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His Eminence Metropolitan Philip, Archbishop of New York

Primate of the

Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

The Clergy of the Diocese of Miami and the South East

with the New Chancery Committee

Together with

All the Organizations of the Diocese

Request the pleasure of your company

at

A Grand Banquet

Honoring

The Right Reverend Bishop Antoun

On the 25^th Anniversary of his Consecration

To the

Holy Episcopate

HOW TO USE THE NAB RELIGIOUS PROGRAM 

The goal of Antiochian Women everywhere should be to continually strive for spiritual growth – in their churches, homes, workplaces, and leisure activities.

It is recommended that these programs be sent to each Chapter President (either via the Diocesan President or Diocesan Religious Coordinator) so they can be used on the local levels – either in a group or individually.  Many women may feel more comfortable in a private setting rather than in a large group.

The NAB Religious Program will also be placed on the Antiochian Archdiocese’s website under www.antiochian.org/women.

If these religious programs are used in a group setting, the following activities are recommended:

January 27, 2008 

Beloved Hierarchs, Reverend Clergy, and Dear Sisters in Christ:

Christ is in our midst!

Enclosed is the January-February edition of Sophia which continues with the theme from the first two editions on prayer. Sophia is published by the NAB Religious Coordinator and is meant to supplement Diakonia, which is published by the NAB PR Coordinator. The Religious Program contains additional information for loving our God – and His Church – to the fullest.

This newest edition of Sophia highlights the importance of using prayer when we, or our loved ones, suffer from illness. It is dedicated to the memories of all those Antiochian Women who have passed into the Heavenly Kingdom, especially our most recently departed Sisters in Christ, Pauline Maloof, Elinor Bourjaily, and Lillian Khouri. I have also included an announcement about the upcoming retreat sponsored by the Antiochian Women of the East, as well as listing the women saints and feast days for the months of January and February.

To date, there are over 100 women saints and feasts on the www.antiochian.org/women website - with more to come! The site is eventually meant to be the “go to” reference for Orthodox Women Saints.

Also, I would urge each of the Diocesan Presidents, Religious Coordinators, or Spiritual Advisors to contact me to let me know about upcoming retreats or other events that are beneficial to the women of the Archdiocese. Perhaps the next edition of Sophia could be entirely devoted to these activities and would give sufficient time for other women throughout the Archdiocese to participate.

As always, I pray that the enclosed materials help each of you in gaining knowledge about our magnificent faith.

Yours in Christ,

Download the March-April 2008 Sophia Newsletter.

Download the January-February 2008 Sophia Newsletter.

Download the November-December 2007 Sophia Newsletter.

Download the September-October 2007 Sophia Newsletter.

ABOUT ST. RAPHAEL

Raphael Hawaweeny was born on November 8, 1860, in Beirut, Lebanon. His parents, Michael and Miriam, had fled there from Damascus, Syria, before the Druze massacres which claimed the lives of 2,500 Christians.

Raphael attended the Greek Orthodox Theological School in Halki, Turkey; then traveled to Russia to further his studies at the Kiev Theological Academy. He was ordained a priest in 1889 and assigned to pastor the Antiochian Patriarchal Embassy in Moscow. He became know to the Arab communities in America who sought his leadership. Bishop Nicholas of the North American diocese also went to Russia to recruit him and other missionaries. They arrived in America on November 14, 1895.

Immediately, Fr. Raphael set to work and organized the parish that would eventually become St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn. Then after just five months in America, he set out on the first of several missionary journeys by rail across and up and down the United States, Canada, and Mexico, seeking out Arabic-speaking Orthodox Christians and establishing parishes.

On Saturday, October 6, 2007, St Vladimir's Seminary welcomed hundreds of guests who traveled to the seminary's campus for this year’s Orthodox Education Day. It was a full day of prayer, fellowship, good food, and educational workshops as participants explored this year's theme: "Our Church: Her Mission and Her Future.” One of the highlights of the day was the keynote address by Fr Chad Hatfield, SVS Chancellor and CEO.