February 11, 2020
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A new documentary film about our monastery is set for release on April 23rd. The project began two and a half years ago, when Sam Cox, a young filmmaker and spiritual seeker, approached Fr. Seraphim about making the film.
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February 11, 2020
We stand at the threshold of the Lenten spring. Soon, leaves will be budding, flowers blooming. Soon, thrushes will be singing, Paschal bells pealing. Soon, red eggs will be dyed, white vestments donned, festive tables spread, and Lenten fare—gone.
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February 10, 2020
You may now submit the names of departed Orthodox Christian whom you wish the monks to commemorate daily during Great Lent at the many pannykhidas, litias, and Divine Liturgies.
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January 08, 2020
The wondrous miracle of the incarnation of God, which was accomplished more than two thousand years ago, today fills our souls with ineffable joy. "Today God hath come to earth and man hath ascended to the heavens" (verse at festal Vespers). The Maker and Provider of all things has appeared in the world, for by His grace He could not "behold mankind oppressed by the devil" (from the Order of Baptism); "overcome by love, He Who is without beginning and incomprehensible came… to seek out the one who had wandered, His creature" (kontakion for the Parable of the Lost Coin by St. Romanos the Melodist).
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November 16, 2019
On Saturday, November 16, the Hermitage was blessed with a visitation of the Mother of God's Kursk-Root Icon, an ancient and miracle-working icon which is considered the protectress of the Russian Church Abroad. At the same time, relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov arrived as a gift to the monastery by the brotherhood of St. Tikhon's Monastery in Pennsylvania. St. Seraphim himself was healed as a child by the Kursk-Root Icon of a severe illness, and this second meeting of the two at our humble monastery was the cause of great joy and gratitude amongst all the brethren.
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October 21, 2019
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Archimandrite Seraphim speaks about the need for a new church at Holy Cross Monastery and shares some of the beautiful new designs presented to us by our architect, Andrew Gould. Please pray that the Lord blesses this very necessary endeavor, and consider donating as you are able.
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October 03, 2019
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Architect Andrew Gould shares some of the thoughts and inspirations behind the new church design in Orthodox Arts Journal:
With great pleasure, I have developed a design for a new church for the Hermitage of the Holy Cross in West Virginia. In many ways, this design is the culmination of 15 years of thought, research, and experimentation on my part, and encapsulates the best of my ideas for Orthodox church design. I would like to share with you the story of this project.
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September 30, 2019
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On Friday, September 27, the brotherhood of Holy Cross Monastery celebrated their patronal feast, the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. The following weekend, on September 28th & 29th, the annual Pilgrimage Weekend was presided over by His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York.
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September 28, 2019
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On Friday, September 27, our architect delivered to us his final proposed plans for the new church. The proposed new church is 92' x 48' internally, with a large covered wraparound porch bringing the total dimensions to approximately 110' x 70'. We estimate that the new church will comfortably fit numerous serving clergy and servers in the altar, 50 monastics in the stasidia, 150 faithful in the nave, an additional 50 faithful in the loft. There is also ample space in the covered porch (with the church doors open) in cases of very high attendance.
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