Chapter 5. Monks and Monasteries

Recogniation of the Monastery of St. Moses the Black, USA; and the Monastery of Pope Athansius, UK

Original Arabic Text
  1. The Committee examined the file submitted by His Grace Bishop Youssef, Bishop of Southern USA, regarding the recognition of the Monastery of the Virgin Mary and St. Moses the Black in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Committee noted that the monastery fulfilled the required conditions, and the Committee requested the erection of a wall to the monastery, and the transformation of the retreat house for young women to facilities for the monastery. His Grace Bishop Youssef agreed to this, and wrote an appendix to the file signed by His Grace. He explained that there is a wall in the monastery that was not visible in the photos or the report submitted, but the house of the retreat for young women will become a visitors’ centre for the families of the monks, and he promised that the groups of young women would not be allowed to have a retreat in the monastery. Based on the foregoing, the Committee recommended accepting the request to recognise this monastery, and the Holy Synod recognised this monastery and was added to our recognised monasteries.
  2. The committee also examined the file provided with pictures submitted by His Grace Bishop Anthony, Bishop of Ireland, Scotland and Northern England, regarding the request to recognise Pope Athanasius Apostolic Monastery in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and the Committee noted that it met all the conditions required to recognise the monastery. Based on the foregoing, the Committee recommended accepting the request for recognition of this monastery, and the Holy Synod recognised this monastery and added it to our recognised monasteries.