Cochise monks agree to build church off hill

TUCSON, AZ — A Greek monastery’s church will be built 70 feet below the top of a 120-foot hill in an agreement reached with Cochise County officials.

Monks from the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Monastery had planned to build on top of the hill in Bisbee. They agreed Tuesday to the new plan and to construct buildings with neutral earth-toned colors to blend in with the landscape.

“We are very happy they brought it off the hill. They didn’t have to do it, and they did,” said Karen Weilacher, one of 14 people who had filed an appeal against the original project.

Opponents said the church’s height of up to 60 feet, or six floors, on top of a hill would mar the gateway to a sacred area.

The new development plan also imposes restrictions such as allowing no more than 70 monks to live at the monastery, with no more than 150 overnight guests at any time.

The Greek monks own 481 acres just outside the eastern side of Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains, about 70 miles southeast of Tucson. The monks plan to build several structures, including a church with a bell tower and a cross.