2025 St. Michael's Retreat
June 12-15, 2025
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Join us for St. Michael's 11th annual retreat at the beautiful Monte Sano Lodge in Huntsville, Alabama. Featuring spiritual talks from Archpriest/author/podcaster/professor, Father John Whiteford and priest wife/iconographer, Popadija Xenia Franck. Our four day retreat includes spiritual talks, men's and women's breakout sessions, daily Matins and Vespers, and children's program. Our retreat culminates on Sunday morning with celebrating the Divine Liturgy and our annual BBQ picnic. In addition to the retreat activities, there will be plenty of free time to take advantage of all the things that Monte Sano State Park has to offer. Hiking, mountain biking, disc golf, playground, Japanese garden, and scenic overlooks are just a short walk from the lodge. Scroll below to see retreat pricing, meal plans, and accommodations. We hope to see you there!
Father John Whiteford
Archpriest John Whiteford is a priest in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) and head priest at St. Jonah Orthodox Church in Spring, Texas. He is Dean of the Texas and Louisiana Deanery of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America. He’s a former Nazarene Associate Pastor who in November 1990 converted to the Orthodox Faith soon after completing his B.A. in Theology at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma. Father John is the author of “Sola Scriptura: An Orthodox Analysis of the Cornerstone of Reformation Theology” and the general editor of the “St. Innocent Liturgical Calendar.”
Popadija Xenia Franck
Popadija Xenia Franck lives in Chisholm, MN where her husband, Fr. Constantine, serves the Serbian Orthodox parish of St. Basil of Ostrog. She entered the Orthodox Church in 2009, lived around a variety of monasteries, and received her Masters of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 2019. She has led retreats and given talks and presentations in many Orthodox parishes across the country. Pda. Xenia is an iconographer, studying under Dr. George Kordis and Abbess Katherine (Weston). She teaches adult Orthodox education classes, chants in the church services, has a YouTube channel, bakes prosphora, sews, and likes to garden and ferment.
Thursday Evening - 6/12/25
*Asterick indicates there is a corresponding children's activity 6:00 pm - Vespers 6:45 pm - Dinner 7:15 pm - *Session 1 - Fr. John Whiteford “A Pilgrim’s Podvig” (My Spiritual Journey)
Friday Morning - 6/13/25
7:30 am - Matins 8:30 am - Breakfast 9:30 am - *Session 2 - Fr. John Whiteford “History of the Russian Orthodox Church” 10:45 am - Break 11:00 am - *Session 3 - Pda. Xenia Franck "The Holy Images and our Self Image"
Friday Afternoon - 6/13/25
12:30 pm - Lunch 1:30 pm - Free Time/Family Time 1:30 pm - Women’s Breakout led by Pda. Xenia Franck 3:00 pm Men’s Breakout led by Fr. John Whiteford
Friday Evening - 6/13/25
6:00 pm - Vespers 6:45 pm - Dinner 7:15 pm - *Session 4 - Fr. John Whiteford “The Protestant Approach to Scripture”
Saturday Morning - 6/14/25
7:30 am - Matins 8:30 am - Breakfast 9:30 am - *Session 5 - Fr. John Whiteford “Scripture in the Orthodox Tradition" 10:45 am - Coffee Break 11:00 am - *Session 6 - Pda. Xenia Franck "Spiritual Diseases of the Modern Age"
Saturday Afternoon - 6/14/25
12:30 pm - Lunch 1:30 pm - Free Time/Family Time
Saturday Evening - 6/14/25
6:00 pm - Vespers 6:45 pm - Dinner 7:15 pm - *Session 7 - Pda. Xenia Franck "Restoring the Image and Likeness"
Sunday Morning - 6/15/25
8:45 am - Matins 10:00 am - Divine Liturgy 12:00 pm - Closing Picnic/Talent Show
Schedule subject to change.
PRICING
Retreat Cost (Adult) - $125.00 Retreat Cost (Child) - $50.00 Retreat Cost (4-6) - $250.00 Retreat Cost (6+) - $325.00 Meals (Adult) - $120.00 Meals - Single (Adult) - $15.00 Meals - Single (child) - $10.00 Meals (Family) - $250.00 One Day - retreat/meals - $80.00 One Day - retreat only - $35.00
ACCOMMODATIONS
Monte Sano Campground
Monte Sano has available campsites, luxury glamping tents, and cabins. Bring your RV, tent, or rent a cabin and be within a few minutes walk from our event. Contact Monte Sano State Park at (256) 534-3757 or click on the link below. Campsites go fast!
Hampton Inn and Suites - Hampton Cove
A block of rooms has been reserved just a 10-15 minute drive from the event. Tell the hotel you are with St. Michael's Church to receive our group rate of $155 a night.
Questions about the retreat? Email frgregory1@gmail.com or bdlitter@gmail.com
