Diocesan Clergy Brotherhood Meets in Fall Synaxis at Antiochian Village

The Clergy Brotherhood of the Diocese of Oakland, Charleston and the Mid-Atlantic met in Synaxis under the Patronage and prayers of St. Joseph of Damascus, October 16-19, 2017 at Antiochian Village.  We experienced once again the warm hospitality and service of the Village under the excellent direction of Amy Stiffler and her staff, and the exquisite cuisine at the hand of Tim Johnston and his crew.

Prayer, fellowship, education and periods of quiet reflection made it a precious time for the brethren with our beloved Bishop THOMAS. This year our speaker was Fr. Joshua Makoul, who led us in four sessions on the theme of "The Healing of the Soul," employing his expertise in the modern application of the insights of the Desert Fathers to our lives. We were encouraged to dig deep to uncover often unconscious or unresolved issues and experiences in our lives and those of our parishioners which can affect our relationships and perceptions – sometimes “shadowboxing with our past through our relationships in the present” (Tian Dayton).  His deep reflection on these issues and ability to relate them in accessible terms were clearly manifest and greatly appreciated. We were given tools to deepen our spiritual life through vigilance and willingness to explore our own past and perceptions, and more effectively pastor the members of the royal priesthood over which we have been given responsibility.

The services of Orthros, Vespers, Compline and Liturgies in both Western and Eastern traditions fed our souls with prayer, worship and excellent homilies. As is traditional at our Synaxis, we held a Supplication service to St. Raphael and had Trisagion prayers for our leaders of thrice-blessed memory, Metropolitan PHILIP and the recently departed Bishop ANTOUN at their resting places at the Camp. Our joy was mingled with sorrow as we received the news of the repose of our brother, the Archpriest George Rados, whom we remembered at each service. May all their memories be eternal!

We were given a preview of the next PLC for our Diocese which will take place at the Village next summer, under the sponsorship of St. Philip’s Souderton, St. George, Darby and Holy Ascension, Chester, and the direction of Frs. Noah Bushelli, Joel Gillam and Daniel Meyer. It promises to be a rich experience for all at our “home away from home” the Antiochian Village.