On November 18th, a group of our parish members took a trip, organized by the church’s MGOCSM, to visit our Diocese’s newly acquired Holy Transfiguration Retreat Center and Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk’s Orthodox Seminary and Monastery. The day began at St. Tikhon’s where we were introduced to the the beautiful monastery church, filled with radiant iconography. We were also able to venerate the icons and some of the relics there (such as St. Seraphim of Sarov’s, St. Nicholas of Japan’s, etc.). We were then taken to the seminary campuses, the classrooms, and the library which was filled with books about our faith and other faiths. Our Assistant Vicar, Rev. Fr. Abraham (Abey) George had attended seminary at St. Tikhon’s and was able to give us, as well as members from St. Stephen’s Orthodox Church, Franklin Square, a tour. We then took some time to visit the bookstore and the Burning Bush Cafe which sells coffee and other products made by the monastic community. We said our goodbyes to the community at St. Tikhon’s and went for a fellowship lunch before heading to the Retreat Center. After arriving at the Retreat Center, we were taken around the facility to see the newly furnished rooms, ready for future camps and retreats, as well as the chapel and the library. We were filled with awe by the breathtaking landscape, which the children especially enjoyed as they were able to run around and play. Our Vicar, Very Rev. Dr. Yohannan Sankarathil Chor Episcopos could not attend the trip but expressed great joy that the Church was able to attend these spiritual havens and learn more about the faith. We praise our Triune God for guiding these spiritual centers in the building up of the Holy Church as well as thank the MGOCSM of our church for organizing this amazing trip.
