Thank you for your interest in attending the 2024 Metropolis of San Francisco Young Adult Lenten Retreat at St. Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center!
This retreat is open to all Orthodox College Students and Young Professionals ages 18-39.
DATE: March 22 - 24, 2024
LOCATION: St. Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center
38526 Dunlap Road
Squaw Valley, CA 93675
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
You can secure your spot with a $100 deposit and make payments until March 18 for the remaining balance.
REGISTRATION COST:
REGULAR REGISTRATION: By March 1
$160 per person for a Dorm Room (cabins with multiple bunk beds)
$200 per person for Double Occupancy Lodge Room (hotel style room with two queen beds)
$270 per person for Single Occupancy Lodge Room (hotel style room)
LATE REGISTRATION: After March 1
$180 per person for a Dorm Room (cabins with multiple bunk beds)
$220 per person for Double Occupancy Lodge Room (hotel style room with two queen beds)
$290 per person for Single Occupancy Lodge Room (hotel style room)
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Includes 2 nights lodging and all meals: Friday dinner – Sunday breakfast.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Dorm Rooms: Large rooms with multiple bunk beds. All of the dorms have attached bathrooms and electricity. Minimal bedding is provided: pillow, sheets, and light blanket. If you want to bring a sleeping bag or heavier blanket, that is recommended. Towel for showing also provided.
Lodge Rooms: Hotel style rooms with two large queen beds and private bathroom with shower. All bedding and towels provided.
THEME: “Discovering Our Spiritual Heritage - The Ecumenical Patriarchate”
"We know many things about our faith but do we appreciate how unchanged it has been since the time of Christ? Do we know the contributions of Constantinople and its Patriarchs in the Apostolic succession from the time of St. Andrew, the First Called? We invite you to come join us to discuss these questions and ask and answer others. We also invite you to join us in discussing and seeing the beauty and holiness of Constantinople and exploring how each of you have the opportunity to experience it firsthand.”
SPEAKER: Archon George Psefteas
Professional Background
George is a native of Vancouver, Canada and has lived in the Bay Area since 2006 along with his wife, Christine, and his 20-year-old twins Peter (Petros) and Stavroula. George graduated from Western Washington University with a Master of Business Administration degree and is a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). George has an extensive background in Finance and Tax, all with Chevron Corporation, and currently serves as the Corporate Income Tax Accounting Manager for Chevron, following numerous finance management assignments in Canada, Poland, and the United States.
Service to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco
In 2018 George became a member of the Metropolis Council and is committed to continuing service in the faith for the Metropolis of San Francisco and the growth of the Greek Orthodox Church. George was appointed Finance Committee Chair of the Metropolis Council in 2020 and has been working on Financial Procedures and Controls at the Metropolis, as well as providing financial counsel and financial oversight to His Eminence, Metropolitan Gerasimos and the Metropolis at large. In 2023 George, and his wife Christine, co-chaired the Fifth Gala of the Metropolis of San Francisco, leading an effort that netted almost $500,000 to continue to fund the ministries and programs of this Holy Metropolis.
Service to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
George was elected to the Archdiocesan Council in 2020 and has served, and continues to serve, on the Archdiocesan Finance Committee as well as various sub-committees. In 2023 George was also appointed to the Youth & Young Adult Ministries Committee.
In 2023 George was blessed to be invested an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, receiving the offikion of “Archon Skevophylax” from His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
RETREAT PRIEST: Fr. Manoli Aspiotis
Father Manoli hails from Tucson, Arizona, his birthplace and home until his graduation from the University of Arizona in 2015. He later relocated to the Phoenix area, where he held various jobs before pursuing his calling to the priesthood in 2019. At Holy Cross seminary that same year, he crossed paths with the future Presvytera Alyssa during orientation, and their meeting culminated in marriage in 2020. Presently, he joyfully ministers at The Church of the Holy Cross in Belmont, California, and is incredibly thankful to be back on the West Coast!
ARRIVAL ON FRIDAY:
Arrivals begin at 4:00pm on Friday, Dinner is served at 6:30pm, and we will begin the retreat introduction around 9:00pm.
It is normal to have participants arrive at all times Friday night since many will be coming after work.
Some will arrive as late as midnight and we will post which cabin you will be staying in on the welcome board by the cafeteria.
DEPARTURE ON SUNDAY:
We will attend Divine Liturgy at the Monastery on Sunday morning followed by breakfast, a final session, group photo, and the retreat will end around 1:00pm.
MONASTERY WORK PROJECT ATTIRE
Monastery Liturgy clothing for Women: Modest Long dress or skirt (no slits), long sleeve shirt or sweater, closed toe shoes, and head scarf.
Monastery Liturgy clothing for Men: Long dress pants, dress shirt, closed toe shoes.
Monastery Work Attire for Men & Women: Same as above, but clothes that are able to get a little dirty.
Men can wear jeans and long sleeve shirt.
Women can wear similar outfit as mentioned for Liturgy, just nothing too nice.
Running shoes are recommended for both men and women for the work project day.
FLYING
FRESNO AIRPORT (FAT):
If you are flying, we recommend that you fly into the Fresno Airport. This airport is small and has limited flights (and sometimes expensive) but it is the closest to the Retreat Center. Fresno (FAT) airport is about 45 minutes away and if you fly in anytime after 3pm, someone can pick you up on their way to the retreat.
SAN FRANCISCO (SFO) or SAN JOSE (SJC):
You can also fly into Northern California and road trip about 4 hours south to the retreat center with the Bay Area Group. San Francisco (SFO) or San Jose (SJC) are great airports to fly into on Friday early afternoon (arrive before 4pm), and fly out late Sunday night (after 7pm). Both San Jose and San Francisco airports are about 4 hours north of the retreat center. #roadtrip
WEATHER:
Typical weather is mid 60’s during the day and low 50’s at night.
Make sure to bring a warm jacket for the evening. We will go down to the lake, and it gets a bit chilly.
PACKING LIST:
-sleeping bag and/or warm blankets for a twin size bed (only if staying in the Dorms)
-toiletries
-bath towel & shower shoes (only if staying in the Dorms)
-casual/comfy attire is recommended for throughout the weekend
-It does get colder in the evenings, so a sweatshirt or warm jacket is recommended
-Monastery Liturgy clothing for Women: Modest Long dress or skirt (no slits), long sleeve shirt or sweater, closed toe shoes, and head scarf
-Monastery Liturgy clothing for Men: Long dress pants, dress shirt, closed toe shoes
-Monastery Work Attire for Men & Women: Same as above, but clothes that are able to get a little dirty. Men can wear jeans and long sleeve shirt, Women can wear similar outfit as mentioned for Liturgy, just nothing too nice. Running shoes are recommended for both men and women for the work project day.
-flashlight (we walk down to the lake Saturday night)
-musical instrument for campfire
-phone charger
-chapstick and sunscreen
-water bottle
-playing cards & board games
-notebook to take notes
-money to spend in the Monastery Bookstore. They only take cash or checks.
Check out the video from the 2016 Young Adult Lenten Retreat!