- 1520 GREEN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123
- 415-567-WEST(9378)
- webmaster@dowoca.org
Facing Provocations, Thoughts, and Temptations: Taking Jesus as our Guide
Retreat at the Monastery of St John March 16, 17, and 18, 2018
Retreat leader: Monk Cosmas (Shartz)
"Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?” And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him." (Luke 22:63 – 65)
Jesus faced a lot more temptations and provocations than the three that come readily to mind, when Satan tempted Him in the desert. The Gospels describe many more such situations, although they aren’t always clearly labeled as such. Clearly in the passage here, He is being provoked to give way to fear, anger, and shame — and perhaps other passions.
During Lenten times, we face temptations and provocations, too. As we know, they come at us even more forcefully during periods of additional fasting, prayer, and asceticism. Let’s face it, not only do evil spirits have more incentive to attack us at such times, but we ourselves are more vulnerable when we fast, because we are tired and cranky, and therefore more vulnerable!
In this retreat we will look at passages in the Gospel texts which recount provocations and temptations that came Christ’s way, seeing what passions those situations would tend to provoke, and see how He confronted His challenges, so that He can be our guide in facing the temptations and provocations we ourselves will meet in our own Lenten journey. We will look at a combination of narrative accounts of situations from the Gospels and Christ’s own teachings in His sermons and parables.
Registration information, as well as an informational flyer, will be posted to this website closer to the retreat dates.
St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in Ashland, Oregon, recently released a video highlighting the life of the parish and their ongoing efforts at constructing a permanent church building. Fr. Andreas Blom, Parish Rector, along with various "founders" and the architect of the project comment on the efforts. A beautiful flyover of the property and artist's rendering make the project tangible and immediate.
The video "I Love the Beauty of Thy House" may be viewed here.
The Mitred Archpriest Michael Margitich reposed on November 11, 2017, Veterans Day. He was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, on November 29, 1928 to William (Vasili) and Anna Margitich, emigrés from Carpatho-Russia. His father was a cantor in Uzhgorod before coming to the U.S.
A parishioner of Saint Elizabeth Church in Poulsbo, Washington, has published a collection of poems reflecting on death from an Orthodox Christian perspective. Dedicated to his recently departed mother, author Francis John Spillane initially wrote the poems as an effort to come to terms with an unexpected fear of life caused by her death. As he shared them over the course of a year with fellow parishioners and friends beyond the parish, he eventually realized that he had a collection large enough to fill a small volume.
The poems are reminiscent of C.S. Lewis’s famous reflection on death, A Grief Observed. In that work the apologist for “Mere Christianity” described grief as “a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me,” and in his volume Francis likewise explores the way that death creates a “fog” that threatens to separate the grieving from life, and even from the experience of God’s presence. But the insuppressible power of love—generated especially in memories about our loved ones—and the always active love of God prevent him from falling into despair. The experience of Orthodox worship and piety provides the lantern in a slow, modest, but ultimately victorious journey out of the fog and back into the light of life.
The book is entitled Good Mourning, Hopeful Night: Poems of Grieving, Healing, and Journeying to God.
See details and order here.
As a mother of loss myself, and as a birth doula having assisted several families in navigating the terrible terrain of miscarriage and stillbirth, I am drawn to encourage compassion and healing for fellow Orthodox parents who have experienced this, and raise awareness on the demographic of mourning parents who attend our parishes.
When I invited women from local parishes who have experienced perinatal loss (whether fifty years ago or in the last week) to join me in my home for an afternoon of remembering and honoring the babies we hold in our hearts, I wasn’t prepared for the volume of response I received. Many reached out to say they would like to come, or that they couldn't come but could we please include their babies in prayer, others asked if they may spread the word of this gathering to friends and relatives who have experienced loss so they can submit names as well. In truth, everyone knows someone who has experienced miscarriage or infant loss. They were all welcome to participate.
Women began gathering at 3:00 pm and had tea and cake until everyone was there. There were some books for people to browse, such as Naming the Child, by Jenny Schroedel, Walking the Labyrinth of my Heart, by Dianna Vagianos Armentrout, Expecting Adam, by Martha Beck, Becoming a Healing Presence, by Albert Rossi, and Intimate Death, by Marie de Hennezel. We sat in a circle and each woman was given a sprig of rosemary (rosemary is known as the herb for remembrance) tied with a thread of red yarn (symbolizing the grief that brings us together).
St. Spiridon Cathedral in Seattle was recently featured in the Seattle Times in a story around the beautiful bells rung to summon people to worship. The feature, including ten photos of various bell ringing activties can be found here.
To the Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy of the Diocese of the West:
In response to the terrible fires in the Santa Rosa area and the losses some of our people and those their neighbors have endured, Fr. Lawrence Margitich has established a fund through his parish to provide immediate help and assistance. Could I ask you to look at the link below and to encourage your flocks to contribute to it?
Thank you!
+Benjamin,
Archbishop of San Francisco
To the Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of the West:
I ask you all to keep the people of the Sonoma and Napa valleys in your prayers. As I write this the situation changes hourly. But I can report there have been no casualties so far. Some of our faithful and the nuns of both the Kazan Skete and Calistoga have had to be evacuated. The weather reports promise there will be significant winds today and on the weekend. This means the fire can and probably will spread. The danger will persist as well as a depressing sense of uncertainty for everyone for some time. As of last night, there was zero containment. But, according to Fr. Lawrence Margitich, no one from the parish has been harmed though one family lost their home. There are thousands who have been left with nothing but the clothes on their backs. We are grateful to God for the mercy he has shown us and pray the Theotokos will extend her protecting veil over the faithful of the Napa and Sonoma valleys. The road to recovery is going to be long and difficult even for those who did not lose their homes. Many businesses, schools and other important civic institutions have been destroyed.
Lord, have mercy!
+Benjamin
Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy of the DOW:
As many of you know already there are some serious fires in the Napa and Sonoma counties. The situation changes by the hour.
I have heard from the nuns in Calistoga and they are fine so far. Though the fires are quite close.
I have spoken with Fr. Lawrence Margitich in Santa Rosa and the church is fine. However, some parishioners have been evacuated and at least one family may have lost their home. He also tells me the nuns of the Kazan Skete are safe, but have been evacuated.
Please pray for those who have suffered loss in these fires.
+Benjamin
St. Seraphim Cathedral in Santa Rosa annouces a retreat to be held on Saturday, October 14, 2017. Father Timothy Pavlatos, Director of Family Wellness Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco will be the retreatmaster. Philotimo as Sacramental to Marriage will be presented: the primary purpose of marriage, the proper mindset, and the right disposition to have in one's marriage.
Father Timothy is Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, Fr. Timothy is also a national certified counselor, a Clinical Fellow in the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator, a certified Gottman facilitator, and a certified clinical trauma professional.
Over the past several years, Fr. Timothy has focused on marriage and parenting enrichment, interpersonal neurobiology and trauma. He and Presvytera Victoria have been married since 1995 and are raising their nine children.
Download the flyer and registration form here. Registration is due no later than October 7.
The Diocese of the West is the geographical district of the Orthodox Church in America consisting of the Western United States. The diocese has active parishes in Montana, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii. San Francisco is home to the diocese’s cathedral, Holy Trinity, as well as the Chancery offices. The diocese is led by His Grace Vasily, Bishop of San Francisco and the West.
