Report on the Conference for Orthodox Women – September 13-15, 2024

      Just as every sunrise has a specific time set precisely by God, so also the plans we make have a specific time He sets for them to come to pass. This year’s Orthodox Women’s Conference at Mountain View was initiated by Abbas Evfrosinia and providentially came to pass for such a time as this! The Sisters and all those who volunteered to make this event happen did so, and it was a resounding success that we all benefitted from through their hospitality, food preparation, and dedicated labor of love. The theme of the conference focused on growing in our Spiritual life through the sacrament of confession and learning to truly live as lights in this dark world. The lectures given helped us learn the essentials of doing this, and the intimate round table discussions were a time to apply practically what was learned, to ask questions, share struggles, and give God the Glory for the small victories in our own lives.

    The weekend was a time for the women to come together in prayer, worship and fellowship for the edification of one another. Fr Nikita (Grigoriev) graciously came to preside at the liturgy on Sunday and the weekend closed with a trip to Saint John of San Francisco Orthodox Monastery in nearby Cobleskill, NY.      

   The Conference for Orthodox Women – “The Search of the Lost Monastic Community”, in hindsight, was a well done and edifying weekend for all of us. And just as it only takes one candle to light a thousand others, toward that end, may this be the beginning of many future conferences to the Glory of Jesus Christ!

-Fr Lazarus Gahles