By the dawn of the 20th century, Orthodox Christianity had been established on the North American continent for well over a century. Monasticism being indispensable for the healthy nourishing of an Orthodox Church, it was inevitable from the beginnings of Orthodoxy in America that a time would come when this form of spiritual endeavor would come into bloom. The idea of founding a monastery in America was primarily that of the young Hieromonk Arseny (Chagovtsev), the future Archbishop Arseny of Winnipeg. Father Arseny had arrived in America only in 1902, and was rector of St. John the Baptist parish in Mayfield, Pa. His thought was that part of the monastery’s function would be to serve as a “mother house” for the monastics serving as clergy in the Orthodox North American mission. Five canonized saints lived, walked, and prayed here. Each of these saints, in their own special way, loved and contributed to the Monastery and Seminary.
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The Monastery Today
St. Tikhon’s Monastery is a place of repentance for men who have chosen to put behind the things of this world and instead reach forward to that which is ahead, following the upward call of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (cf. Phil. 3:14). The monastic brotherhood offers this repentance through their daily round of services in church and prayer in the cell and in their daily obediences to the monastery’s abbot and the brethren. Our founder, Archbishop Arseny (Chagovtsov), envisioned a monastery that would serve in the building up of the American mission. Accordingly, to this day St. Tikhon’s Monastery has an intimate relationship of mutual support with St. Tikhon’s Seminary, its faculty, students, and alumni. The monastery also operates a bookstore and press, a cemetery, candle and carpentry shops, and a coffee roastery, and hosts a small museum about Orthodoxy in America.
We provide tours of the Monastery and our Museum as well as spiritual guidance for those who are interested.
We were founded by St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow, and have had many Saints who have lived, prayed, walked, and taught here. Our bookstore and Coffee Shop (which serves Burning Bush Coffee and has free internet service) is open to the general public and is open weekdays from 9:30am - 4pm and Saturday from 10am - 12pm. You are always welcome to visit us and may God bless you!
If you cannot visit us in the near future, please take our Virtual Tour.
175 St. Tikhon's Road
Waymart, PA 18472
Wed
11Dec6:00 Midnight Office, Hours, & Liturgy
4:30 Vespers & MatinsThu
12Dec6:00 Midnight Office, Hours, & Liturgy
4:30 Vespers & MatinsFri
13DecSt. Herman
7:40 Hours, & Liturgy
4:30 Vespers & Matins