24th Annual Women’s Lenten Retreat: March 31-April 1, 2023

“The Joy of Repentance and Forgiveness” was the theme of this year’s annual Women’s Lenten Retreat bringing together the Diocesan Kolo Srpskih Sestara (Circle of Serbian Sisters). Women from parishes across the Diocese were invited to join in worship and fellowship at the host parish, Saint Steven’s Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Alhambra, California on the 5th Weekend of Great lent commemorating St. Mary of Egypt.

Our guest speaker for this event was Fr. Basil (Vasilije) Gavrilovic, a hieromonk who has studied Theology in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, and Greece. Recently, he defended his PhD thesis titled “Dynamis and Metousia: Theological Anthropology According to Gregory of Nyssa in De hominis opificio,” at the Divinity Faculty of the Trinity College, University of Toronto.

The Retreat began on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. with the Akathist Mother of God service, followed by dinner and opening remarks by Fr. Basil. On Saturday morning the Divine Liturgy was served by our guest speaker Fr. Basil Gavrilovic, Fr. Nicholas Ceko, Cathedral Dean, and Fr. Vladan Radovanovic, Diocesan Secretary.

Following the Liturgy, Fr. Basil gave an edifying and spiritually uplifting presentation on the Joy of Repentance and Forgiveness. The presentation aspired to highlight the understanding of Repentance and Forgiveness. The theme presented the notion of repentance and forgiveness by exploring their understanding through Scripture, writings of the Fathers, and texts from Church Services. The importance of Repentance and forgiveness is perceived in the fact that it brings joy in life, carrying us to a closer relationship with God and our neighbor.

A wonderful discussion ensued with a lively Q & A session before and after lunch.

This was a wonderful Lenten retreat and a positive indication of the blessings from our guest speaker, Fr. Basil.

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Audio of Fr. Basil’s talk on “Open Me the Gates of Repentance, O Giver of Life”, The Joy of Repentance and Forgiveness.