Saint Michael's Skete

St. Michael's Skete Graphic 1            Saint Michael's Skete Graphic 2            St. Michael's Skete Graphic 3


St. Michael's Skete Table of Contents:

What's New?

Contact Information
News
Products
Services
Guest House
DOXA
Pictures
Links

    

 

Latest news!

On October 22, 2007, Archbishop Dmitri granted Fr. Andrew Rayburn retirement as Superior and from all leadership responsibilities at St. Michael's Skete. On the same day he appointed Hieromonk John as Superior, and he now holds all responsibilites at the monastery. Fr. Andrew remains in residence as a simple monk with the rest of the brethren. This is truly a new beginning for this fledgling monastery, for which we give thanks to God Almighty and to our faithful friends and supporters. Thank you!


Welcome to St. Michael's Skete!

St. Michael's Skete, Caņones, New Mexico is an Orthodox Christian monastery for men under the omophorion of His Eminence Dmitri of Dallas and the South of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). The brotherhood would like to welcome you to this website and invite you to look around.  Our main work is one of prayer and repentance and we hope this site reflects that mission.  In addition to a basic introduction to Saint Michael's Skete, this site includes links to some of the many Orthodox Christian websites we think are useful.  You may also download copies of DOXA, the Skete's quarterly review.  Finally, we would like to introduce you to some products (e.g., pure beeswax candles) and services we provide to Christian communities in New Mexico and around the region.  To join our mailing list, please visit our contact information page.


Saint Michael's Skete Graphic 4

St. Michael the Archangel Monastic Church Dome, Saint Michael's Skete, Orthodox Church in America


St. Michael's Skete - Daily Life

Saint Michael's Skete, founded in 1993, is set on approximately 15 acres located amidst the high desert foothills of the Jemez Mountains in northwestern New Mexico. The Skete is blessed with a year-round natural spring that originates on the property, as well as a large stream that crosses the monastery grounds. As a not-for-profit community, the brotherhood makes a living by providing hand-dipped pure beeswax candles to a number of churches in the region, but - since the business does not cover all costs - donations are gratefully accepted. To access our online order form for our pure beeswax candles, please visit the products section of our website. As one member of the monastery reported in the Spring 2005 issue of DOXA:

As a monastic community our main work is prayer. We spend several hours each day in church, and in our cells doing our prayer rule. The content of the cell rule varies from person to person, some spending more time in reading prayers or Psalms, and others spending more time praying the Jesus Prayer.  In addition to our cell rule, we also endeavor to spend time in our cells reading spiritually enriching books, and other wholesome literature.  And then we spend about 6 hours each day making candles, publishing DOXA, and in other forms of manual and mental labor. 

The location of St. Michael's Skete is particularly suited for this work; visitors will discover a remote community some distance from any major cities or towns. Another blessing from God -- our guesthouse, the Holy Archangels House of Ascent, is available for visitors who call in advance. 

The life of St. Michael's Skete is centered around the daily cycle of services conducted in our new place of worship. St. Michael the Archangel Monastic Church was consecrated to the glory of God by his Eminence Archbishop Dmitri (Orthodox Church in America, Diocese of the South) on August 30th, 2003. We are most grateful for all of those who assisted with this project which took nearly 11 years to complete. 


Contact Information

Please note that as an Orthodox Christian monastery the daily cycle of services and our other duties require frequent absences from the office.  We are pleased to hear from you, but ask your patience if we are not readily available.  Please address all correspondence to Hieromonk John.

Telephone
505-638-5690
Postal address
St. Michael's Skete, Post Office Box 38, Caņones, New Mexico 87516
Electronic mail
stmichaelsskete@gmail.com

We thank you for visiting our website, and we hope you will visit some of our other webpages to learn more about this Orthodox Christian community.  Click on products for access to our pure beeswax candles online order form.  Click on links for access to some Orthodox Church in America webpages, including a directory of parishes (and monasteries) in your area.

Hit Counter

 

[ Home ] Contact Information ] News ] Products ] Services ] Guest House ] DOXA ] Pictures ] Links ]

Send mail to jbn_swain@yahoo.com with questions or comments about the Saint Michael's Skete web site.
Last modified: 01/26/07