Saint Elizabeth Skete is a women's monastic community under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad in the Diocese of Eastern America and New York. The Skete was founded by the late Metropolitan Laurus (+ 2008) in 1987. 

        Following the traditional monastic way, the nuns share a common life of work and prayer, a life based upon simple obedience to the commandments of Christ and Holy Scriptures. To support themselves the nuns sew, make hand-dipped beeswax candles, manufacture church incense, weave, make prayer ropes, natural skin creams and blend herbal teas. In the summer they tend their flower and vegetable gardens.

 Every day starts with personal prayers in our cells, followed by midnight office in the chapel and ends again with prayer in the chapel, which all the sisters attend. All obediences are set aside, when it is time for prayer. The akathist to the Iveron icon of the Mother of God is read daily. All services are held in church Slavonic.

 
“Be closer to each other, be as one single soul, wholly devoted to  our Lord, and say, as did Saint John Chrysostom: Glory to God for everything.... You must draw closer to God. The Lord says, My son, give me thine heart and let thine eyes observe My ways… {If you do this} then you can be sure that you have given everything to God because you have given Him your heart, and that means your very self.

St. Elizabeth Skete is home to a piece of the Belt of the Holy Mother of God, enshrined in an Icon of the feast of Her Protection.

Visit our online Gift Store. You will find incense, candles, natural creams, herbal teas and much more.

Your purchases will help to support the skete.