Our connection to Mt. Athos
THE THEOPHILEON BROTHERHOOD OF THE SKETE OF ST. ANNA
The Theophileon Brotherhood of the Skete of St. Anna
The peninsula of Mount Athos, known as the Holy Mountain, is located in Northern Greece and stands as the heart of Orthodox monasticism. Hermits first arrived here around the fifth century, and by the tenth century, the first communal monastery—the Great Lavra—was established. Today, this autonomous monastic republic comprises twenty sovereign monasteries and their respective sketes (smaller monastic settlements centered around a primary church, or Kyriakon), all under the spiritual care of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
The Skete of Saint Anna
The Skete of Saint Anna is the oldest and largest skete on Mount Athos, remaining under the spiritual oversight of the Great Lavra. Perched 500 meters up on the rugged cliffs of the peninsula's southwestern shore, it is isolated and majestic. Reaching the skete requires either a boat ride followed by a demanding climb of over 2,000 stone steps from the sea, or a six-and-a-half-hour hike on foot from the Great Lavra.
The Kyriakon (central church) of the skete was built in the mid-17th century and later adorned with beautiful frescoes. It houses priceless spiritual treasures, including:
The left foot of Saint Anna
A relic of the True Cross
The holy relics of at least seventy other saints
A miracle-working icon of Saint Anna holding her daughter, the Virgin Mary
Approximately 120 monks live within the skete's 50 individual brotherhoods. Each brotherhood maintains its own residence and chapel, following a daily discipline of prayer, work, and study, while warmly welcoming over 100 pilgrims daily during the summer months.
The Theophileon Brotherhood
A view from the home of the Brotherhood
Situated just above the central church is the kalyva (monastic house) and chapel of the Theophileon Brotherhood. Founded in the 18th century by the priest-monk Theophileos, the house was built over a small cave that Christian ascetics had inhabited as early as the 6th century.
An icon of Christ and the Theotokos that will be placed on the Iconostasis (Iconscreen)
Fathers Cherubim and Anthimos will His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople
The brotherhood's late elder, Elder Anthimos (who reposed in 1996), is widely revered as a modern saint of Mount Athos, and his relics are enshrined within the brotherhood's chapel. Today, the brotherhood comprises three monks: the V. Rev. Fr. Cherubim Apostolou, the V. Rev. Fr. Theophilos Kougioumtzidis, and the V. Rev. Fr. Anthimos Igglezis.
Our Sacred Bond
Because this brotherhood gifted our parish our precious Holy Relics, Saint Anna Church shares a deeply blessed and enduring relationship with the Skete. Over the years, this bond has flourished in beautiful ways:
Visits & Iconography: We have had the honor of welcoming the Elder of the brotherhood to our Roseville parish twice. Furthermore, Fr. Theophilos—a gifted iconographer—hand-painted the beautiful Feast Day icons for our own iconostasis.
Pilgrimages: Several men from our parish have journeyed to Mount Athos to experience the brotherhood’s exceptional hospitality and spiritual guidance.
Prayer & Support: We regularly send lists of our parishioners' names to the brotherhood for inclusion in their daily prayers. In thanksgiving, our parish has funded an iconography program for their chapel and continues to send a yearly financial offering to support their ministries and building projects.
Learn More or Support the Brotherhood
To discover more about the holy mountain, please visit the Archangel Gabriel Bookstore in our Narthex, where you can find a variety of books on Mount Athos and the Skete of Saint Anna.
The addition of guest quarters at the home of the Brotherhood. God-willing, the project will be completed in 2019.
If you would like to make a financial offering to support the ongoing ministries, guest quarters, and projects of the Theophileon Brotherhood, you may do so through our website's donation page or by contacting the church office.