New Men, an Orthodox documentary by Sam Cox

Hidden in a holler of Wayne County, Holy Cross Hermitage is home to 25 men, mostly American converts, who follow a 1, 700yearold monastic tradition. Monks take vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, meaning they will never marry, own personal property, or leave the monastery unless directed to do so by their superiors. Over the course of the Church year, a picture of life at Holy Cross unfolds over a backdrop of rolling hills and striking seasonal changes. The monks reflections on shedding former identities to embrace new lives of prayerful asceticism are woven together with rarely seen moments of the communitys daily work and prayer. As the brotherhood prepares for Pascha, the most important Orthodox holiday, Father Justin reflects on his journey towards Orthodoxy and his upcoming final vows. The film culminates with Father Justins tonsuring ceremony in which he receives a new name and vows to live in the Monastery until death.