A Community Of Orthodox Monks In Oklahoma

The Brotherhood has its roots in Jerusalem where its Founder and Elder, Archimandrite Dionysios, was the Abbot and Restorer of the historical Monastery of the Holy Cross, founded by St. Helen in the IVth century, and raised to its highest glory during its centuries under the care of the Patriarchate of Georgia.

Our Abbot Athanasios, the second of 5 brothers, 4 of whom are monks, is a mosaicist, an Eagle Scout, an athlete and is fluent in 3 languages.  Abbot Athanasios was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, raised in Athens, Greece, studied in Italy and lived in Holy Cross, Jerusalem, where a section of the Monastery housed the iconography studio of Tom Clark, his father. At the age of 5, he and his brothers, now his brother monks, served as altar boys in Holy Cross, the Church of the Resurrection, and Bethlehem. Thus, they became an organic part of the Monastic Brotherhood, from that time.

This original monastic community founded by Elder Dionysios, has grown into eight Monasteries, in Switzerland, Greece, the US, Norway, Germany, and Africa, with monks from more than 18 different countries.