St. Barbara Antiochian Orthodox Church Parishioners Visit Two Central Florida Monasteries

ORLANDO, FL — Fifteen members of St. Barbara Antiochian Orthodox Church of Orlando visited two Central Florida monasteries on Saturday, September 19, for a daylong pilgrimage focused on prayer and Orthodox monastic life. The pilgrimage concluded with the group joining the monastic community at Panagia Vlahernon Greek Orthodox Monastery for Vespers.

The pilgrimage, led by Fr. Stephen Adili, began at the Convent of the Annunciation of the Theotokos near Reddick, Florida, where parishioners met the resident community of Orthodox Christian nuns. Established in September 1998 under the spiritual guidance of Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, the convent carries forward a spiritual heritage dating to the 13th-century Monastery of St. John the Forerunner in Serres, Greece.

From there, the group traveled to Panagia Vlahernon Greek Orthodox Monastery in Williston, Florida, home to a men’s monastic community since March 1999. Parishioners walked the grounds and talked with the monks about monastic life and the monastery’s history, including its connections to St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery in Arizona and the Monastery of Philotheou on Mt. Athos, Greece. The day closed with the St. Barbara group joining the monks for Vespers.

“A pilgrimage gives us an opportunity to leave our usual routines behind and give greater attention to prayer,” said Fr. Stephen Adili. “Spending the day at the monasteries gave our parishioners an opportunity to experience that in a meaningful way.”

Monasticism has held a central place in Orthodox Christianity for centuries. Monasteries are communities devoted to prayer, worship, and spiritual discipline, and many also welcome pilgrims seeking time for prayer and reflection. For parish communities such as St. Barbara, these visits provide an opportunity to encounter this tradition outside the setting of regular parish life.

Organizers with the St. Barbara community said they plan to continue offering similar pilgrimages to parishioners in the future.

St. Barbara Antiochian Orthodox Church of Orlando is a growing Antiochian Orthodox Christian community centered on worship, fellowship, and service to others. The parish, under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Stephen Adili, brings together individuals and families through Divine Liturgy, the Sacraments, Sunday School, Bible and faith study, fellowship, and service projects. Its life and worship reflect the faith and traditions of the Orthodox Church handed down for more than 2,000 years, while welcoming those interested in learning about and participating in Orthodox Christian life. For more information, visit the parish website.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Metr. Nicholas blessed a cathedral construction in Florida.