Holy Assumption Monastery Oca

An amazing place of solitude and reflection. I was able to visit frequently on friends and family day that they have once a month. You can email to be requested to be added on the email list Mother Melania sends every month. They have a little store that sells their home made treats and there’s also books for farther reflection. I would recommend this place to those that need a calm and peaceful experience. There’s a little place on the side of the river where you could journal as well.

Holy Assumption Monastery had a booth offering baked goods. the sisters all wore
«habits» (think that is the proper word)
locale: calistoga farmers market (1÷3÷15)
offerings, meringes, chocolate cookies, rosemary ?
eats: merigue, orange zest, chocolate (.75)
–very sweet merigue, fillings not so flavorful
chocolate chip cookies (1.5@ or 6/​$ 6
–chewy texture with very choccolate chips within cookie
5 stars for the cookies
crumbs:
–samples freely offered
–friendly, quick service
–have no idea why they were at farmers market.

Visited here a few months ago and it was an interesting experience. I contacted the monastery before coming to ask when would be best to arrive and also their website says they are used to visitors. Although when I went it was a rather awkward experience as it seemed they didn’t know what to do with me and I got the impression they couldn’t understand why I was there so I felt like I was imposing and didn’t stay very long.
The sisters are very gracious and friendly however and I was shown around and the history of the place was explained to me. It’s a lovely place, with one of the best retaining walls (a huge concrete koi pond) I’ve ever seen. The chapel is amazing and I highly recommend going to see it, I unfortunately missed the service that day.
Their little store is full of neat things and I bought some of their honey and books.
The monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery under the western diocese with it’s roots in the Russian Orthodox church. But anyone can go visit, it doesn’t matter what your faith is. And all the sisters are American and are not foreigners (as many assume of the Orthodox church in general) so don’t let that keep you away. Orthodoxy is a beautiful thing more Americans should experience.

Holy Assumption Monastery is a reminder of the Russian presence in Northern California. The chapel itself is a replica of the one at Fort Ross. It’s a quiet, contemplative place. It has vespers early in the morning and in the early evening. The monastery sits peacefully beside the Napa River. There is an aviary and animals.
In a residential neighborhood, it’s a silent refuge. The chapel is a place of simplicity and beauty, filled with icons.
There has been talk of this monastery eventually housing Russian and Greek nuns. The nuns now run their own gift shop, make their own honey and olive oil, as well host guests at lunch. Lunchtime is inspirational and contemplative.
Holy Assumption Monastery is an unusual destination in the North Bay. It’s Eastern Orthodox, but it isn’t affiliated with a Bulgarian, Russian, or Greek Orthodox denomination. It’s named Assumption, more of a Catholic term than the Eastern Orthodox Dormition.
Holy Assumption Monastery is a place of solitude and silence.