The St. Gregorios Orthodox Church from Elmhurst, IL held an overnight youth retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. Participants stayed in the cottages and ate meals in the cafeteria while sharing in fun and fellowship together as they grew in faith.
The St. Iakovos Retreat Center was invited to participate in the 2015 Clergy Laity Congress of the Metropolis of Chicago. The event was held in Madison Wisconsin and hosted by the Assumption Greek Orthodox Parish of Madison Wisconsin. The conference was a wonderful opportunity for the faithful of the Metropolis of Chicago to come together as a family, in prayer, to continue to grow and guide our Church!
The St. Demetrios parish from Elmhurst, IL held an overnight Sr. GOYA Retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center on November 13th, 2015. Over 20 youth and advisers participated in faith and fellowship together all while having fun! Highlights include a night time walk in the woods, volleyball, wagon rides and a visit to the farm! We look forward to seeing St. Demetrios again soon. To see all the fun check out our FlickR Album
The Armenian Church of America, Eastern Diocese, held a three day leadership retreat for young adults from all across the eastern half of the country. Participants gathered from various states including Ten, N.Y., Mass, and Texas. The weekend was filled with faith and fellowship allowing participants to learn and grow to engage their unique gifts and talents for better leadership in the Church Community. We thank them for a wonderful weekend and look forward to hopefully having the opportunity to host them again soon! See all the pictures and highlights from the weekend in our FlickR Album
The Holy Apostles Parish from Westchestire, IL held an overnight GOYA Retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. Participants stayed in the cottages and dined in the Cafeteria. The youth participated in Discussions and sessions with their advisors as well as prayer in the chapel. Other highlights included a visit to the barn and animals as well as hanging out and walking the Proskinitaria trails.
The Ss. Peter & Paul parish from Glenview, IL held an overnight GOYA Retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center the weekend of November 7th, 2015. 30 participants enjoyed activities included discussion, prayer and worship as well as walks in the woods, learning about the saints, campfires, softball, dodgeball, arts & crafts, and a wagon ride with visit to the barn. View all photos from the overnight by visiting our FlickR Gallery
On October 31st, the St. Iakovos Retreat Center was host to a harvest day celebration for families from various churches in the Chicago Metropolis. Participants enjoyed a day filled with harvest activities including decorating pumpkins, cookies and games. The day finished with a campfire and dinner held in the cafeteria.
On October 27th 2015 over 500 guests gathered at the the Chateau Ritz to celebrate the feast day of His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos. The Clergy Syndesmos hosted the dinner in honor of His Eminence and donated all the proceeds to the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. We thank the Clergy Syndesmos for their continued love and dedication to the Ministry of the St. Iakovos Retreat Center and the Metropolis of Chicago!
On October 24th, 2015 the St. Demetrios Parish from Elmhurst, IL held a Jr. GOYA Retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. Over 15 youth participated in a day of faith and fellowship together. Activities included prayer in the chapel, discussions, lunch, soccer, basketball, a walk through the Proskinitaria trail, Diakonia, and a wagon ride with and animal visit. View all the pictures in our FlickR Photo Album
On October 24th the Holy Cross Parish from Justice, IL held a community Retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. over 45 participants enjoyed faith and fellowship with each other. The day began with a tour of the entire property. After the tour a service was celebrated in the chapel followed by a wonderful lunch prepared by a few of the participants. We rounded the day out with a wagon ride through the proskinitaria trails and a visit to the animals where we ran into the St. Demetrios GOYA from Elmhurst, IL and took a group photo all together! We look forward to hopefully having the Holy Cross Parish retreating with us again soon!
The St. Demetrios GOYA from Chicago, IL hosted and overnight Retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center from October 16 - October 17, 2015. GOYAn's participated in Worship and prayer, as well as discussion and fellowship with each other. Activities included Soccer, Volleyball, a Proskinitaria walk, Campfire, Smore's, and a wagon ride with a visit to the animals. To see all the photos from the retreat please visit our FlickR Album
On October 10th 2015 over 15 GOYAn's from the St. Haralambos Parish in Niles, IL participated in a day retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. Activities included discussion, prayer, worship, soccer, volleyball, wagon ride and an animal visit. Participants also made kits which were donated to IOCC for distribution to people in need.
On October 9th, 2015 the Sr. GOYA from St. John the Baptist Parish in Des Plaines, IL held an overnight retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. They were soon followed by the Jr. GOYA for an overnight retreat on October 11th, 2015. In all over 50 youth and advisors participated in the two retreats. Activities included discussions, prayer, worship, a Proskinitaria walk, soccer, basketball, football, Volleyball, Diakonia, a wagon ride and trips to see the animals.
Over Columbus day weekend over 20 young adults from the Antiochian parish of St. Mary's in Chicago IL participated in a 3 day retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. The weekend was focused on faith and fellowship together while exploring what it means to be a servant. Activities included discussions, prayer, hanging out, enjoying the grounds, and many walks in the wood visiting the Proskinitaria. To see all photos visit our FlickR Album
On October 9th 2015 the St. Iakovos Retreat Center was host to the Great Lakes Church that held an out of the office staff day. Over 20 full and part time staffers from the Church spent the day at the Retreat center, in the peace and beauty, brainstorming and growing together in order to enhance their ministry and parish life. We look forward to having the Great Lakes Church back in the future and with them good strength in their continued ministry!
On October 3rd, 2015 over 25 participants from across the Metropolis of Chicago gathered to share in a very special retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. Families and participants from all the parishes were invited to participate in a day long retreat for youth with disabilities led by Presbytera Toni Mihalopoulos. The activities for the day included fellowship, worship, a session to learning and making Prosphoro, a serious jam/music session, wagon rides and a visit to the animals. The day was a true joy and the St. Iakovos Retreat Center looks forward to the Pick Up Your Cross Retreat next year! To see all the pictures from the day visit our Flickr Album
On September 26th, 2015 the Sts. Constantine and Helen Parish from Merrillville, IN held a day long retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. Over 45 parishioners of all ages participated in a faith and fellowship together all while having fun! The activities of the day included a tour of the entire property, soccer, volleyball, a beautiful lunch, wagon rides, a group walk through the Prokinitaria trails and of course a visit to the animals. To see all the pictures from this beautiful day visit our FlickR Album
On September 19th over 400 participants from across the Metropolis gathered in Des Plaines to attend the annual Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos luncheon. This year the luncheon benefitted not only the St. Iakovos Retreat Center, but also the St. Nicholas Shrine. Participants were honored to be blessed with the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos, His Grace Bishop Demetrios as well as Ms. Maria Logos, National President of the Ladies Philoptochos Society. The St. Iakovos Retreat Center would like to thank the Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos, as well as the individual chapters in the Metropolis of Chicago, for their continuous love, dedication and love of our ministry as well as many the many other ministries the ladies work so hard to support.
The year of 2015 has been full of firsts for the St. Iakovos Retreat Center, and Labor Day Weekend 2015 was no exception! From September 4th - September 6th the SIRC was home to over 190 participants from throughout the Metropolis of Chicago who were participating in the Annual Family Synaxis Retreat Weekend. Families from all over gathered to share in Faith and Fellowship together and grow as individuals and depend their connection to each other and God. It was a beautiful weekend, one that we will look forward to every year! To view the full album from the weekend visit FlickR Album
From August 20 - 22, 2015 the Christ the Savior OCA Parish in Chicago, IL held an overnight family and community retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. over 25 Families tented, stayed in the log lodge and in the Tomaras Lodge. The days were filled with lots of swimming, softball, kickball, soccer, walks in the woods, worship, prayer and wagon rides visiting the animals.
