Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center

Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center, located in the Laurel Highlands region of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Antiochian Village is a picturesque, comfortable, and affordable Christian setting for retreats and group events, situated on 300 acres in the beautiful Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania. Our spacious facility includes 100 guest rooms, a large dining room, meeting rooms, bookstore & gift shop, fitness center, walking trails, a chapel, a theological research library, and a unique herit

age museum. The library was established to support the Antiochian House of Studies, a program that offers accredited graduate degrees in theology. Our museum wing, built in 2004, features exhibits that foster an understanding of Orthodox Christianity and the heritage of the Eastern Mediterranean region around the great city of Antioch, where the disciples of Christ were first called Christians (Acts 11:26).

It’s hard to believe how quickly the season has flown by, but it’s already time to say farewell to our three summer stud...
09/08/2026

It’s hard to believe how quickly the season has flown by, but it’s already time to say farewell to our three summer students. Arsen and Kazybek are university students from Kazakhstan, and Jahandar is a university student from Azerbaijan. Through the InterExchange program, they traveled here to work in our kitchen and housekeeping departments this summer. Their hard work and great attitudes quickly endeared them to us, and we are grateful that our paths have crossed here. Thank you Arsen, Kazybek, and Jahandar!! We appreciate you; we will miss you, and we wish you safe travels home. Godspeed!

Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Camping. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Education Ministry. These departments reach Ort...
08/28/2026

Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Camping. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Education Ministry. These departments reach Orthodox Christians in their formative years to build lasting relationships in our Lord Jesus Christ.

His Eminence Metropolitan Saba encourages all Archdiocesan youth workers to attend the first-ever Youth and Young Adult Ministry Summit from Oct. 22-25, 2026 at the Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center.

As His Eminence says, "In these challenging times for young people, our Archdiocese needs to do everything possible to work together to pass along the 'faith once delivered to the saints' to the next generation.'"

Register today at https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2853.

It's our joy to host the first ever Vocations Retreat put on by Ancient Faith Ministries in conjunction with the Antioch...
08/22/2026

It's our joy to host the first ever Vocations Retreat put on by Ancient Faith Ministries in conjunction with the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. We pray that God grants guidance and discernment to all attending who are considering the priesthood and serving His Church.

Men who, God willing, will become pastors in our churches in the future gathered at Antiochian Village Conference and Re...
08/20/2026

Men who, God willing, will become pastors in our churches in the future gathered at Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center from Aug. 17-19 for the annual retreat for Archdiocesan seminarians. His Eminence Metropolitan Saba presided, joined by His Grace Bishop Thomas.

Returning second- and third-year students were joined by 16 incoming residential seminarians who will begin studies this fall at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. The retreat opened with a supplication service to St. Raphael of Brooklyn.

His Eminence served as this year’s retreat speaker, leading two sessions on Tuesday. In the first, His Eminence asked the seminarians to consider what it truly means to study theology. Drawing on the teaching of St. Silouan the Athonite, he emphasized the essential distinction between knowing about God and knowing God.

For the second session, Sayidna Saba led a wide-ranging discussion beginning with readings from the Holy Fathers and contemporary spiritual teachers. The format was new to this year’s retreat and was warmly received by the seminarians. Rather than simply hearing about the spiritual teachings of the Church, they were invited by His Eminence to struggle together with how those teachings are lived and applied in the Christian life.

“It was an incredible blessing to spend so much time with Sayidna Saba, and to dialogue with my brother seminarians about the spiritual life,” said incoming seminarian Jacob Seagraves. “I feel as though I received a solid impression of the heart of our Archdiocese, and I am excited for the coming year.” Jacob will study at St. Vladimir's Seminary.

The retreat concluded Wednesday morning with Orthros and Hierarchal Divine Liturgy. Before departing Antiochian Village, the seminarians also received their parish assignments for the coming academic year, where they will increase their formation by learning from seasoned pastors and assisting in those communities.

May God strengthen and guide all of our seminarians as they begin another year of formation and service to His Church.

Story by Dn. Andrew Neel. More photos by Subdn. Justin Wehbe at https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2909.

Congratulations to Antiochian Village Camp on another amazing summer! We hope you enjoyed Staff Debrief Weekend, and tha...
08/11/2026

Congratulations to Antiochian Village Camp on another amazing summer! We hope you enjoyed Staff Debrief Weekend, and thank you for all your hard work making summer camp possible for all the campers! God grant you many years and inshallah see you at Liggy Days!

The biennial Midsummer Meetings of the Antiochian Archdiocese were a time of personal renewal and renewed focus for lead...
07/29/2026

The biennial Midsummer Meetings of the Antiochian Archdiocese were a time of personal renewal and renewed focus for leaders from Teen SOYO and the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America, who convened at the Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center from July 24-26, 2026.

His Eminence Metropolitan Saba spent more than an hour with the teens answering their questions and offering valuable spiritual lessons, especially about this year’s theme of the Parish Life Conferences: “You shall be to me a royal priesthood and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6).

