NEW ICON WORKSHOP SCHEDULE FOR 2019!

Back by popular demand are Fr. Damian's Icon Retreats for the New Year.  Below is all the pertinent information.  See you soon!

                                Aug 18th - 22nd;   St. Placid Priory Spiritual Center, Lacy, WA; Call Sr. Lucy @ 360 438-2595

                                Aug 23rd - 28th     Holy Theophany, Olympia, WA; Call Mother Seraphina @ 360 491- 8233

                                Sep 10th - 15th:    St. Basil, Sterling Heights, MI; Call Fr. Mychail @ 568 719-4425

                                Oct  2nd - 6th:       Immaculate Heart, Spokane, WA; Call Sr. Mary Eucharista @ 509 448-1224

                                Oct 29th - Nov 2nd Greenbough House of Prayer, Adrian, GA; Call Steve or Fay @ 478 668-4758

                                Nov 11th - 15:        Holy Transfiguration Monastery; Contact Petro at petropia3@gmail.com. Include phone #.

                                 Feb 3rd - 7th, 2019  Holy Transfiguration Monastery;  Contact Petro at petropia3@gmail.com. Include phone #.

                                                            **The cost for this retreat is $550 for the week for 'boarders' and $350 for daily commuters

INVESTITURE OF NOVICE MONK BROTHER KOSMAS

Our postulant Kevin Gaughen was invested as a novice monk the eve of the feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Joining the monastic brotherhood in this holy occasion were his parents and other family members along with our devoted extended community who support us with their love and prayers.

The monastery was originally established in 1972 under the title of "The Monks of Mt. Tabor". Our founder, +Archimandrite Boniface, of blessed memory, was intent of making the focus of this new foundation in Michigan, the LIGHT of Mt. Tabor. That transforming Light of Christ follows Him as the Light and in following they in turn become transfigured IN HIM, with Him and thru Him.

It was later, with the encouragement of our Bishop that the monastery would be more properly identified as Holy Transfiguration and the legal corporation retained the title of The Monks of Mt. Tabor.

It is a great and wondrous work of God that lives and continues to be transformed in this holy place. We are grateful for the grace and strength that has been given to Kevin who, at his investiture received the monastic name of Br. Kosmas, to surrender his life more fully to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is realized in this place and in our monastic Typikon (Rule).

We are also aware of the great responsibility that now lies before us in instructing Br. Kosmas along with our postulants Jared, Joseph and Daniel in the way of salvation.

We cannot do this without your support and prayers. We are very conscious of how many of our friends are assisting in the renewed flourishing of our monastic community.

May God reward you abundantly. Pray for us sinners.

+ Abbot Damian Higgins

INJURED BROTHER CONTINUING TO HEAL

All the brethren (particularly the injured party) wanted to thank the greater Monks of Mt. Tabor community for your prayers,

cards, donations, flowers and other gifts (both spiritual and temporal) in the wake of Br. Gideon's catastrophic fall and subsequent

healing.  For those of you who were unaware of this, on May 23rd, Br. Gideon fell from a tree he was trying to cut down, and due to

the extent of his injuries, he was airlifted (ultimately) to UC Davis Medical Center, where he would remain in the ICU for a month or so.

He returned to the Monastery at the end of June to recuperate in the familiar (and much welcome) peace and the pace of Mt. Tabor,

and in addition to his physical healing, he now remembers the bulk of our various liturgical offices, which he had forgotten during his

time in the hospital.  In addition to thanking all of you for your kindness, Br. Gideon would also like to express his enormous gratitude

to his dedicated team of highly talented medical personnel from UC Davis, Ukiah, Willits and San Francisco. 

May God bless you for your prayers, concern, well wishes, love and your outpouring of indulgent desserts & other sweets.

Sincerely,  The Monks of Mt. Tabor