Camping Trip & Spiritual Retreat August 23, 2006

Camping Trip & Spiritual Retreat

Well, I just returned from a camping trip and a two day/one night spiritual retreat at St. Gregory of Sinai Monastery (http://www.gsinai.com/index.html ) with my boys.

Our first few nights camping were spent with another family- we camped near Lake Alpine which is in Bear country; and yes, a bear did come into the campground! The family we were camping with were terrified and panic stricken (at least two were hyperventiliating) and got in their van and drove away about 2:00am when other campers began sounding air horns and banging on pots! My boys and I remained in camp and went back to sleep. We did however, pack up our tents, along with them, to camp further down the mountain where they felt more comfortable camping.

After two days, me and the boys went on our own and drove back up to bear country to camp and trout fish for a few days. My oldest caught a few trout which we baked in foil in the coals of our campfire. It was delicious!

We finished our retreat at St Gregorys, an Eastern Orthodox Monastery. They were very welcoming, gave each of us a private "cell," allowed us to eat with them and attend their services, though we were not permitted to share in Eucharist (we were allowed to recieved the antidorin or blessed bread after the Liturgy). They spent a great amount of time with us, showing us around their property where they grow their own gardens, compost heaps, some trees, and an Olive Mill. They are also professional Icon painters and paint large frescoes and icons around the world.

We were also able to take a few photos with some of the monks in front of a bush grown from a clipping of the Burning Bush from the Monastery of St Catherine's in Egypt on Mount Sinai! http://360.yahoo.com/fraidanhix

You can see some of their icon work at the following sites:
http://www.gsinai.com/rw/icons/icon_workshop.php or http://images.google.com/images?q=st+gregory+of+sinai+monastery&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images