Brownsburg-Chatham QC Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Consolation 1993

Brownsburg-Chatham, Québec Holy Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Consolation, 1993

Brownsburg-Chatham, Québec Saint Monastère Vierge Marie la Consolatrice, 1993

The holy monastery is known also as “Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Virgin Mary the Consoler”

or

Prehistory

The life and work of Archimandrite Ephraim (Moraitis) (who is considered by many to be holy) served as the preparation for the establishment of the Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Consolation, at Brownsburg-Chatham, Québec, Canada. It was because of Archimandrite Ephraim's love for the Lord, developed over many years of experience as a monk, that he received the blessing to undertake his missionary activities in North America. This missionary activity came not of his own will, but rather from the blessing of the Lord through his superiors.

Schema-Archimandrite Ephraim (Moraitis)

A disciple of Saint Joseph the Hesychast, Archimandrite Ephraim (Moraitis) had been given the obedience to revive the spiritual life of several monasteries on Mount Athos, beginning with the Philotheou Monastery, and then including the Xeropotamou, Konstamonitou, and Karakallou Monasteries.

These monasteries continued under his spiritual guidance throughout his life.

Along with the monasteries on Mount Athos, there are several other monasteries in Greece which were under Elder Ephraim’s spiritual guidance : the Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner in Serres ; the Monastery of Panagia the Directress in Portaria (Volos) ; the Monastery of the Archangel Michael, on the island of Thasos (this monastery is a formal metochion of the Philotheou Monastery).

In order to clarify how things developed, we repeat the following passage from an article about Archimandrite Ephraim :

 In 1979, Elder Ephraim became ill, and he needed a surgery.  Then his 
 spiritual children from Canada offered to provide the surgery in Canada. 
 The Elder agreed. As soon as he arrived in Canada and he began his 
 examinations with the doctors, he started at the same time to hear 
 confessions, to admonish, and to teach expatriate Greeks.  His pastoral 
 activity was followed by invitations from the USA.

The surgery was successful. For more than a month, Elder Ephraim had stayed in North America, and he met various representatives of the Greek community. He came to understand clearly that the spiritual life amongst the families of Greek immigrants had been disrupted. People remained for a long time without the healing sacrament (mystery) of confession. Some of them were burdened by grave sins. Some, totally unprepared, were receiving the Mystery of Holy Communion. Some did not keep the canons of the Church, nor had they been properly taught what they are. They forgot the pious Orthodox way of life, the Greek national traditions of their forebears, and they had become accustomed to a base (and sometimes deplorable) manner of living.

Father Ephraim (moved by love and compassion) decided to go to North America more and more often. He first visited believers in parishes in Canada, particularly in Toronto, London, Vancouver, and Montréal. London, Ontario, served as an early focus for his spiritual and pastoral labours. Then he was invited to the USA.

Ultimately, the Council of the Holy Mountain warned him that he could not continue in this manner, and that he must choose between the Holy Mountain and America. The Elder Ephraim began to pray, and it was revealed to him that his place was to be in America. At the appeal of the Orthodox Faithful, he gave himself up to the holy mission of confession. He decided to move to the USA for the sake of the spiritual care of his flock, and for the revival of spiritual life in the Greek communities of North America.

At first, the Episcopal Synod of the Archdiocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America resisted this, and Elder Ephraim sought help from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. As Elder Ephraim recalled : "I was received here with great love and genuine understanding". A year later, under the personal patronage of the Patriarch of Constantinople, the problem of jurisdiction was resolved.

Elder Ephraim returned honourably to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and he was given the right to establish monasteries in Canada, and in the USA. Then, he proceeded in an orderly manner to establish 17 monasteries throughout North America, always after receiving permission from the Greek Orthodox bishop of each area. Every monastery founded by Archimandrite Ephraim is accountable to the metropolitan in whose territory the monastery is located.

Foundation of the Holy Virgin Mary of Consolation Monastery, 1993

The Holy Monastery Virgin Mary of Consolation (the first Greek Orthodox monastery in Québec, Canada) is under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada. It was founded in 1993, under the care of Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas) of Canada (at that time, Metropolitan of Toronto, Canada).

