Founded September 15, 1998, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Job, the Presentation of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Monastery is dedicated to the Glory of God and the honoring of His Blessed Mother.  

Commemorating the Feast of the Presentation, we are taught that Saints Joachim and Anna brought their most precious treasure, their child, to the temple to dedicate her life to the Lord. At the same time, the Virgin Mary humbly gave her own life to God to serve Him in any way that she could. Inspired by her example, we as nuns give our lives to His service.

The monastery was founded to be a spiritual resource for all who wish to visit, pray, attend services, and request prayers for themselves and their loved ones.

We pray that Our Lord’s words "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12) will always be the guide for our daily work, our interaction with each other, and our response to all who visit.

Officially under the Omophorion of the Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest, the monastery (the first for women in our diocese) is dedicated to a traditional life of prayer and work in accordance with the dogmas and canons of the Orthodox Church and the Normal Statute of the Orthodox Church in America. The monastery has been privileged to have the blessing and guidance of His Eminence Bishop Job at every step of its development.

After receiving the official Monastic Charter, the appropriate legal steps were followed through which the monastery received Incorporation by the State of Ohio and the Letter of Determination from the Internal Revenue Service, granting full tax exempt status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It was our original intention to build the monastery in Ohio among the many Orthodox people whose heartfelt desire it was to have the monastery located there. Over the course of eight years, we looked at many sites. Some seemed promising, but for various reasons they did not work out.

It is written in the Psalms, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” After trying so long to find a property in Ohio, an unexpected door opened, and we gradually came to understand that Our Lord was directing us to another location within the diocese where there is no such monastery.

Interest in the Orthodox Church is growing in the Springfield – Branson area of the county that is often referred to as the “heart of the Bible belt.”

Our diocese’s St. Thomas the Apostle parish is the first Orthodox Church in the city of Springfield. With cradle Orthodox from virtually every Orthodox background and many converts, they outgrew their church building during the last five years and moved to a larger one.

Since 2002, they had repeatedly invited us to visit, and in the fall of 2005 we did so. We found a wonderful spirit of growth within the parish and a deep desire to have a monastery to help further the growth of Orthodoxy in this region of our country.

Toward this end, one of their parishioners offered the extraordinary gift of land on which to build. With forty wooded acres and a lake near the Springfield – Branson area, it is a beautiful site for a monastery easily accessible and centrally located in our nation.

Since returning from visiting the parish and seeing the land, we prayed, talked, and thought about this extensively. Ohio had been our loving home for many years, and the thought of leaving was not an easy one, but we felt that we must listen to God’s call.

We talked at length with His Eminence Archbishop Job, and on Annunciation 2006 received his blessing to move to Missouri.

It is our sincere hope that in accepting the invitation to build in this area, we will be able to fulfill one of the traditional roles of monasteries - that of helping further the growth of the True Church.

The monastery’s future plans (the timing of which will depend upon financial realities) include:

• Building the chapel and monastic residence
• Providing a guest house
• Developing the land’s natural trails for visitors to be able to walk and pray in the beauty of nature
• Creating Rachel’s Garden dedicated to prayers for the innocent victims of abortion and those whose children have fallen asleep in the Lord
• Establishing an Orthodox cemetery

Many beautiful items (the chalice, censer, icons, bells, service books, household items) have been donated for the chapel and residence – but we need walls.

Our goal is to be on site by winter 2006. Basic site preparation is required (well, septic system, electrical lines) for our initial monastic residence, which will likely be a double-wide manufactured home. Construction of the traditionally designed rustic chapel is planned for spring.

An extraordinary opportunity has arisen which we hope to be able to accept. A wonderful Greek Orthodox family nationally recognized in the field of log home construction has offered to build the entire log portion of the chapel at cost – such is their dedication to the Church.

For this, we ask the prayers and contributions of the faithful to help make this possible.

Donations are critically needed and will never be more important or appreciated than during this initial start-up phase.

Please click here to donate

Significant assistance can be provided by those who are able to furnish equipment and building materials as a donation or at cost.

As an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, our monastery is meticulously accountable in the use of donations for the expressed purpose for which they are given. For tax purposes, written documentation of gifts is provided.

Our monastery is founded to share with you and your loved ones.

We pray that Our Lord will bless and further you in all good things unto your health and salvation. Likewise, we ask your prayers that Our Lord will guide us to do all things according to His holy will.