Service & Schedule

St. John's Monastery follows the "coenobitic" way of life meaning that the sisters hold all things in common and follows a daily schedule under the direction of the Gerontissa (Abbess), the spiritual mother of the sisterhood. The sisters' day begins at 2:00 a.m. with personal prayer time followed by common services in the chapel at 4:30 a.m. After a two hour rest period they begin their work, accompanied by prayer, until 1:00 p.m. when lunch is served. A designated quiet time follows until 4:00 p.m., during which the sisters may read, pray, walk, or rest, etc. They then return to their work until the Vespers service at 6:00 p.m. After dinner and the Compline service at 7:45 p.m., the sisters retire to their cells for the evening.

Order of common Services for St. John the Forerunner Monastery

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday                            Monday, Wednesday, Friday
4:30 am Preparation for Holy Communion         4:45 am Small Paraklisis (Monday and Wednesday)
5:00 am*Divine Liturgy                                        Great Paraklisis (Friday)
Quiet hours following until 8:30 am                   Quiet hours following until 8:30 am

Monday through Saturday                                  Sunday
8:45 am Breakfast                                                   6:30 am Orthros
1:00 pm Trapeza (Lunch)                                      9:00 am*Divine Liturgy Breakfast following
Quiet hours following until 4:00 pm                   2:00 pm*Trapeza (Lunch)
6:00 pm Vespers Supper following                     6:00 pm Vespers Supper following
7:45 pm Small Compline                                        7:45 pm Small Compline
Quiet hours following until 4:30 am                    Quiet hours following until 4:30 am



*Times are approximate During fasting seasons and on feast days schedule is subject to change.