Mary Theotokos Monastic Retreat Center
Mary Theotokos Monastic Retreat Center is a Catholic retreat center in the Byzantine Tradition in northeastern Vermont. We are open to all Catholics seeking a deeper communion with God in prayer and contemplation of His Creation. The Retreat Center is situated on some of the most pristine, natural, and beautiful landscape in the country, far removed from the noise and distractions of the world. We're located on 280 acres of beautiful forest, pasture and trout streams, all available for exploration. We have a small working farm that welcomes participation. Please consider us to host an individual, group or youth retreat for a day, weekend or a week. We are open year round. We also have a poustinia (hermitage) available for quite reflection.
Mary Theotokos Monastic Retreat Center was founded in the early 1980's by Fr. Stephen Von Faur. Fr.Steve was a bi-ritual priest in both the Roman and Byzantine Catholic Rites. Fr.Steve passed away in 2011, and Mary Theotokos Monastic Retreat Center came under the care of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New England. It is steeped and decorated in The Eastern Catholic Tradition. We have hosted retreatants from all over the world, large varieies of lay groups, college students, parishes, youth groups as well as religious orders, individual priests and nuns. Oh, and the occasional Catholic honeymooners. They have all come and spent time hearing God in His creation and resting in the quiet beauty of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. We are located just a mile from beautiful Lake Willoughby. There are 280 acres of mountain, forests, pastures and streams, with trails for walking, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, or just getting close to nature and praying in silence with God.
