Lebanon retreat

Just before Christmas last year, the vicar took his annual retreat in an Orthodox monastery in the mountains of Lebanon. Priests are recommended  to take a retreat each year. It is a time for prayer, spiritual reading and meditation.

The monks in the monastery of Deir el-Harf pray in Arabic four times a day in the chapel. Commenting on his stay, Roger said, 'It was a privilege to be with those Christians who can trace their spiritual roots right back to the early church. There is also great wisdom in the teachings of the abbot, Father Arsenius, who is a respected spiritual director to many Lebanese Christians.' Roger returned grateful for the kind hospitality shown to him and with the desire to continue to pray for all the Christians in the Middle East.