Elder Barsanuphius of OptinaElder Barsanuphius (18451913), a disciple of Elder Anatole (Zertsalov) and Elder Nektary, was a highly cultured man and a successful colonel before entering the monastic life at a relatively late age. Due to his purity of heart and spiritual sobriety, he was transformed by God into a grace filled Elder virtually overnight. The period before the first World War and the Russian Revolution was a complex one. The world was seething in unprecedented

translated by Archimandrite George of Holy Trinity Monastery (now Bishop George of our own Hermitage of the Holy Cross)

as well as the post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving

to be simple and innocent in one's spiritual life

in California

headlines over the Truth

without the life scenes

and various saints

and a Hermitage favorite

full bodied no-nonsense coffee comprised of the finest beans from five South American countries

Paisios the New (1924-1994) was one of the most loved and revered Greek Orthodox Elders of our times

countless cultures have treasured frankincense and myrrh for their enchanting aromatic qualities

and bestow inexhaustible grace upon the faithful