Although the Orthodox Church has a sacramental priesthood carried out by the clergy, Sayidna Saba emphasized that, “We do not have classes of people, clergy and laity, where one group teaches and another group learns. We are all royal priests.”

He added that we activate our royal priesthoods starting with prayer and maturing in the faith to guide others to our Lord Jesus Christ. And when teens are asked sudden questions about their faith, His Eminence replied, “The more you read, the more you live the spiritual life, the better equipped you will be to answer. Of course, ask God always to inspire your answer.”

Following their time together, His Eminence gave the teens small icons of the Theotokos, and opened the reliquary of St. Raphael of Brooklyn, giving them the blessing to venerate his relics.

Sayidna Saba thanked the Antiochian Women for their monumental efforts to grow the Widowed Clergy Wives Endowment Fund. In their third and final year of this Project, between monies raised from parish chapters, a grant from the Orthodox Vision Foundation, and other sources, the women of our churches raised more than $907,000, bringing the fund’s value to more than $2 million.

Now, His Eminence has given them a new challenge: to build the St. Simon of Cyrene Fund that will provide for clergymen with urgent needs who, due to burnout, personal hardship, health concerns, or other serious pastoral circumstances, may need to step away from active ministry for a period of rest, healing, and renewal, including sabbaticals.

The Antiochian Women are beginning a new Shared Act of Mercy in support of Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry. This could help provide literature for prisoners and for gifts for prisoners’ families, among other types of charity.

Sayidna Saba thanked them for showing their Christian love and care to the people they serve. He offered inspirational words to continue their various ministries and good works.

More photos at https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2886.

In a very close competition, the Eastern Dioceses won the Archdiocesan Bible Bowl competition on Saturday, July 25 at th...
07/29/2026

In a very close competition, the Eastern Dioceses won the Archdiocesan Bible Bowl competition on Saturday, July 25 at the Antiochian Village. The team from Saint Philip Orthodox Church of Souderton, Pa. bested the team from Holy Resurrection Church of Tucson, Ariz. – representing the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West – by three points.

The team from St. Philip Church – Elizabeth and Anna Sidorochev, Noah Bushelli, Thomas Plesa, and Alyssa Kyriakos – missed a perfect score by just one point. All teams answered questions from the book of Exodus.

"I hope that what you have learned is written in your heart," His Grace Bishop Thomas told all the teams aftr the Bible Bowl. "I hope this helps how you act and live your life."

All teams are awarded scholarship prizes from Mr. Fawaz and Mrs. Jo Ellen El Khoury. Mr. El Khoury serves as vice chairman of the Archdiocese Board of Trustees.

Earlier in the day, the Eastern Dioceses' Kai Friedrich of St. Patrick Orthodox Church of Bealeton, Va. won the Archdiocesan Oratorical Festival. He and the other contestants spoke eloquently and passionately about this year's theme: "You shall be to me a royal priesthood and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6).

His Eminence Metropolitan Saba praised the orators and their orations. “I am so proud of you and your rich, deep presentations, drawing on holy scripture, holy fathers, and contemporary theologians,” he said. “Your clear presentations showed that you are trying to apply all of these teachings in your lives and contribute to the lives of your churches.”

Kai receives a scholarship from Metropolitan Saba. The other six contestants receive scholarships from Mr. Salim and Mrs. Julie Abboud, the CFO of the Archdiocese and the longtime Oratorical Festival director, respectively.

During the Oratorical, Fr. Joseph and Kh. Kathleen Purpura of the Antiochian Orthodox Scholarship Office presented the Francis Maria and Francis Maria Meritorious Scholarships to eight deserving college students. Prizes ranged from $2,000 to $10,000 each.

More photos at https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2885

The last full day of the biennial Clergy Symposium, July 23, included the final presentation of His Excellency Dr. Tarek...
07/29/2026

The last full day of the biennial Clergy Symposium, July 23, included the final presentation of His Excellency Dr. Tarek Mitri, Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon, on how Christian pluralism took hold in the Middle East which has had lasting trauma and division.

Among the critical points he discussed were the Fourth Crusade in 1204 inflicted heavy damage on the Church of Antioch, and the Roman Catholic Church’s creation of the Melkite Church in 1724. Dr. Mitri stressed that the only way people come back to Orthodoxy is by their own studies and examinations of their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and not by subversion or trickery.

This point is relatable to our clergy in North America experiencing the wave of inquiries and conversions – the newly illumined seeking the true faith and church are searching their own hearts and finding Christ.

His Eminence Metropolitan Yacoub of the Iglesia Ortodoxa en Argentina - Patriarcado de Antioquia delivered an engaging talk titled “Passions and the Soul: A Patristic Anthropological Approach.” Humanity falls when we become lax in the contemplation of God, and the discernment between good and evil is off balance. We start mixing the two together and putting our personal benefit first.

Thus, constant purification of the soul is critical to improving the human state, Sayidna Yacoub said, adding that primacy is given to the soul because it enlivens the body. Sometimes, the body pains the soul.

