Recently, the Faith School held a spiritual weekend at the Beskydy retreat center in Baraboo. It was a special time for prayer, spiritual renewal, fellowship, and rest surrounded by the beauty of nature.
The weekend began with the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The participants placed these days under the Motherly protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking her to guide them throughout the weekend and help them grow in faith.
The program included spiritual talks, communal prayer, and time for reflection on God’s Word. It gave the participants an opportunity to step away from the busy rhythm of everyday life, slow down, spend time in silence, and give more attention to their spiritual lives.
One of the special parts of the weekend was an icon-painting workshop. Led by iconographer Serhii Kolodka, the participants had the opportunity to paint an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary with their own hands.
For the participants, this was more than a creative activity. It was also a special time of prayer and reflection. Painting an icon required patience, attention, and silence. With each brushstroke, the image slowly took shape, while the process itself became an opportunity for prayer and quiet reflection.
Along with the spiritual program, the weekend also included time for fellowship, conversation, and rest. The relaxed atmosphere gave the participants an opportunity to get to know one another better, share their experiences, and simply enjoy being together as a Christian community.
Spending time in nature was also an important part of the weekend. The peace and beauty of the surroundings created a good atmosphere for rest, prayer, and spiritual renewal. Away from the busyness of everyday life, the participants had an opportunity to focus on what can easily be overlooked in the fast pace of daily life.
This spiritual weekend gave the participants an opportunity not only to listen to spiritual talks and take part in different activities, but also to experience Christian fellowship, prayer, and a deeper encounter with God.
We sincerely thank everyone who helped organize and lead this weekend, as well as all the participants for their openness and willingness to share this special time together. A special thank-you goes to iconographer Serhii Kolodka for leading the icon-painting workshop and giving the participants an opportunity to discover iconography as a special form of prayer.
May everything that was experienced and heard during this weekend continue to bear good fruit in daily life. May prayer, God’s Word, Christian fellowship, and this experience help each participant continue to grow in faith and deepen their relationship with God.
The Faith School continues — because faith is a journey we walk together.