Wagener, SC - On January 2 and 3 we were delighted to hold our "St. Seraphim Youth and Young Adult Retreat" for late high school and college aged young people. A dozen students, two priests, the three sisters from Ss. Mary and Martha, along with Photini, an inquirer at the monastery, worshipped, prayed, studied, discussed, and grew together.

The OCA's published "Let Your Light So Shine" was the topic of our gathering. We enjoyed daily services, and critical discussions in such areas as "what is the light?", "how did I get the light?", "How do I maintain my lamp?", and "How to be light in the darkness". Students from many corner of the south joined us...Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Aiken, SC; Columbia, SC; and Charleson, SC--not to mention our new friend, Avram from Romania! We were grateful for the opportunity to worship and learn together, and look forward to our annual retreat in the summer!

Many, many thanks to the Mothers Thecla, Helena, and Seraphima who hosted us; to Maria Floyd who cooked all of our excellent meals; and to Photini who captured it all on film!