The Path Orthodoxy

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The 2015 Winter Retreat –
Midwest Diocese
An
Excellent
Experience
New Gracanica - Over 110 high school
and college students came together for spirituality,
fellowship, and healing.
It all started on Monday evening December
28, 2015, when a harsh winter storm hit
the Chicago area. It seemed that most of the
participants would not be able to make it.
By the grace of God and the prayers of His
most holy Mother, almost everyone arrived
- and all arrived safely.
That night we first went into the church
to read the Akathist- prayers to the Mother
of God to ask for her blessing and protection.
The following day, water was blessed
and all the participants were soaked (sprinkled)
with holy water. In the evening everyone
partook of the sacrament of Holy Unction
- for the healing of soul and body. For
many of the retreaters, this was their first
time partaking in the sacrament of Holy
Unction, and all said that it was a healing,
beautiful and blessed experience!
On Wednesday everyone had Confession
and then on Thursday during Divine
Liturgy all received Communion - the holy
body and blood of Christ. During the Liturgy
one of the helpers Nikola Cvijanovic
was tonsured a Reader by His Grace Bishop
Longin.
On Thursday Night we had a Moleban
- a candlelight vigil thanking God for the
past year and asking for blessings in the upcoming
year. The retreat concluded with a
traditional group hug.
We were blessed with excellent presentations
by Fr. Aleksej, Fr. Serafim, Fr.
Nikola Radovancevich, Protinica Ann
Krosnjar, and Protinica Snezana Novakovic.
The presentations were Christ-centered
and relating to things young people
deal with in their everyday life. Following
were the themes of the presentations: Dear
lost in paradise, His (Christ’s) Body, College
– heaven and or hell, Rejection. As
the crown to the presentations and many
smaller group discussions, the youth was
blessed with the presence of our Bishop
Longin who answered questions for over an
hour and a half. Four priests present at all
time gave each of the participants an opportunity
to talk and counsel.
From the spiritual readings at meals to
small group discussions, much was covered.
The meals were gourmet as well as healthy
(Lenten soup, fruit and vegetables daily),
and the 3,000 square-foot game room was a
nice addition. The Poetry/ Comedy/ Share a
Gift Night was a big hit again - once again
we discovered some awesome talent. Serbian
Anti-Yoga (which are walks through
the Monastery grounds) was also as popular
as ever. Learning to chant, serve, and read
for church services was a success.
We were even blessed to celebrate the
new calendar New Year’s Eve in a Lenten
fashion. So, after the candlelight vigil in
All photos courtesy of Kosovska Spreco
10
• The Path of Orthodoxy Winter 2016