It was an unusually warm November weekend that greeted the more than thirty people who traveled from as far as Maryland for the Second Annual St. Nectarios Retreat in Lenox, Massachusetts. Begun as a parish retreat for Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Danbury, Connecticut, the St. Nectarios Retreat held the first weekend of November has become the cornerstone event for the Diocesan St. Nectarios Prayer Society. Dedicated to the humble saint of Aegina, the St. Nectarios Prayer Society strives to instill in the faithful of the diocese a love of prayer. This is accomplished rough specific daily prayers for different diocesan institutions and needs, monthly Prayer services held in parishes throughout the diocese and the Annual Retreat held in Lenox, Massachusetts.
This year Rev. Fr. Miles Zdinak, pastor of Holy Resurrection Church in Potomac, Maryland and Dean of the Washington, DC Deanery, was the Retreat master for the weekend. His topic was on the common links between the Jewish Seder meal and our Divine Liturgy. Entitled “The Common Cup”, the discussion and actual demonstration of the Seder meal, revealed how Christ in his life and teaching fulfilled the promises of the Old Testament. Fr. Miles explained that Christ in His teaching and preaching was using images and examples that would be easily recognizable and understandable to the Jews of that time. For example the parable of the wise and foolish virgins waiting for the bridegroom was a Jewish custom that, although foreign to us, was immediately understood by those who heard Christ. The topic was well received by all who attended.
The Retreat was evenly divided between prayer and fellowship. Following check-in at The Village Inn on Friday evening, everyone was on their own until morning. Saturday, everyone woke to a continental breakfast at the inn’s restaurant and then morning prayers followed by the presentation. Everyone broke for lunch and were free for the rest of the afternoon until 5:30 p.m. when everyone gathered together for a Moleben to St. Nectarios and anointing with oil. A Panachida was served for Robert Paltauf, a parishioner of Holy Trinity, who was the Retreat coordinator for the last sixteen years. Following this, priests were available for confessions. Many people, moved by the presentation and the Christian fellowship, did approach this sacrament. Following confessions, people gathered at the restaurant of The Village Inn and settled in for a gourmet dinner.
On Sunday morning, everyone gathered for Divine Liturgy at the chapel of the local Episcopal church. The stone building was filled with the sound of our traditional Plain Chant melodies. Nearly every retreat participant came forward to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Following Liturgy, everyone gathered for a great New England style country buffet breakfast after which everyone departed for home. Many new friendships were made and old ones were rekindled. People from across the East Coast gathered together, if only for a short weekend, for a brief respite to drink from the fountain of life.
