Welcome
“When I was reading other dissertations, I saw that Coptic women were rarely discussed. Scholars discussed social issues, the Church itself, and the foundation of the Church. But discussion of our struggles, as first-generation Coptic women immigrating to the US, was extremely limited.”
Shery Luke
YEAR-END APPEAL
Our end-of-year fundraiser is now under way! Our hope to make it possible for Axia to expand our mission to serve Orthodox women across jurisdictions—in places near you!
This is a critical period for us. We have begun our first major strategic expansion. We will soon share our plans to create spaces where Orthodox women can bring their full selves and where the Church’s teachings can be lived out in real and tangible ways through training, healing, and research.
Our goal this year is ambitious. It needs to be to make our plans possible! It feels within reach, thanks to Shoshanna Clark stepping up with a matching gift of up to $5,000. Because of that, if you donate now, you can have twice the impact!
Everyone who donates at any level will receive an incredible sticker of one of St. Gavrilia’s best-known sayings–and it is designed by Axia Board member Amber Schley Iragui! Plus, every donation increment of $50 (and all monthly donations) enters you into a raffle to win an original icon of St. Gavrilia, written by legendary iconographer Heather MacKean. The more you donate, the better your chance of winning!
Workshop with Dr. Ioana Popa
Sunday, November 17
6-7:30pm Eastern
Tired at the end of the day? Having leftover thoughts and worries in the evening, which block you from being fully present with your dear ones or connecting deeply with God in prayer?
Join us for our upcoming workshop with Dr. Ioana Popa from Team For The Soul®, an expert in spiritual renewal. She’ll work with us on how to refresh at the end of the day through brief rituals, to separate and release from the cares of the day and experience that “peace that surpasses all understanding.”
To give you a sense: in her last Axia workshop on Boundaries, Dr. Ioana Popa addressed those of us who are feeling overwhelmed and constantly juggling work, church, relationships, caretaking, and personal life. She gave us tips and advice to avoid health issues and burnout. This is all the harder for those of us in the church because we assume that, in order to by Christ-like, we must say “yes” to whatever is asked of us.
She shared several psychological group phenomena that impact all of us at work, church, and family.
One of them is “Social Loafing,” which is the tendency for many people in a group to work less, because they know someone else will show up to help.
Another one is “Social Compensation,” which states that the most conscientious members of a group will be the one who bears the brunt of the work.
She identified the tendency many of us have to promise ourselves that we’ll do it “just this time,” only to find that promise becoming a cycle and a feedback loop. She asked the question, “What if we just wait?”
Sometimes if we decide NOT to say “yes,” we can give a gift to someone else to access their own resourcefulness and gifts in Christ. And we might be pleasantly surprised to find out who rises to the occasion because they are called by God for that work!
$12 (Let us know if cost is a barrier.)
Sign up here!
(Orthodox women only, please.)
Healing Beauty Retreat in Darien, Connecticut
A conversation about the importance of Beauty in our lives.
Featuring a Compelling Team of Speakers
Activities Include:
- Two sessions on Healing Beauty with Dr. Pia Chaudhari
- Contemplative Prayer Walk with Jennifer Nahas
- Interactive Workshop with Laura Josephson
- Time for Personal Reflection and Connection
All attendees will receive a special takeaway to continue bringing healing beauty into their own lives and homes. They are designed to remind you of the day’s themes and your personal journey toward healing through beauty.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED THE EVENT!
Recent Blogs
Friday, November 22, 2024
Joseph together with Nicodemus took Thee down from the Tree, who clothest Thyself with light as with a garment. He gazed on Thy Body, dead, naked and unburied, and in grief and tender compassion he lamented: “Woe is me, my sweetest Jesus! A short while ago, the sun beheld Thee hanging on the Cross and it hid itself in darkness. The earth quaked in fear at the sight. The veil of the temple was torn in two. Lo, now I see Thee willingly submit to death for our sake. How shall I bury Thee, O my God? How can I wrap Thee in a shroud? How can I touch Thy most pure body with my hands? What songs can I sing for Thy exodus, O compassionate one? I magnify Thy Passion. I glorify Thy Burial and We magnify You, O Jesus our King.
Friday, November 15, 2024
Jenny Schroedel was a recent Woman of the Week! We thought you'd like to see what happens when the Church commissions a chaplain. Jenny was commissioned by Fr. Andrew Morbey at St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, in Minneapolis, Minnesota after Liturgy on Sunday October 20. Jenny is also training to become a certified clinical pastoral education (CPE) educator.
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Yesterday I found some new life, new growth in plants I thought were completely dead. I brought the cuttings inside. Small shards of hope. - Susan Ashbrook Harvey