The annual Northern California AOCWNA Retreat elicited raves from its 70 participants as they shared sunlight and enlightenment. Meeting at the San Damiano Retreat Center, perched on a hill above the San Ramon Valley, the ladies gained new perspectives from the spiritual as well as the physical environment.

Heather MacKean, an iconographer, presented and developed the theme, "Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Exploring the richness of the iconography of the Orthodox Church and its place in our worship." She shared slides of her own and of famous icons, pointing out the traditional aspects and the unique features. After presenting the history of icons, particularly the iconoclastic period, she quoted from the Fathers as well as from contemporary writings on the evocative nature of icons.

Time with our Bishop Joseph is treasured. Formally he spoke briefly at vespers Friday night and then in a keynote address Saturday morning. His Grace pointed out that heretics have always hated icons, just as they have hated Scripture. The heretic crushes icons just as he twists and distorts Scripture, both being the outward sign of inward Truth. As we can see in the icons of saints, Christ came to restore Adam, so that the light of God can shine through humanity.

Fr. David Hovik, the advisor of AOCWNA and Fr. Richard Ballew also graced this retreat with their presence.

Bishop Joseph’s formal address was prefaced with comments supporting a plea from the previous night to help register more women for next year so that there is no question of its success. The Bishop urged the ladies not to let money be a deterrent, to spare no expense to grow in affiliation with God. If one does not have that relationship, all other relationships suffer.

By: Roberta Sardell

The annual Northern California AOCWNA Retreat elicited raves from its 70 participants as they shared sunlight and enlightenment. Meeting at the San Damiano Retreat Center, perched on a hill above the San Ramon Valley, the ladies gained new perspectives from the spiritual as well as the physical environment.

Heather MacKean, an iconographer, presented and developed the theme, "Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Exploring the richness of the iconography of the Orthodox Church and its place in our worship." She shared slides of her own and of famous icons, pointing out the traditional aspects and the unique features. After presenting the history of icons, particularly the iconoclastic period, she quoted from the Fathers as well as from contemporary writings on the evocative nature of icons.

Time with our Bishop Joseph is treasured. Formally he spoke briefly at vespers Friday night and then in a keynote address Saturday morning. His Grace pointed out that heretics have always hated icons, just as they have hated Scripture. The heretic crushes icons just as he twists and distorts Scripture, both being the outward sign of inward Truth. As we can see in the icons of saints, Christ came to restore Adam, so that the light of God can shine through humanity.

Fr. David Hovik, the advisor of AOCWNA and Fr. Richard Ballew also graced this retreat with their presence.

Bishop Joseph’s formal address was prefaced with comments supporting a plea from the previous night to help register more women for next year so that there is no question of its success. The Bishop urged the ladies not to let money be a deterrent, to spare no expense to grow in affiliation with God. If one does not have that relationship, all other relationships suffer.

By: Roberta Sardell