Theosis Weekend Retreat

Théosis is the process of a person becoming free of hamártía ("missing the mark"), being united with God, which begins in this life and later consummates in bodily resurrection. For the Eastern Christian Théosis is the process of salvation. Théosis assumes that humans from the beginning are made to share in the Life or Nature of the all-Holy Trinity. Therefore, an infant or an adult worshiper is saved from the state of unholiness (hamartía - which is not to be confused with hamártema "sin") for participation in the Life (zoé, not simply bíos) of the Trinity - which is everlasting.

The Théosis Groups meet to take each participant through a process toward reaching théosis. Currently, there are several Theosis Groups, each one beginning with a Théosis Weekend Retreat. During this first weekend participants get a glimpse at the breadth of Christianity through the Eastern mindset in regards to the life of God in each one of us.

We experience this glimpse through personal prayer (prayer of the heart), the Holy Mysteries, and other liturgical services. Disucssions are given which fiocus on what the normal Christian life is intended to be according to our tradition (that which has been handed down throughout Eastern Christianity and carried on through to today. Throughout the initiating process we come to see ourselves as sharers in the very nature of God. In being a part of a group participants come away invigorated by the support of brothers and sisters who are committed to take the same journey.

The Group Beyond the Weekend Retreat

The Weekend Retreat is not an end in itself: it is meant to lead to the formation of an ongoing parish group. In these groups participants will further deepen their understanding of our Christian spirituality, especially in the Eastern Christian mindset, and continue experienciung the suppoort of those who began the journey in retreat with them.

For more information...

Please contact Fr. Elias Rafaj via e-mail or phone (713)681-8953.