Our Lady of Kazan Monastery

The monastic community of Our Lady of Kazan began roughly 25 years ago south of Downtown Albuquerque as a skete - defined as a small community made up of 2-3 monks. The church began with one monk who was eventually made a monk after a number of years of self-study of the Eastern Orthodox faith, church history and the study of many other different faiths.

Over the years, many have come to us to begin the study of communal life and the vows of obedience, humility, chastity and stability. Some chose to go back out into the world and others went forward to begin their own sketes or communities in different regions.

Originally founded as a center for first generation Russian and Greek Orthodox living in the Albuquerque metro area. These were members of the Old Calendar Church - continuing the practice of following the Julian calendar. This calendar falls two weeks behind the current civil calendar...and celebrates the church feasts two weeks after the Western churches. Hence, the celebration of Holy Nativity on January 7^th each year and the movable feast of Holy Pascha or Easter only falls on the same date as the West once every seven years.

Over time, the community evolved to include counseling to many people on many different concerns. Many have been counseled to keep strong in their own faith and to remain steadfast in their beliefs. (This community has always studied and respected the traditions of other religious traditions and beliefs and worked to encourage people in their own denominations.) Family counseling has also been an important work.

The community also works to pass on its skills and training to the surrounding community at large - including gardening, herbalism, bee-keeping, honey production, beeswax candle-making and iconography classes with our iconographer. Those members who have joined the community became enthralled with the deeply religious spiritual life focusing on love of God and love of neighbor.