Nestled in the peaceful region of Boetia, Greece, the Sacred Monastery of St. John of the Ladder is more than just a place of prayer—it is a living testament to resilience, faith, and the enduring tradition of Orthodox monastic craftsmanship.
Our Journey of Faith and Fire
In 1999, our former monastery on Mount Parnitha was destroyed by the Athens earthquake. In an instant, we were without a home. A generous friend of the monastery let our entire brotherhood stay in his one-bedroom apartment, and that is how we lived for over three years. To save money for a new monastery, we worked around the clock, creating Orthodox handiworks and driving all over Greece to sell them at local fares.
Thanks be to God, we eventually gathered enough resources to begin building a new monastery in Boetia, on the sacred grounds of the ancient Byzantine Monastery of the Holy Archangels. Before construction was complete, we had to move out of the apartment. With no alternative, we moved into our partially-built Monastery of St. John of the Ladder before it even had doors or windows. In those times, it was not the physical structure that sustained us, but the grace of God.
Eventually, construction was finished, and this is where our small brotherhood has lived and served ever since, supporting ourselves entirely through the labor of our hands.
Our Monastic Work
Our brotherhood is self-funded through two main forms of work: Handiwork and Publishing.
Handiwork
Our primary craft is the making of traditional, Athonite-style incense. We follow the methods of Mount Athos, using only natural ingredients like pure Ethiopian frankincense and fragrant oils to provide an authentic alternative to mass-produced items.
Beyond incense, our handiwork includes a range of other items for both church and home use. We craft one-of-a-kind komboskini (prayer ropes) and create our own antimensia designs for parishes. We also accept commissions for crafting vestments, skufias, and embroidered appliques to order.
Publishing
We are also engaged in publishing through our Orthodox Christian Treasury series. We produce comprehensive digital editions of the lives of the saints and make many texts freely available in our online Reading Room, seeking to preserve and share the spiritual wealth of the Church.
Our Mission
Our commitment is simple: to provide the Orthodox faithful with genuine items for their life of prayer. Every product, whether it is a physical item from our workshop or a digital text from our press, is created in a spirit of prayer and rooted in the traditions of the Church.
When you acquire an item from us, you are not simply making a purchase. You are sustaining our monastic life, becoming part of our story, and helping to preserve the sacred traditions of Orthodox craftsmanship and learning.
How You Can Participate in Our Story
Our monastery is sustained by the grace of God and the support of friends like you. You can help us continue our mission by purchasing our handmade items or by making a direct donation. We are profoundly grateful for your support.