Pan-Orthodox Lenten Retreat Hosted by Holy Protection Orthodox Church, Dover, Florida a Great Success
Pan-Orthodox Lenten Retreat in Dover, FL - a Great Success!

Pan-Orthodox Lenten Retreat Hosted by Holy Protection Orthodox Church, Dover, Florida a Great Success!

The “Need for Repentance in an Un-Sorry World” was the theme of a Pan-Orthodox Lenten Retreat hosted by Holy Protection Orthodox Church of Dover, Florida under the sponsorship of the Ukrainian Orthodox League. The Lenten Retreat was held at Bethany Center in Lutz, Florida just north of Tampa on Friday February 23 and Saturday February 24, 2018.

His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, Prime Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of USA, was in attendance at the sessions and provided the overall spiritual guidance for the Retreat. The Retreat featured enlightening, thought-provoking, and often entertaining presentations by four esteemed clergy: 

• V. Rev. Dr. Harry Linsinbigler (Assistant Professor of Theology at St. Sophia Seminary; Priest at Holy Protection Orthodox Church; Canonist and Consistory Director of Religious Education for the UOC of USA; Faculty member for the Denver College of Nursing in Ethics and Critical Thinking) 
• Rev. Fr. Joseph Ciarciaglino (Pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Orthodox Church in Tampa, FL; a US Army Veteran and highly experienced Attorney at Law; founder of a clinic in Uganda in cooperation with the OCMC and the Orthodox Church of Uganda, Patriarchate of Alexandria)
• Rev. Fr. Dr. Gregory Edwards (Assistant Professor of Missiology at St. Vladimir’s Seminary; Presiding Priest at St. George Parish in New Port Richey, FL; translator and editor of numerous scholarly and faith publications; formerly a priest of the Church of Greece)
• Protopresbyter Athanasios Haros (founder of “Be Transfigured Ministries,” an Internet ministry which produces, publishes, and promotes online Orthodox Christian ministries including Bible studies; Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, FL)

The speakers offered their unique perspectives on the Lenten Journey in general and on the Retreat theme in particular. The program finished with a Q&A panel discussion, after which Metropolitan Antony offered closing thoughts. His Eminence thanked the speakers and observed that all of them in their own way had fed his spirit during this remarkable and inspiring event. 

In addition to the sessions, the Retreat featured several opportunities for communal prayer and fellowship. At the outset on Friday evening, His Eminence Metropolitan Antony celebrated a Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in the Bethany Center’s St. James Chapel. The Chapel is in an especially picturesque Florida setting, with expansive views of Lake Mary directly behind the altar. Saturday began with morning prayers in the lecture room, and concluded with Vespers in the Chapel celebrated by Fr. Harry with Metropolitan Antony in attendance. His Eminence was the main celebrant at a Divine Liturgy at Holy Protection in Dover, Florida on Sunday morning, which, as the first Sunday of the Great Fast, commemorates the Triumph of Orthodoxy. All of these services were spiritually uplifting and especially meaningful given the prayerful and reflective nature of the whole Retreat weekend. 

The Bethany Center provided hearty Lenten meals on Friday and Saturday. After Liturgy on Sunday, the Holy Protection Parish hosted a delicious Lenten lunch in the church hall for all attendees. 

Over the course of the weekend, approximately 35 people attended this Lenten Retreat at the Bethany Center.  While most participants were from the local Tampa area, several people took advantage of the occasion to escape the wintry weather in the Northeast and enjoy the summer-like weather of Florida: Pam Scannell from St. John the Baptist Parish in Johnson City was there with her father Dr. Peter Hatala; Lynne and Dan Gulak, and Daria Pishko and Michael Komichak made the trip from Holy Ascension Parish in Maplewood, NJ; and Janice Meschisen travelled from St. Michael Parish in Woonsocket, RI.

Thanks to all who made this Retreat such a success. Fr. Harry, Pani Carrie, and the local Holy Protection Retreat committee chaired by Natalie Brennan and Parish Board President Beverly Gursky worked very hard to organize this first Lenten Retreat in their area, and they are looking forward to building on this success next year. If your parish is interested in holding a Lenten Retreat like this in the future, the UOL is ready to help you in that effort. Please contact Education Commission Chair Teresa Linck (auditor@uolofusa.org) or Daria Pishko Komichak (vp1@uolofusa.org) for more information. 

In addition to this Retreat in the Tampa, Florida area, the UOL is sponsoring two other Lenten Retreats this year: one in the Ohio / Western PA region, which was held on March 3, and another in Bethlehem, PA which will be on March 24. For details about these and future Retreats, please visit uolofusa.org.

Pan-Orthodox Lenten Retreat in Dover, FL - a Great Success!

Pan-Orthodox Lenten Retreat in Dover, FL - a Great Success! - 03/09/2018

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