The Holy Female Monastery of Saint Augustine of Florina was founded by the late Metropolitan of Florina and fiery preacher Augustine (Kantiotis) in 1999 at the facilities of the Macedonian Handicraft House. In the monastery there is also the tomb of its metropolitan and founder, Augustine.
It is located at the northern entrance of the city of Florina, next to the parish church of Saint Paraskevi and the Settlement of Neofotistes.
Today the monastery functions as a commune with about 20 nuns and the abbot Sinklitiki.
The newly built katholikon (major temple) of the monastery is honored at saint Augustine, bishop of Hippo (June 15), as well as at the saints of Mary of Egypt and Sinklitiki. Moreover, there are the chapels of “Virgin Mary Engyitria” and Saint Monica (mother of Saint Augustine).
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Saint Augustine was born in Tagasti of Noumidia in Africa, in the year 354 AD, from mother fiery Christian, Monica, and father idolatrous, Patricios. As a young student, he lived a sinful life, from which he had a child born outside marriage. In Africa, he became a fan of Manichaism, but later, when he arrived in Milan, his mother's warm overnight prayers, his thorough study of the holy scriptures by himself and the fiery sermons of the bishop of Mediolanoi, Ambrosios, brought Augustine to Christianity. So he asked to be catechized and was baptized Christian along with his 15-year-old son, Adeodatis.
Later, he returned to Africa where he taught and fervently spread Christianity, and after the demise of his holy mother he moved to Rome.
In 396 AD he took the throne of the Episcopacy of Hippo. There he wisely shepherded his flock for 34 whole years and passed away peacefully at the age of 76, in 430 AD. He also wrote a great theological writing work.
His memory is celebrated on June 15th.
