Name of Church Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Address 17001 Tomki Road, Redwood Valley, CA 95470

Phone number (707) 485-8959

Website www.monksofmttabor.com

Divine Liturgy times The monks celebrate the Byzantine liturgy. Guests are welcome for retreats. Monday – Friday, Matins begins at 5:30 a.m., followed by Divine Liturgy; Saturday, Matins and Divine Liturgy at 6 a.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy. There are many icons, which are considered windows to heaven, throughout the church.

Confessions Ask one of the priests.

Abbot Father Damian Higgins. He came to the community in 1988, and has since become a talented iconographer. View and purchase his icons (and other items) at www.mounttaborstudios.com. Proceeds support the monastery. Father Damien offers classes in painting icons.

Homilies The monks take turns preaching; the preaching is orthodox and reflects their traditional monastic life.

Location The monastery is located in the Diocese of Santa Rosa, five miles north of the town of Redwood Valley. The monastery overlooks the valley. The area is lush with many trees, as well as vineyards and wineries. Please remember to wear appropriate attire (e.g. no shorts or short dresses allowed). (Historic note: Redwood Valley was once the home of the Jim Jones People’s Temple (1965-74). They relocated to South America and engaged in mass suicide).

Additional observations Holy Transfiguration Monastery is a contemplative, Eastern Catholic monastery, part of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church under the leadership of Sviatoslav Shevchuk, patriarch of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. They are in union with the Pope. Although the church serves people of Ukrainian ancestry, all are welcome to attend. The monks arrived in California in 1974, led by a Belgium-native, Father Boniface Luykx. The local bishop gave permission for them to begin their monastery. The monks spend several hours daily in the church in prayer, and also engage in monastic ascetic practices such as fasting and vigils. Today, Holy Transfiguration is home to about 10 monks. Guests are welcome to participate in the prayer life of the monks. Buildings include a chapel, outdoor chapel, retreat house, dining room, bookstore and residence for the monks (with private cells). There is also an outdoor hiking trail. Buildings have the classic, onion-shaped domes and crosses, and are made of bare wood common to the region.