St. Anthony's Greek Monastery

Our final road trip with Bill and Donna last week was back to Florence and St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery. This was my third visit to this little oasis in the Sonoran desert. For 'history & info' see my post from March 2013. I also noted many of my photos are of the same things. Like I said in an earlier post, if I liked it the first time, it catches my eye again and again. It was 138 photos in March 2013. It was about 75 photos on this trip.

started in 1995

St. Elijah Chapel in the background

St. Elijah Chapel is off limits to visitors

built on a hill outside the monastery visitor's area

another view of St. Elijah Chapel

monastery's main gate

the 3 women in black made certain we were appropriately dressed

I don't know if they are sisters or volunteers

there is no mention of them or their title in either publication

they speak English with a thick Greek accent

long sleeves, long skirts, head scarves

my heels were showing and I was supposed to wear socks

but she didn't give them to me, so I didn't

(my skirt, my long sleeves, their scarf)

(Donna's long sleeves, but their skirt & scarf)

3 caged birds greeted us

the guys in long sleeves & long pants

a pot of pansies in the courtyard

cross on the entrance wall

notice the 3 arm cross engraved in the cross

see the March 2013 post for the meaning of the

3 armed Greek Orthodox cross

St. Anthony's Church

as seen from the courtyard

one of my favorite views 

daily services are conducted in this traditional 

Byzantine style, domed basilica church

icon of the Virgin Mary painted specially for this church

all other icons came from Greece

taking a picture of taking a picture

St. Nicholas' Chapel

St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, patron saint of sailors

through a window, through an archway, to the chapel

the ornate fixtures came from Greece

the grapefruit trees were laden with fruit

oranges were picked, lemons were picked

fountain near The Chapel of St. George

brickwork of The Chapel of St. George

detailed wood 

ceiling in The Chapel of St. George

the dome of The Chapel of St. George

more interesting brickwork 

all the icons and furnishings were brought from Greece

outside brick design on The Chapel of St. George

architecture is typical of Romania

The Chapel of St. George

olive groves are near this chapel

table covering from St. Demetrios' Chapel

bees swarming around a wood shingled dome

St. Seraphim's Fountain

blooming hedgehog-type cactus

a view of St. Elijah Chapel

outside the grounds

we are not to take photos of the monks,

but this one had a cell phone and was in the courtyard

one of the 45 monks and novices

Besides prayer and spiritual readings, the monks and novices' tasks include grounds keeping, tending to the various gardens, orchards, and the vineyard, construction, woodworking, publishing, food preparation and offering hospitality.

There were more orthodox visitors on the grounds than I have every noticed before. I know they were of the Greek Orthodox faith because of their dress, all black on the men and black and white on the women including black socks and shoes.  There were also young children, dressed in black, among the visitors.

We stopped at the Greek restaurant in Florence for lunch. I assured Bill they had American food. We continued our road trip after lunch.