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| His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela’s theme for the 2012 Archon Lenten Retreat will be “Homecoming” with particular focus on the Prodigal Son.
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Dear Brother Archons,
It is with great joy that we invite you and your families to attend the Ninth Annual National Archon Lenten Retreat on March 30 and 31 under the chairmanship of Archon Hieromnimon Peter Skeadas. In continuing to foster greater connection with our sister Orthodox churches under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, this year’s Lenten retreat will be at the headquarters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the United States located in Somerset, New Jersey (135 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, NJ 08873; Tel: 732-356-0090). Our retreat master, leading our retreat entitled HOMECOMING, will be His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela who states: “Great Lent is a spiritual journey, an opportunity to return to the loving embrace of our heavenly Father. At this retreat we will have the opportunity to explore the biblical story of the Prodigal Son, the characters of the elder brother and father as they are depicted in Rembrandt’s famous painting The Return of the Prodigal Son and draw from the reflections of Henri Nouwen and our Church’s rich Tradition.”
Please set aside the time on your calendars to join us in fellowship and prayer with your brother Archons. It is an experience you will not forget and one that will reenergize your spiritual commitment to live a Christ-centered life. All of the information you will need is contained in the attached materials. There are a few actions you must take if you intend to come, including:
- Making your reservation with the Hampton Inn. Call 732-563-1600 and mention the group name “Order of St. Andrew” with group code “ARCHON” to qualify for the special daily rate of $69 excluding taxes
- Sending a check for $50 per person, payable to the “Order of St. Andrew the Apostle” and your completed form, by no later than March 15th.
The retreat will begin on Friday, March 30 at 6:00 pm with services at the St. Andrew Memorial Church followed by a Lenten Fellowship Dinner at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. On Saturday, March 31, we will convene in the Church at 8:30 am for Divine Liturgy, a light breakfast and the Retreat session. We expect to conclude prior to the 6:00pm Great Vesper Services at the St. Andrew Memorial Church.
Please take advantage of this opportunity to energize your Orthodoxy and strengthen your devotion to our Lord and Savior so that we may serve the needs of the Great Church of Christ with the “shield of faith,” the “helmet of salvation” and the “sword of the Spirit” in the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, as we seek religious freedom for the Holy and Great Mother Church of Constantinople.
In Christ,
Anthony J. Limberakis, MD
Archon Aktouarios
National Commander
Download the Retreat Forms(Packet includes: Detailed Info, Program, Reply Form, Biography, & Directions)
