Office: 417-473-1157
Web: http://www.presentationmonastery.org
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Founded in 1998
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Parish Contacts
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Lay Leadership
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Directions
No Information at this time
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Schedule of Services
All services are in English.
Daily -- Morning
6:00 AM Matins; First, Third and Sixth Hours; Typica
Daily -- Evening
3:45 PM Ninth Hour, Vespers, Compline
Saturday Evening
3:45 PM Ninth Hour, Vespers, Compline
Sunday Morning
6:00 AM Matins. Hours and Divine Liturgy at the local parish
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Ministry Groups
No Information at this time
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Upcoming Events
No Information at this time
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Parish Background
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.
As commemorated by the Feast of the Presentation at the Temple, the Blessed Virgin Mary was both given by her parents and gave her own life to the Lord to humbly serve Him. Inspired by her example, we, as nuns, offer 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 of 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 Archbishop Job at every step of its development.
After receiving the official Monastery 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 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 areas of Missouri 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 November 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 near Marshfield. It is 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. Over these months, we talked at length with His Eminence Archbishop Job, and on Annunciation 2006 we received his blessing to move to Missouri.
It was our sincere hope that in accepting the invitation to build in this area, we would be able to fulfill one of the traditional roles of monasteries - that of helping further the growth of the True Church.
During the Summer of 2007, we initiated our first fund-raising campaign.
Beginning in September, we were able to accomplish site preparation and purchase a very large manufactured home in the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos as our monastic residence. To maximize space, it was placed on a full-sized raised basement, doubling square fiootage.
By November, on the Feast of the Presentation of the Theotokos (our Monastery's Feast Day), we were able to enter our new residence as we joyously and thankfully sang the Festal Troparion.
Construction of the extensuion for the chapel was completed in 2008. Thus, on September 20, 2008, the 10th Anniversary of the monastery's official founding, the chapel was reconsecrated by His Eminence, Archbishop JOB, and Mother Sergia was installed as its first Abbess.
Thus, through the intercessons of the Blessed Theotokos and the assistance of many of our faithful Orthodox people, what was once an undeveloped forest has become a monastery offering a full daily cycle of services and intercessions, welcoming visitors and inquiries about the monastic life from families and individuals from across the nation and Canada.
We ask your prayers that we will ever discern and follow Our Lord's will in all things.
For further information or to schedule a visit, please contact the Monastery.
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