In fact, 2 women’s monasteries were founded in Canada at about the same time : the Holy Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Consolation, in Québec, near Brownsburg ; and Saint Kosmas of Aitolas Monastery, at Bolton, near Toronto, Ontario. A third monastery, this one for men, was founded near Picton, Ontario, at about the same time. However, this monastery was merged after a short time with the Holy Trinity Orthodox Monastery, at Smiths Creek, Michigan, USA.

The Holy Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Consolation was conceived, founded, and guided by Elder Ephraim, a spiritual offspring of the eminent Elder (Saint) Joseph the Hesychast. After his long struggle in various sketes of the Holy Mountain of Athos, Elder Ephraim became abbot of the Holy Monastery of Philotheou ; from there, he established several women’s monasteries in Greece.

All the monasteries follow the Cenobitic way of monastic life. “Cenobitic” is derived from the Greek word “Koinobios” which means “common way of life”. Therefore, the monastic community's life consists in common work, common meals, and common rest periods.

Schema-Archimandrite Ephraim (Moraitis)

The first 2 nuns

There were 2 nuns (that is, female monks) who were under obedience to Elder Ephraim at the ancient and historical Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner of Serres in central Macedonia (of which he was the spiritual father). These nuns were given the blessing to emigrate to Canada, and to establish the monastery in Québec under rather difficult conditions.

An old farm (which once belonged to an English-speaking family) was bought with the purpose of being converted into a monastery. It was situated in an extensive landscape comprised of 235 acres (95 hectares) of dense forest set on a hill in the beautiful Laurentian Mountains, 16 km northwest of Lachute, in Brownsburg-Chatham Municipality, Québec.

Grass and bramble had grown over the property ; and the house was in ruins, and in general need of repair.

Development of the monastery

A surfeit of love, sacrifice, and arduous labour on the part of the increasing number of sisters and kind volunteers was required in order to transform the area into a garden of the Most Holy Mother of Consolation, to whom the monastery is dedicated.

The sisterhood grew in number to include about 24 nuns under the guidance of Abbess Thekla.

For as long as he lived, there remained a spiritual connexion between this monastery and Archimandrite Ephraim (Moraitis). When Archimandrite Ephraim reposed in 2019, the nature of the relationship changed, and the relationship amongst the monasteries remained something similar to that of siblings. Elder Ephraim is regarded popularly as being a holy man.

Major construction

During the course of their life as female monks in rural Québec, the nuns faced many practical difficulties. Not the least of these difficulties was being able to pay for the many needs. All the while, despite the pressing practical needs, it was imperative that the nuns maintain their first priority : their love, life, and service for the Lord. In maintaining this priority, the nuns have been ready always to ask the Lord for His blessing and support, and they have not been deprived of these.

By 2020, the monastery had grown significantly in number, and the number and frequency of visits by guests, enquirers, and others had grown likewise. There was a severe shortage of space both for the nuns and for the visitors.

Entrance to the monastic compound

A major construction project was engaged, in which desperately needed living-quarters for the nuns would be increased, and space for some visitors and postulants could become available. Financing is always a major challenge when there is building, but the Lord moved the hearts of many to help.

Construction of additional accommodations

Monastic life and service

The nuns spend many hours per day in worship, and in prayer. In addition, they work hard in order to provide food for themselves, and for hospitality. They do gardening, and animal husbandry. With help, they construct facilities which accommodate better living-quarters for the nuns, and which provide space for visitors.

The nuns labour with great intensity (praying all the while) in farm-agricultural work, cheese-making, and crafting various hand-made items. Apart from their arduous daily work, they receive visitors daily. In doing so, they offer themselves wholeheartedly and diligently to their neighbour as did Christ Himself. Further, the nuns operate a bookstore/shop, they make candles for sale, and they sell food. Yet more, their life of prayer and service to the Lord bears fruit in the personal contacts between the nuns of the sisterhood and the visitors. Their love in Christ strengthens and supports the visitors.

The presence of an Orthodox Christian monastery is a valuable asset to any area because it provides not only an exemplary way of living the Christian virtues, but it acts also as a window from the past for all those who wish to see Christianity as it was practiced in the days of the Holy Apostles.

