St. Gregory, this monastery’s patron saint, had the heart of a monk: he treasured silence, asceticism, and the hidden life with God. Yet obedience to the Church drew him back into the city, into the struggles and needs of the people, where his words and witness renewed the faith of countless believers. His life reflects the same “two worlds” in which our monastery is called to live.

Our monastery, set apart in the quiet of Tehachapi yet still accessible to the city of Los Angeles and the wider world, shares this same calling. It is removed from the noise of daily life, yet not cut off from it; it offers a sanctuary rooted in prayer and ascetic struggle, yet placed within reach of the faithful who seek counsel, intercession, and spiritual refreshment. In this way, the monastery stands, like St. Gregory himself, between solitude and society, witnessing to Christ in both. Under his heavenly protection and prayers, we pray that this house may become a place where hearts are lifted from the world to God, and from God back to the world in love.