The Brotherhood of the All-Merciful Saviour was established in 1986 by Archimandrite Dimitry (Egoroff) of blessed memory. The Monastery is under the omophore of The Most Rev. Archbishop Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America, of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The Very Rev. Igumen Tryphon is the abbot of the monastery.
The Monastery is located on scenic Vashon Island in the central Puget Sound, near Seattle, Washington. About a twenty minute ferry ride from West Seattle and 15 minute ferry ride from Tacoma, Vashon is only accessible by boat. The Island is heavily forested, and, although it is in a major metropolitan region, it remains rural. About 85% of the island is undeveloped forest.
The Monastery is actually on Maury Island, connected by a thin body of land at Quartermaster Harbor, and collectively referred to as Vashon Island. Just south of the small village of Dockton, the Monastery is on a hill surrounded by a forest of large fir, hemlock and madrona trees.
The monks came to the Island in 1988 and rented a small farm house near the current location for a number of years. Through the generosity of Islanders John and Georgia Ratzenberger, who gave them five acres of land, the monks were able to begin building a permanent presence on the Island. The monks were eventually able to acquire the neighboring eleven acres. The present sixteen acres is surrounded on two sides by a forty acre water shed.
Through God’s mercy and the generosity and hard work of Islanders and Orthodox Christians across the country, the monastic community has constructed a small chapel dedicated to St. John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco, a katholikon (main temple) dedicated to the Holy Protection of the Theotokos, as well as seven monastic cells, the Metropolitan Laurus Memorial Library, and the Trapeza (dining hall and kitchen). The brotherhood welcomes visitors but requests pilgrims call before taking the ferry.
As a contemplative community, we try to preserve our solitude, while also welcoming visitors to share in the services and the beauty of the monastic grounds. Donations toward the support of the monastery, are gratefully received. You may do so by using your credit card, or by mailing a contribution directly to the monastery.
Visitors are welcome. We are generally open from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm from Tuesday to Saturday, but it is good to call, to make sure we are available to accommodate you or if you would like to attend daily services.
We ask that all visitors dress modestly. Men should wear long sleeved shirts and pants. Women should wear long sleeved blouses, long skirts or dresses. Additionally, women are asked to wear scarves when attending services. Children are expected to be kept close, and not allowed to roam freely. Smoking and pets are strictly forbidden.
Overnight visitors
For men who would like to stay overnight, call to make arrangements. Donations are appreciated to help cover costs. For women and couples, there are various B&Bs and Inns available on the island. You can stay overnight there and then attend services with us during the day.
Author: Vashon Island
Vashon is an Island located between Tacoma and West Seattle. This account manages the vashon-maury.com website full on useful information for residents and visitors of the Island.
