St. Paisius Orthodox Monastery, Orthodox monastery in Safford, United States.
St. Paisius Orthodox Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox community situated at the base of Mount Graham in Arizona's High Sonoran Desert, occupying 320 acres of land. The grounds include multiple chapels and structures designed to support the sisters' daily prayer life and handcraft production.
The monastery was founded in 2000 and grew from a sisterhood that began in northern California during the early 1990s. The relocation to Arizona marked a significant moment in establishing the community in the desert environment where it remains today.
The resident sisters create a spiritual environment through daily prayer and handcrafted work like making prayer ropes, which visitors can observe during their stay. This living tradition reflects Eastern Orthodox monastic life as practiced today in the American Southwest.
Visitors can attend regular Divine Liturgy services conducted in English and browse handmade prayer ropes available for purchase. It is wise to check in advance about visiting hours and service times since this is a private religious community with specific protocols.
The grounds feature three distinct chapels serving different purposes: the main catholicon, St. Anastasija Chapel, and a cemetery chapel dedicated to Archangel Michael. This arrangement reflects the layered prayer life within a working monastic community.
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