"The Bible is about life—all of life, real life. Not life as we imagine it, or even as we might live it, but life as it truly is whenever we enter into authentic life," began Fr. Harry Pappas as he commenced our seminary's annual public lenten retreat. "And we have a God who, among all the other gods and goddesses that were around during the Old Testamental period, takes great delight in life, in his creation."
Fr. Harry, who is adjunct professor of Pastoral Theology at St. Vladimir's, chose as his overall theme for this year's retreat, "Back to Basics: Old Testament and Life." He focused on the biblical books that the Orthodox Church prescribes for reading during the period of Great Lent—Genesis, Proverbs, and Isaiah—and drew from them images and themes that exemplify life in and with God.
The lenten retreat began with many participants attending the Divine Liturgy in our seminary chapel, and continued with three presentations by Fr. Harry: "How Life Begins" (Genesis); "How Life Works" (Proverbs); and "How New Life Appears" (Isaiah). You may listen to all three of Fr. Harry's presentations in the "Voices from St. Vladimir's" section of Ancient Faith Radio.
View a photo gallery of this day of fellowship, prayer, and instruction.
