The St. John of Damascus Orthodox Church in Dedham, Massachusetts, announced on Eventbrite its hosting of the 2023 Annual Diocese Lenten Retreat on March 18 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. Still, interested participants are advised to pre-register to secure their slot.
About the 2023 Annual Diocese Lenten Retreat
The church's Eventbrite announcement said the 2023 Annual Diocese Lenten Retreat would feature Dr. Timothy Patitsas as its Keynote Speaker. The event is under the leadership of the Diocese of Worcester & New England Antiochian Women and the Diocese Council.
The post said Patitsas is Hellenic College's interim dean and director of its Religious Studies Program. He is also an assistant professor of Christian Ethics and author of "The Ethics of Beauty," the post added.
The Eventbrite post said Patitsas will deliver a lecture titled "Finding God through Beauty." The announcement likewise listed the schedule of activities for the March 18 Lenten Retreat.
Session 1 will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a 30-minute break followed by Session 2 and the question and answer portion from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
There will be a second 30-minute break. The day will end with the 4 p.m. Great Vespers.
The event organizers advise participants to register no later than March 11.
About Dr. Timothy Patitsas
Aside from being this year's Annual Diocese Lenten Retreat Keynote Speaker, Dr. Timothy Patitsas is also scheduled to speak at the March 17 event of The Akathist Saint George, Norwood.
The event is titled "The Power of Beauty: The Orthodox Contribution to Social Life."
St. John of Damascus Orthodox Church
According to its history page, St. John of Damascus was established in 1907 on Boston's Hudson Street. The church transferred to Museum Road in the same city before it settled in its current location at 300 West St. in Dedham.
The church reportedly celebrated its centennial anniversary in October 2007, during which it launched a complete history of the church.
The website further said the church's first members were from Damascus, Syria, and arrived in Boston's South End between 1900 and 1905. The said immigrants were fleeing the Turkish Christian persecutions in Syria and Lebanon.
Since the Boston immigrants belonged to the Antiochian Orthodox faith, it paved the way for establishing a church that would serve their religious needs. The website revealed that such necessity eventually led to the establishment of the St. John of Damascus.
The website added that the church's pioneers comprised 13 men who represented Christ's 13th disciple, St. John, also considered the Patriarch of Antioch. The 13 pioneering members also symbolized the United States' 13 original colonies.
The Orthodox World website reveals that St. John of Damascus is under the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America and the Diocese of Worcester and New England. Its current head priest is the Very Rev. John K. Teebagy.
Those who wish to contact the church may call (781) 326-3046 or email churchoffice@stjohnd.org.
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