The Saint Elizabeth Sisterhood, whose patron is the New Martyr Elizabeth of Russia, was established in 2019. Our convent is located at Saint Mary of Egypt Serbian Orthodox Church in the East Side of Kansas City, Missouri. As of June 2022, the sisterhood consists of one stavrophore nun and three rassophore nuns.
It is our cross and our purpose to be monastics in the midst of the city; to be lights to the Saint Mary’s community and the surrounding neighborhood. We are here to illustrate, especially for the children of our parish, that there are two possible paths for Orthodox Christians: monasticism and marriage. We are here to show that it is possible to repent, to give one’s whole life back to God, and to be participants in God’s kingdom while on earth.
With God’s help, under the guidance of our spiritual father, and following the example of Saint Elizabeth — who sacrificed her wealth and status as royalty to serve the suffering and become who Christ intended her to be — we are repenting of the American values of individualism and self-actualization by learning to live as a group with one heart and mind, serve our parish, and love each other with Christ-like love.
We are becoming sanctified and wholly pursuing Christ. Through common and personal prayer and our unique obediences, we are exploring the synergy between Martha (outreach) and Mary (hesychia). We pray Matins and Vespers daily and maintain a nightly vigil; support the priest and parish ministries; run the church bookstore; sew baptismal robes; teach at the parish school, Mount Tabor School of the Liberal Arts; and participate in the Archangel Gabriel Society, a ministry for nurturing the souls of the dead and dying.
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