A monastery is a residence for those who have pledged their lives to the service of Christ. The monastic life seeks to center itself on prayer and perpetual, conscious remembrance of God. Monastics dedicate themselves to a life of virtue, which includes first of all, prayer, but also work, obedience, service, silence, contemplation, learning, and the daily reading of theological / spiritual books. For this reason, monastics leave the society of the world, in order to lead a life which makes these pursuits possible. Monastics do not concern themselves with acquiring possessions, but are the stewards of what has been entrusted to them by the Church, and use these things according to their need. St. Isaac of Syria has written that "non-acquisitiveness is the beginning of the monastic life", and so monastics renounce their desire for material things and concern for worldly affairs. They leave their families in order to fully live the Liturgical life of the Church, in the mind-set of peace, with a will to discipleship, in a state of constant repentance and longing for the fullness of the spiritual life in the soul. Through asceticism, such as fasting and the rejection of a more comfortable life in the world, vigilant prayer and self-denial, monastics discipline themselves to be able to perceive the subtle truths of God's wisdom as it is revealed to their hearts day by day. The monastic is dedicated to loving God and neighbor, and to all the commandments of Christ, which teach Virtue and bring Grace to the soul, and conduct the monastic to the goal of unity with God.

Our Monastery was Consecrated October 3, 1988, by His Eminence our Metropolitan Dionysios of New Zealand, Exarch of Korea, and operates under the spiritual directorship of His Grace Bishop Sotirios (Trambas) of Zelon, who has lived in Korea since 1975. (For the full history of Korean Orthodoxy, visit our Link to the " Orthodox Church in Korea"). The present Sisterhood began its residence in 1992.

Those wishing to visit the monastery ought similarly to desire the deepening of their spiritual consciousness. It is our prayer that visitors to the monastery will share the joy of the holy life and find a peaceful place to pray and experience the presence of God and the life of the Orthodox Faith.

Many people come to visit our Monastery both from Korea and all over the world. In 1995, during his historic visit to Korea, His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I visited our Monastery, and celebrated a Doxology. Our Monastery was the home of the Summer Camp program for Korean youth even before the building was erected in 1986: the "Mt. Tabor Camp" had been held here since 1976, when the property was first purchased. Russian, Romanian, Serbian and other Orthodox Christians living in Korea frequently organize retreats during which they enjoy the special atmosphere of the Monastery while deepening their understanding of Orthodoxy, and sharing the fellowship of their faith even in a foreign land. Visitors from Greece also frequent our Monastery, always looking forward to returning to visit again. Our clergy use the Monastery for their own retreats, as it is the ideal place for prayer and a perfect setting for self-communion as well, a dramatic contrast to the fast-paced urban environment in which several of our parishes are located. Indeed, there is a special need for our Monastery here in Korea: as industrialization expands and housing becomes more and more centralized within city-limits, the opportunity for communion with God and nature becomes even more essential and invaluable to the Christian soul.

Mountains surround the Monastery building, while running streams and the nearby river rush by. In the outlying property, rice fields cover the landscape with a rich green in summer. In the "land of Morning Calm", our bells ring in the first light of dawn, and the first rays of sunset...

Prayer is the most important element of the monastic life. In a country like Korea, where the majority is unbaptized, uncatechized, unfamiliar with the Orthodox Church and its Tradition, and where Christianity is still new and the message of the Gospel still foreign, monastic prayer is one of the most vital elements of our Mission in Korea. The celebration of the daily schedule of Holy Services, and the compunctionate, secluded atmosphere of the Monastery Church, offer a special addition to the liturgical and worship life of the Orthodox Church in Korea.

The sisterhood of monasticism in the Far East is shared with the Holy Monastery of the Theotokos, in Masbate, Philippines. We look forward to the establishment of other monastaries throughout all of Asia.