These plans have been divided into three phases. Phase I will be the initial building project. This will include 6 apartments. Four of them will initially be cells for the first monks, but the remaining two apartments will be for accommodating small groups for spiritual retreat. There will also be a chapel, library, kitchen, office, and laundry. Each cell for the monks will have an inner and outer chamber that in entirety will have a kitchenette, full bathroom, closet and stairs to a loft. The entry for the public will be directly to the chapel on the east end and to the office on the west end thus leaving the area for the monks' cells private. This should preserve an atmosphere for the seclusion and meditation that monasticism requires.
Phase II will essentially be a mirror image of Phase I with several more apartments, but without adding another chapel and library at its west end.
Phase III, by the grace of God, will ultimately have the main entrance and a walkway that will connect this building to the other two. The first floor of this building will include a larger chapel for those visiting the monastery for spiritual retreat and conferences, a large dining hall and kitchen, lecture rooms, gift shop and bookstore. The second floor will include a large library and conference rooms for in-depth studies in Coptic orthodoxy - including monasticism, dogmatic, comparative, and ritual theology, mission, history, church canon, etc. - the tradition that our Fathers delivered to us from our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the early phases of the monastery and retreat center, the conferences and theological studies will be held in the rooms of St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church across the street until the proper space is provided by the building of Phase III. The church of the monastery named after the Archangel Michael and St. Shenouda the Archimandrite is located on the lower level of St. Mark's Church building and is intended to provide for the services of the monastery.
May God continue to bless this project. Please remember us in your prayers.
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