| From Friday 25 to Monday 28 September, the youth from St George’s Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Thornbury, travelled to the Antiochian Village in Goulburn for our first Youth Spiritual Retreat. The retreat provided a unique opportunity for young people to participate in the life of a monastery, stepping away from the busyness of everyday life and dedicating time to deepening their relationship with Christ through spiritual talks, the cycle of Church services, fellowship, and activities.
Our daily prayer cycle began with Morning Prayers and Matins. At sundown, we gathered for Vespers, and each evening concluded with Small Compline. Through this rhythm of prayer, the youth experienced something of the daily life of the Church and the prayerful rhythm of monastic life. On Saturday evening, the youth were blessed by the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios Kodseie, who joined us during Small Compline. Together, the youth and His Eminence chanted the Resurrectional Troparia for Sunday and the hymn O Pure Virgin. The following day, His Eminence presided over Matins and the Divine Liturgy, offering spiritual encouragement through his sermon on Luke 5:1–11. The liturgy was attended as well by Her Excellency the Ambassador of Lebanon, Mrs. Mirna Khawly who joined us to the lunch. The spiritual programme commenced on Friday evening with a talk by Father Isaac Wehbe, who introduced the theme, “Slavery to Sin, Freedom in Christ,” through a reflection on (Romans 6:19). Beginning with the purpose of monastic life and its daily cycle of prayer and work, Father Isaac explored the three foundational monastic vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience. This encouraged the youth to reflect on what it means to become “slaves of righteousness,” joyfully dedicating every aspect of their lives to Christ. His reflections were connected to the retreat’s motto, drawn from St Porphyrios:
The following day, Father Joseph Makdessi and Father Theophan Nahas delivered two spiritual talks offering practical guidance for living a Christ-centred life in the modern world. Father Joseph focused on the various forms of slavery that exist today, particularly those that distract us from God. Drawing connections between Israel’s experience in the Old Testament and the challenges of contemporary society, he reminded the youth of the words of Scripture:
Just as Israel was delivered from Egypt yet repeatedly returned to old habits, Father Joseph encouraged the youth to recognise that spiritual struggle often arises not only from deliberate rebellion, but also from forgetfulness of God. Father Theophan expanded upon this theme by exploring the various vices identified throughout Scripture. Reflecting on Christ’s victory over Satan in Matthew 4 and the Parable of the Prodigal Son, he demonstrated how Christ provides the perfect example for overcoming temptation. Particular attention was given to the passions of gluttony, pride, and avarice, and how these are often normalised within contemporary society. The final spiritual talk was delivered by His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios, who explored the distinction between passions, habits, and sin. Through practical examples and spiritual wisdom, His Eminence explained how passions can gradually develop into sinful actions when left unchecked, and how Christians are called to struggle against the passions through prayer, repentance, and vigilance. He concluded by reminding the youth that repentance is always possible and that the closer one draws to the light of Christ, the more clearly one perceives the need for continual spiritual growth. We extend our sincere gratitude to His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios, Father Isaac, Father Joseph, and Father Theophan for their guidance, wisdom, and loving care throughout the retreat. In addition to the spiritual talks and services, the youth participated in activities designed to foster spiritual growth, service, learning, and fellowship. At the beginning of the retreat, each participant selected a spiritual book for personal reading and reflection throughout the weekend. On the final evening, gathered around the bonfire, Father Isaac delivered a concluding reflection encouraging the youth to consider the fruits of their retreat experience. Each participant then shared insights from their reading, and the evening concluded with the youth prayerfully chanting the Prayer Rope Anthem around the fire. Another memorable activity was the making of prayer ropes, providing an opportunity to learn about their significance within the Orthodox tradition and to create a lasting reminder of the importance of continual prayer. The youth also participated in manual labour around the monastery grounds, including gardening and cleaning. Within the monastic tradition, such work is not viewed merely as a practical necessity but as a form of active prayer and spiritual discipline. On the final day, the youth ventured into town with His Eminence for a time of sightseeing and fellowship. Through conversations, laughter, and shared experiences, the youth were able to spend valuable time with their spiritual shepherd, further strengthening the bond between our youth and their shepherd. The retreat brought together prayer, worship, spiritual teaching, personal reflection, service, and fellowship, allowing the youth to experience something of the rhythm and spirit of monastic life. May the memories, lessons, and spiritual experiences gained throughout the retreat continue to strengthen our young people as they seek to grow in faith, hope, and love. May Christ grant that the seeds planted during these blessed days bear fruit for many years to come, and may He guide our young people ever more deeply into the freedom, joy, and life found in Him. |
