Such a beautiful and simple gift!
Our Holy Monastery of Virgin Mary the Consolatory is the first Greek Orthodox monastery ever established in Quebec. Conceived and founded by the late Elder Ephraim of Arizona, the monastery currently operates as part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada with the blessing of his Eminence, Archbishop Sotirios.
Its spiritual heritage goes back to 1993, when Abbess Thekla and Sister Ephraimia - who’d long been under Elder Ephraim’s guidance - migrated from the ancient Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner of Serres in central Macedonia to undertake their holy mission in Quebec. The monastery was founded on an old farm spanning 235 acres of thick, dense forest in the hills of Brownsburg-Chatham - 16 km northwest of Lachute in the breathtaking Laurentians - and thus began our monastic mission.
Converting the old farm into a picturesque place of worship was a most arduous process, as the property was overrun with grass and bramble, and its house was in complete and utter disrepair. But through the grace of God and the Panagia and a combination of undying love, sacrifice, and labour from a growing number of sisters and kind volunteers, the once neglected grounds steadily evolved into a garden of our Most Holy Mother of Consolation, to whom this Orthodox monastery is dedicated.
Over 30 years later, our sisterhood of 27 nuns remains under the guidance of Abbess Thekla and tirelessly labours in farming, cheese making, artisanal crafts, traditional Orthodox ecclesiastical embroidery, and iconography. When they aren’t tending to these labours of love, the sisters receive daily visitors and diligently, wholeheartedly offer themselves to the service of their neighbours, as Christ did himself.
Our monastic mission is best described as a life of spiritual service, not only to God and our Most Holy Mother, but also to our sisterhood, neighbours, pilgrims, and fellow Orthodox Christians. We aim to remain true to the Orthodox tradition and preserve both its teachings and practices, all while welcoming those who wish to humbly join us in worship. In addition to our liturgical and spiritual services, our monastic mission also encompasses community service and making the most of the land and resources we owe to our Lord, be it in the form of farming or horticulture. In essence, we strive to honour the Orthodox way, enrich our spiritual heritage, and remain a pillar of Orthodox monasticism.
Our holy Orthodox monastery was founded by the late Elder Ephraim, a spiritual
offspring of the recently canonized Saint Joseph the Hesychast. Following many years of ascetic struggle on Greece’s Holy Mountain of Athos, Elder Ephraim became abbot of the Holy Monastery of Philotheou in 1973 and subsequently revitalized and established several Orthodox monasteries across his home country.
With the blessing of Church officials and the appeal of the Orthodox faithful, he dedicated himself in the early 90s to founding and guiding numerous men’s and women’s monasteries in North America, permanently moving to Arizona in 1995. The elder’s holy mission most notably spawned Saint Anthony’s Monastery in his adopted home state, where he remained abbot for over 20 years. Elder Ephraim departed in the Lord in 2019, but not before building a legacy that was nothing short of miraculous, having spearheaded the establishment of 17 Orthodox monasteries across the United States and Canada.
