Women's Retreat

In Search of Reality

May 15, 2010

Forty women from across the state of Virginia took part in a day-long spiritual retreat hosted by All Saints Church, Middlebrook, VA. The retreat centered around talks given by both Mother Andrea and Mother Anna of St. Nicholas Monastery, N. Fort Myers, FL. The main talk given by Mother Andrea was entitled “Reality Check. Are you living in reality?” She focused on the true reality of the church, the spiritual life and God in contrast to the very hectic and false "reality" of this life. She hopes to soon write a book on this subject, saying "This talk today is only the beginning of a very deep subject!" Her second talk was on "Icons". Here she pointed out details of some specific icons and also discussed the true reality of all icons.

Mother Anna, who is originally from Optina in Russia, talked about her life in Optina and also showed a very beautiful DVD about daily life in and around the monastery. Copies of the Optina DVD and all talks are available in the Eastern Diocese Library.

To round out the deep spiritual discussions there was a craft time where the women could choose from several different items to make and take home. Mother Andrea provided most of the craft supplies and ideas, which ranged from small decorated wooden boxes that could be painted and paper icons applied, to jewelry, bookmarks and painted glass bottles.

The women were also treated to a light breakfast, sumptuous lunch and small snack, all made and served by the men of the church

Lastly, to round out a perfectly wonderful day, the women celebrated evening Vespers together in the Church, surrounded by many large and beautiful icons and relics brought by the nuns from the monastery.