Montreat Conference Center

Current Conferences

“Eastern Orthodox Spirituality”

Co-sponsored by Columbia Theological Seminary’s Spiritual Formation Program and Montreat Conference Center’s Evelyn Green Endowment for Christian Discipleship.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity includes those churches whose ancient roots extend back to the Eastern Roman Empire and the very beginnings of Christian history. Influenced by Greek language and culture and the development of Byzantine civilization (as contrasted with Western Latin culture and history), these churches developed rich liturgical and theological traditions which form the foundations for a spirituality of enormous beauty, vitality and strength. It was among these Christian communities, for example, that monasticism was born, with its spiritual wisdom, its disciplines of prayer and meditation, and its practices of spiritual direction.

In this course we will seek to understand and engage elements of Eastern Orthodox Christian spirituality. This spirituality is an embodied spirituality, a culture, if you will, that must be learned in and from the community. From experiencing the Jesus prayer to looking at the way Easter is celebrated, from learning to “read” icons to singing Orthodox prayers, from comparing theological themes to looking at the ways that biblical stories are interpreted – in all these ways, we will seek to see the life of our Orthodox friends and in the light of what we discover to look again at our own traditions. If possible, we will go as a group to visit an Orthodox church, to talk with a priest and to experience an Orthodox service.

Instructor: Dr. V. Bruce Rigdon, distinguished scholar and church historian. He is an authority on Eastern Orthodoxy, especially the Russian Orthodox Church.

Registration Information

Register for Spring Spiritual Formation Retreat

Rates below include conference fee only. Housing and meals are not included. Questions regarding conference registration? Call the registrar at 404.687.4587.

• Program fee: $390 per person

This program is offered as part of the Certificate in Spiritual Formation Program at Columbia Theological Seminary and serves as course credit. Auditors are welcome, but must also register through Columbia Seminary. For additional information and to register for the retreat, visit the program’s web site at Columbia Theological Seminary or call the registrar at 404.687.4587.

Accommodations

We have reserved a special room block for this conference. When you make your reservation online, you will be asked to enter the group ID “sprgform” and password “montreat” to access these rooms. If you have any questions about the registration process, please email the registrar at susana[at]montreat.org or call 800.572.2257 ext. 339.

Reserve housing in Assembly Inn
Download a Reservation Form for Assembly Inn

Rates are per person and include all room and meal charges for the entire conference (Thursday supper – Sunday lunch). No adjustments to package will be made except for extended stay.

• Single, Private Bath: $352.50
• Single, Connecting Bath: $295.50
• Double, Private Bath: $235.50 per person
• Double, Connecting Bath: $220.50 per person

Questions about reserving housing in Assembly Inn? Email susana[at]montreat.org.

Refund Policy

Refunds for program fee are subject to the policies of the Spiritual Formation Program at Columbia Theological Seminary.

Refunds for housing in Assembly Inn will be awarded in the following ways: Full refund if notice of cancellation is received on or before March 17; full refund less $40 if notice of cancellation is received after March 17, but before April 21; no refunds will be given after April 21; all requests for refunds must be in writing and received by Montreat Conference Center via email, fax, or U.S. mail.

Planning Team

Co-sponsored by Columbia Theological Seminary’s Spiritual Formation Program and Montreat Conference Center’s Evelyn Green Endowment for Christian Discipleship.

More Information…

• Conference begins Thursday, April 28, with registration 3:30-5:00 pm, Assembly Inn Lobby.
• Conference ends Sunday, May 1, following closing worship.
• Child care is not available for this program.
• If you would like information mailed to you via U.S. mail, please email carolo[at]montreat.org.
• For additional information and to register for the retreat, visit the program’s web site at Columbia Theological Seminary or call the registrar at 404.687.4587.
• Find out more about housing options available in Montreat.

Learn more about other opportunities offered by The Center for Faith & Life…

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