Better a humble unlettered brother who, working the good things he
knows, gains Heaven than one who though being distinguished for his
Scriptural learning, or being a teacher, lacks the bread of love." 

The Ven. Bede (673-735)

Saint Petroc Monastery is named in honour of the famous Orthodox Abbot,  who was born circa A.D. 490 in Wales.  He became a monk,  and among his disciples was Saint Coemgen (the patron saint of Dublin).  Travelling to Cornwall, he set up his Abbey at Padstow (derived from his name) where he was Abbot for over thirty years. He then left, setting up a hermitage near Rough Tor on Bodmin Moor.   Saint Petroc reposed in A.D. 564.  Associated with him in the Monastery were Saint Croidan, Saint Medan and Saint Dagan.  The Feast of Saint Petroc is on the 17th of June.



The Monastery is headed by its Abbot, Fr Michael, and consists of several houses which are geographically spread - according to the work given to the Monastery by His Eminence, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church in the West.

Apart from being the Superior of the Monastery - which is opening new outreach initiatives - Fr. Michael oversees eight monastery missions and missionary projects in the UK, the Philippines and Australia

His appointment by the Metropolitan as being in charge of English missions is only some twelve months old and is a very welcome challenge.

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The work in Florida has now become a separate monastery, absorbing the Mount Royal monastery, and is now headed by Abbot David.

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We note Saint George the Martyr Hermitage is being headed by its Prior, Fr. Joshua, and involves an intense period of building. It is in the process of taking over a redundant Roman Catholic church south of Belen for use while the major project of the new monastery on its 48 acres of land in the highlands proceeds.   Prayers of the faithful are requested for this work which will involve outreach to various parts of the community at large.

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Saint Petroc Monastery works closely with the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion in all that it does. Metropolitan Hilarion joined us to pontificate at a solemn celebration of the Divine Liturgy according to the "English Liturgy" on the feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist marking the centenary of the decision of the Holy Synod of Russia to permit the adaption of the services taken from the Book of Common Prayer,



The English Liturgy is included in the Saint Colman Prayer Book which has been authorised for use. At last count, Western Rite is used in five Russian Orthodox dioceses in the west.



The greatest blessing for a monastery is to have a close working relationship with its ruling bishop. This is especially important when the bishop sets the monastery a specific task within the diocese. That close relationship is at its peak when the bishop joins the monastery for the Divine Liturgy.