The first Christians entering the British Isles were Scythians (living in modern-day Russia), a migratory people dwelling in the region of the Black Sea, evangelized by St. Andrew and then, passing through Anatolia, by St. Paul. They settled on the Atlantic coast of Ireland and Scotland in the first century (explaining the Cross of St. Andrew on both the Scottish national flag the British Union Jack). The Apostle Paul's Letter to the Galatians reflects their sojourn to the north of Rome. That is, the first Christians in what would become the English-speaking world were Orthodox Catholic, not Roman Catholic. Archaeologists have unearthed their monasteries established long before the Roman missionary St. Patrick entered Ireland. They lived boldly into this stark landscape as their stone, "beehive" oratories attest.
We, their Orthodox descendents, also live on the edge of the earth, a most distant place from any major land mass, to which God has brought us. Our cliffs fronting the sea (whose Polynesian name means "high altar") resemble their Cliffs of Moher. We live to the furthest west as they did (in the scale of their known world). We are "at the end of the day" in one of the last time zones before reaching the International Date Line. And we use the calendar they used, the one Jesus, the Apostles, and the Early Church used for centuries. That is, we live thirteen days behind (and apart from) the secular world. Yet, we are connected to people every day and in every time zone through a a slender, black cable that connects to a "magic window" through which we communicate with other Christians. We give thanks that we are, in that sense, in relation with people all over the world who love God and who love each other for His sake and by His command. Just to think of it is uplifting and energizing.
We pray you will get to know us through our
spiritual conferences,
a vocation to which God has led us.
Alternatively, you might also like to learn more about our
USDA Certified Organic farm,
the Hermitage Farm,
or other aspects of our life,
which we freely offer on our websites.
Our agricultural ministry is, of course,
a non-profit, public benefit corporation.
That is,
no one in our religious community or on our board of directors receives any kind of compensation of any kind.
We are "all volunteer"
with
100% of net profits going to help neighbors in need on our island.
We invite you to
certify this by reviewing our financial statements:
Our electronic contact information is
You can also follow us on Facebook, whose only purpose for us is to offer regular spiritual conferences,
and
Instagram:
We are a tax-exempt public charity. At the federal level, we are a monastic house of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. At the state level we are registered with the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Hawai'i in the region of Oceania, sector of Polynesia. All donations are fully tax-deductable under the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and by state law.
The members of our Community commit to intentional poverty as
we share Apostolic life in common.
In practical terms,
we work more than seventy hours every week for no salary or material benefit.
Our daily prayer is to continue being an all-volunteer ministry
devoted to the love of God and our neighbors.
We invite you to support us in our life or prayer and worship
and in our agricultural ministry.