Altar Feast-day

The Altar Feast-day of the holy monastery is on the Leave-taking of the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos (23 August). On this occasion, people on pilgrimage arrive in very large numbers for the first services (including Great Vespers) on 22 August. The monastery is usually overflowing with guests on the Feast-day itself (23 August), and for the Divine Liturgy. Usually, Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas) or another bishop is present on this occasion, along with very many clergy.

Altar Feast-day, Festal Icon

External pavilion before, during the Feast

Monastery particular information

The Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Consolation is a monastic community of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada, under the omophor of Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas), of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

This monastery follows the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Monastery celebrates its annual Altar Feast-day on 23 August, the Leave-taking of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. The services begin with the celebration of Great Vespers on 22 August. On 23 August, Matins and the Divine Liturgy are served in the morning.

In 2024, the superior of the monastery is Abbess Thekla.

Address :

Saint Monastère Vierge Marie la Consolatrice

827, chemin de la Carrière

Brownsburg-Chatham, Québec

J8G 1K7

Telephone : 450-533-4313

Fax : 450-533-6234

Monastery web-site

Monastery Facebook

Directions :

The Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Consolation is situated in the hills of the Laurentian Mountains, near Brownsburg, Québec, northwest of Montréal, and northeast of Ottawa, Ontario.

From Montréal :

Drive north from the city of Montréal on Autoroute #15. At the junction with Autoroute #50, take Exit #35 for Autoroute #50 west, towards Mirabel Aeroport and Lachute. Follow Highway #50 westwards. Pass by the aeroport, and continue westwards. Pass by Lachute, and continue until Exit #252. Take Exit #252, Montée la Branche, towards Brownsburg-Chatham. At Staynerville, turn left (west) on Chemin Staynerville. Follow Chemin Staynerville until Mabel. At Mabel, turn right (north), on Montée la Branche towards Brownsburg-Chatham. At Brownsburg, follow rue des Erables until rue Saint-Joseph. Turn left onto rue Saint-Joseph (do not go straight, and do not cross the river) and towards to Staynerville. Turn left onto rue Saint-Joseph and drive straight on until rue Principale. Turn left onto rue Principale. After rue Goudreau on the right, at the fork, veer right onto Chemin de la Carrière. Follow Chemin de la Carrière until #827. Follow the sign for the monastery. Driving time is approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes.

From Ottawa :

From Ottawa, from Wellington Street, cross the Ottawa River to Gatineau by means of the Portage Bridge. Continue straight on, on Boulevard Maisonneuve. Follow the signs towards Autoroute #50. (Do not take the exit for Autoroute #5.) Follow Autoroute #50 towards Montréal. Continue straight on, on Autoroute #50 until Exit #239 (sign for Highway #344) at Argenteuil. Take Exit #239, and turn left at Highway #344/Scotch Road. Drive briefly on Scotch Road until the turn for 4th Concession. Turn right onto 4th Concession, which becomes Chemin Dumoulin. At the junction, turn left onto Montée Hall, and drive on Montée Hall until Ogdensburg. At Ogdensburg, turn right onto Chemin Staynerville until Mabel. At Mabel, turn left onto Chemin de la Carrière. Follow Chemin de la Carrière until #827. Follow the sign for the monastery. Driving time is approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes.

Abbess Thekla

Telephone : 450 533-4313

Priest Constantin Lungu

The monastery in winter

References

History of the Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Consolation, Brownsburg-Chatham, Québec

Biography of Archimandrite Ephraim (Moraitis) of Philotheou

Additional information :

Hopko, Thomas, ‘Monasticism’ in “The Orthodox Faith”, vol. 2.

Prokurat, Michael ; Golitzin, Alexander & Petersen, Michael, eds., 'Monasteries' in “The A to Z of the Orthodox Church” (Lanham, MD : Scarecrow Press, 2010), pp. 223-224. ISBN : 978-0-8108-7602-6.

...... 'Monasticism' in “The A to Z of the Orthodox Church” (Lanham, MD : Scarecrow Press, 2010), pp. 225-227. ISBN : 978-0-8108-7602-6.

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada listing for the Monastery Panagia Parigoritissa

Orthodox World reference to the Holy Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Consolation

Monastery of Saint Kosmas Aitolos web-site

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada

Wikipedia article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada

1996 Special Regulations and Uniform Parish Regulations Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Uniform Community Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada, 2021

Church of Greece web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Greece

Church of Constantinople web-site