That evening, His Eminence Metropolitan Saba presided at Great Vespers with Litia-Artoklasia for St. Christina of Tyre (now in southern Lebanon). This great-martyr of the Church of Antioch forsook pagan idolatry and brought many to Christ in the second century. After the service, Sayidna Saba blessed Fr. John Shand of St. Xenia Church of Payson, Utah to be a father confessor.

Following dinner, for the first time in North America, the new Paraklesis Service to St. Raphael of Brooklyn was chanted. The Dormition of the Theotokos Monastery in Hamatoura, Lebanon composed the original service in Arabic, and our Archdiocese translated it into English and set it to music. The service and music will be published in the future.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Saba, the reliquary of St. Raphael was opened for the hierarchs and clergy to venerate his relics. May we have the prayers of St. Raphael before Almighty God!

More photos at https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2880.

The third day of the Clergy Symposium, July 22, began with His Eminence Metropolitan Saba celebrating Daily Orthros and ...
07/24/2026

The third day of the Clergy Symposium, July 22, began with His Eminence Metropolitan Saba celebrating Daily Orthros and the Divine Liturgy as a priest. In his homily, Sayidna Saba reminded the bishops, priests and deacons to beware the temptation of becoming religious businessmen.

“In secular society, everything is a business, everything requires money, everything focuses on benefits,” he said. “In such an environment, let us not forget that we are apostles. Remember that we are apostles first, and then everything will be done for us. God whom we serve will not neglect us.”

That morning, His Eminence gave his blessing for two priests to become father confessors: Fr. Simon Najm of Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Salt Lake City, Utah; and Fr. Matthew Wiley of St. Nicholas Church in Urbana, Ill.

Dr. Tarek Mitri presented his second lecture on welcoming newcomers into Orthodoxy through inculturation, the Church’s effort to allow Christ’s message to pe*****te a social milieu. This includes growth and maturation of the clergy and faithful who welcome them. It is also the incarnation of the gospel in native cultures, introducing them into the life of the Church.

He added that, since Pentecost, the marvels of God are preached to every language and culture. The Holy Spirit awakens perception in us. Joining the Church does not force anyone to abandon cultures and nationalities, or even to escape them in some sort of quest for a new beginning, because unity is formed around the gospel.

In the late afternoon, the clergy trekked to the Antiochian Village Camp where they joined the campers and staff to sing the Supplication Service to St. Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn, at the shrine of his former burial site. Many of the campers and staff were present two years ago when his relics were exhumed in July of 2024. St. Raphael’s relics are now enshrined in a reliquary inside the church at the Conference Center.

To conclude the day, the Eastern Rite and Western Rite clergy held meetings to learn about liturgical updates and forthcoming publications.

More photos at https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2880.

Gathering with more than 200 bishops, priests and deacons, His Eminence Metropolitan Saba commenced the 23rd biennial Cl...
07/24/2026

Gathering with more than 200 bishops, priests and deacons, His Eminence Metropolitan Saba commenced the 23rd biennial Clergy Symposium of the Archdiocese on Monday, July 20 at the Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center.

The keynote addresses focus on the symposium’s theme: “The Shepherd Knows His Sheep: Reading the Parish, Serving the Flock” as our parishes welcome and strive to retain a surge of newcomers to the Orthodox Christian faith.

His Eminence welcomed Dr. Tarek Mitri, the Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon with a distinguished career of service to his country, the United Nations and the Patriarchate of Antioch. In his first talk on Tuesday, July 21, he explained that community identity focuses on what makes one group different from others, whereas Orthodox identity focuses on unity centered on the gospel and faithfulness to its teachings based on love.

Dr. Mitri also said that the Antiochian Church in the Middle East, North America and around the world has always welcomed a plurality of cultures and ethnicities. Thus, being Antiochian is not a negation of one’s nationality, for it is local and universal at the same time.

It was in this spirit that the priests and deacons had breakout sessions to address the surge of newcomers from all sorts of religious and societal backgrounds. They discussed the challenges and difficulties of the catechumenate, and also the opportunities. In general, those seeking conversion in this era crave a spiritual family and inclusion that they may not find anywhere else.

The priests and their catechists are teaching newcomers to embrace the life and mindset of a Church not limited by what they discover about Orthodoxy on the internet, especially if it is false. They also need help discerning the best amount of time needed for baptism and an understanding of the lifetime commitment they’ll give to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The day concluded with a question-and-answer session with His Eminence Metropolitan Yacoub (Jacob) of the Iglesia Ortodoxa en Argentina - Patriarcado de Antioquia. He presented an overview of his 12 churches and the faithful who, by and large, have lived in that country for six generations.

He advised priests to give their own confessions regularly to their father confessors because priests ignore themselves for the sake of their parishes. He added that their personal prayer rules must be untouchable so that they keep Christ as the center of their ministries.

When asked how to maintain joy, Sayidna Yacoub recounted what a spiritual father on Mount Athos once told him: No disaster is eternal. If you sin, you have confession. You need support during the day, so you have personal prayer. Thus, if you are a Christian, you must be joyful.

More photos at https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2880.

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