St. Barbara Orthodox Monastery
LATEST NEWS & POSTS
November ~ December 2025
Save the Date
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FEAST DAY OF THE GREAT MARTYR BARBARA
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Wed., Dec. 3rd
4 pm Vigil
followed by potluck supper
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Thurs., Dec. 4th
9:30 am 3rd & 6th Hours
10 am Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
His Grace, Bishop VASILY, presiding
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followed by festal meal
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Nov. 24 The beautiful Akathist of Thanksgiving will be chanted on Thursday, Nov. 27, at 12:15 pm in place of 6th Hour.
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Nov. 19 Join us on Friday, Nov. 21st, for the Great Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple: 10 am Divine Liturgy preceded by the Hours.
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Note: This feast is celebrated until its leavetaking on Tuesday, Nov. 25th.
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ST. BARBARA ORTHODOX MONASTERY
LIFE OF PRAYER
St. Barbara Orthodox Monastery is a women's monastic community of the Diocese of the West of the Orthodox Church in America, under His Grace, Bishop VASILY, bishop of San Francisco and the West.
The Monastery was founded in 1992 and has been located in Santa Paula, California, since late 2005.
The Sisters maintain a regular cycle of daily liturgical services and partly earn their living growing lavender and producing lavender products, selling solid wood caskets, and operating a small bookstore and online gift shop.
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In our daily pursuits, we at St. Barbara Orthodox Monastery strive to embody the teachings of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through prayerful devotion to the Holy Trinity, living in community, hospitality, and diligent labor, we seek to deepen our love for God and neighbor, endeavoring to make our monastery a prayerful and peaceful haven for all who visit.
THE LIFE OF ST. BARBARA
St. Barbara, a 4th-century martyr, embraced Christianity while sequestered in a tower by her wealthy pagan father, Dioscorus.
While gazing out of her tower and pondering what she saw, Barbara marveled at the inspiring beauty of nature she beheld, and reasoned rightly that there must be a loving Creator who was responsible for the beauty that thrilled her soul.
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She learned about the Christian faith (possibly from her faithful attendants). The more she drank in the truths of the Faith, not only was her heart captivated by God's marvelous creation, but also by Christ's wondrous love and work of salvation on the Cross in our behalf.
She was secretly baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity in her father's absence by a traveling priest disguised as a peddler.
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So strong was her love for Christ, that this young maiden was willing to suffer greatly and give up her own life for the truth of her new found faith.
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LIFE AT THE MONASTERY
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Note:
​Celebrate our Altar Feast with us:
Feast Day of the Great Martyr Barbara
Wed, Dec. 3rd, 4 pm Vigil
Thurs, Dec. 4th, 10 am Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, preceded by the Hours
His Grace, Bishop VASILY, presiding
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**Thursday, Nov. 25:
12:15 pm Akathist of Thanksgiving
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Weekdays
7 am Matins​
12:15 pm Sixth Hour**
5:30 pm Vespers (Friday Vespers served by Fr. Jude)
7 pm Small Compline or Spiritual Reading
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Saturday
7 am Matins
12:15 pm Sixth Hour
6 pm Vigil (Vespers, Matins, First Hour)
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​Sunday
9:40 am Third & Sixth Hour
10 am Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
6 pm Vigil
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Note:
On the eve of Great Feasts, vigil commences at 6 pm and Divine Liturgy begins at 10 am on the day of the Feast itself.
PLAN A VISIT
If you would like to visit the monastery, please contact us ahead of time via email or phone. Everyone is welcome to attend the liturgical services in our chapel and to share in our common meals together.
There is no fixed fee for overnight accommodations, although free-will donations are gratefully accepted.
We ask that you dress modestly.
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