Registration is now live for the Ancient Faith Women's Retreat!
Take a quiet step away from your daily routine and gather with Orthodox Christian women for prayer, reflection, and conversation. The Ancient Faith Women’s Retreat is a reflective and friendly gathering to rest, listen, and grow in Christ together at the entrance of the Nativity season. The retreat is a four-day event, beginning Thursday evening and concluding after liturgy on Sunday, at the Antiochian Village Conference Center in Bolivar, PA.
This Year's Theme
The theme of our eighth annual retreat is Communion.
- What is happening to us when we partake in communion and accept Christ dwelling within us?
- What does it mean to be part of a Eucharistic community?
- How do we participate in Divine Liturgy?
We look forward to exploring these questions and more with four fantastic speakers.
Speakers
Session Descriptions and Bios coming soon
Khouria Frederica Mathewes-Green
Matushka Melissa Naasko
Father Lucas Christensen
Gabriela Hoppe
The Schedule
Check-in for the event opens at 3 pm on Thursday, November 12th. Programming begins with Vespers in the afternoon, followed by dinner and a welcome session. Friday and Saturday will be filled with lecture sessions from our speakers, church services, meals, free time, trivia night, and small group gatherings. On Sunday, November 15th, we will celebrate liturgy and enjoy brunch together. There is no other programming on Sunday. The building will close after check-out at 1:00 pm. A detailed schedule will be released to registrants when finalized.
Event FAQs
Please direct questions to the Ancient Faith Events Team after reviewing the information below.
Who’s Invited: The Ancient Faith Women’s Retreat is for Orthodox women who are college-aged and up! This is an openly, joyfully Orthodox event. You do not have to be Orthodox to attend—if you want to be there, we want you there.
Roommates: Ancient Faith does not arrange roommates. You are responsible for finding your roommate and arranging to purchase your registration together.
Lodging Information: Lodging for the retreat is located at the conference center, not the camp. Rooms are configured like typical hotel rooms. For more information on accommodations and amenities, click here. For Antiochian Village's Guest Info sheet, click here.
Driving: There is plenty of free parking at Antiochian Village, so if you’re within reach, this is a great way to come.
Airports: If you intend to fly, your best bet is Pittsburgh International Airport (1.5-2 hours drive from Antiochian Village). There is a closer, smaller airport in Latrobe, but airlines, flights, and transport are limited.
Airport Transportation: You must organize your own transportation between Antiochian Village and the airport if you intend to fly. There is no shuttle or transportation organized by Ancient Faith. Ridesharing apps (Uber, Lyft, etc.) do not serve the area.
What to Wear: This retreat is a come-as-you-are party! Please feel free to wear comfortable clothes. The weather will be chilly, so dress accordingly, especially if you’re someone who likes to go out for a walk during her free time. We will be celebrating Divine Liturgy together on Sunday morning, so pack “church clothes."
Allergies & Dietary Restrictions: Registration includes all meals from Thursday dinner to Sunday brunch. For information on accommodating allergies or a medically necessary diet, please click here. You must submit via Antiochian Village's website by October 11, 2026 at 5 PM CT in order to be accommodated. Please submit through Antiochian Village's form and forward the confirmation to the Ancient Faith Events team (events@ancientfaith.com)—thank you!
Cancellations & Refunds: Cancellations will be accepted and refunded until October 11, 2026 at 5 PM CT. No refunds will be issued after this date. To cancel and receive a refund, email the Ancient Faith Events team (events@ancientfaith.com).
Ticket Transfers: Tickets are nontransferable. If a ticket holder is unable to attend, they may seek a refund before October 11, 2026 at 5 PM CT.
Questions: Please don’t hesitate to contact the Ancient Faith Events team at events@ancientfaith.com with any questions.
Before Registering
- Review the details above regarding travel and transportation, ticket refunds and transfers, and dietary restrictions.
- On "Order Summary," Zeffy automatically adds a suggested donation in order to keep their platform free for nonprofits, but you may remove this charge completely. Select "Other" and enter 0 to remove the fee. Ancient Faith cannot take responsibility if you do not remove the fee. If you do not remove the fee, Ancient Faith has no way of refunding you and you will need to contact Zeffy directly.
- Please have your roommate(s)'s contact information prepared when you register (email address and phone number). This is essential so all registrants receive important event information. Splitting registration fees between roommates is the guests' responsibility.