St. Thekla Convent hosts 33rd pilgrimage

(AOCANA) - Please join us at the Antiochian Village from September 23-25, 2011 for the Patronal Feast of St. Thekla Convent. This is the 33rd Annual Pilgrimage at the Village and the 3rd since the founding of the monastery.

As Orthodox Christians, our lives are a type of pilgrimage, so why set time aside to attend the St. Thekla Pilgrimage? The key is in "setting aside." We invite you "to set aside all earthly cares" and to join us in refocusing and refreshing ourselves in our Orthodox life. Like St. Thekla, Protomartyr and Equal to the Apostles, together we will pray at the Divine Liturgy and services, obtain guidance and direction from the Gospels for our lives at home, and enjoy fellowship with other pilgrims.

Through the intercession of Saint Thekla, may this Pilgrimage be blessed!

Speakers and Workshops

The speakers for the weekend are His Grace, Bishop Thomas, who is our guest Hierarch and Mother Alexandra, who will offer a talk on prayer.

There will be four workshop sessions offered concurrently:

• Orthodox Family Life
  
  This session will discuss the daily Pilgrimage of Orthodox life in our homes, how faith directs us and how the love of God binds us.
• How do we live faithfully through crisis?
  
  This session will discuss the times in our lives when our plans are interrupted or changed.
• Sacraments: Part II
  
  As requested, Fr. Meletios Zafaran will continue the discussion started last year in Arabic.
• Book Discussion
  
  "Miles to Go: The Second Journal of the Walk Series" by Richard Paul Evans.

The faithful are welcome to join us for any or all of the weekend. Go here for the full schedule, brochure and registration form (for reservation of meals and/or lodging).