HOLY MONASTERY OF ST. JOHN THE FORERUNNER
ANATOLI, AGIA GREECE
SPRING 2025
Dear friends,
Our monastery finds itself in a new situation. We have decided that creating a new Metochi - a monastic dependency, is the best way forward.
As many of you know, our source of income comes from selling dairy, meat and other products. from our farm, at an altitude of 1100m. In the past, in addition to welcoming visitors to the monastery we were able to do this by attending various church feasts and ecological markets around the country. This all changed in 2020 during the pandemic. The severe restrictions meant that all such events were cancelled and the flow of visitors to the monastery declined -something that continues till today for many reasons, such as the high cost of petrol.
In those difficult times we found a solution by renting a property on the main road connecting Larissa to Agia that was more accessible since it reduced the journey time by 40 minutes. There, we created an exhibition with our products and a small chapel dedicated to St.Porphyrios, who was not well known in this area. Now however, four years later the lease is running out (in September 2025) and we have to leave.
After searching for a solution that would be more permanent for our future, we have found a piece of land, not very far from the previous place, still on the main road, where we will be able to build a small monastic dependency (Metochi) and a permanent shop/exhibition for everything we produce.
Having a piece of land at a much lower altitude will give us the opportunity to plant some olive trees so we can finally have our own oil for the oil lamps in our church and chapels, as well as for the sisters.
The current property on the main road
It also means we will be able to give the St. Porphyrios chapel a permanent home.
The people from the surrounding villages now regard him as their protector, particularly after the disastrous floods of two years ago; and they regularly come to the chapel to light a candle, pra or talk to the sisters. It is very touching to see how important it is for them to feel the presence of a monastery nearby, a place that is accessible where they can hear a comforting word and a prayer.
We want to continue providing this spiritual support and availability in the new Metochi
The cost of buying the field, bringing water and electricity, the legal paperwork and the building will be about 200.000 Euros.
This is a big challenge for our monastery, but it will enhance our ability to continue doing what we do in a better and more secure way.
Asking for help does not come easy; we are used to relying on our own resources. But this is a very important project, for our sisterhood and for the community of faithful Christians around us, that we simply cannot accomplish on our own, since we do not have access to such finances.
We invite you to help us make this a reality.
BANK NAME: PIRAEUS BANK
BANK ADDRESS: 33, 25th MARCH STREET, AGIA, GREECE 400 03
BIC/ SWIFT:PIRBGRAA
IBAN: GR 90 0171 2490 0062 4903 0020 456
PAYPAL: imtp.anatoli@gmail.com
We are able to issue Donation Receipts
The field for our new Metochi