The Antiochian House of Studies (AHOS) joyfully gathered faculty, students, and friends for the 2025 Residency at the Antiochian Village, held from August 22 to September 6. Over two weeks, participants from across AHOS programs — MTS, SSC, MDiv, and PDd — came together for prayer, study, fellowship, and formation in the life of the Orthodox Church.
This year’s Residency was especially blessed by the participation and presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Saba, alongside His Grace Bishop Thomas, His Grace Bishop Theodore Ghandour, and the Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Seraphim Daoud, who together with the AHOS faculty offered guidance, encouragement, and spiritual leadership.
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Week One: A Joyful Beginning
The Residency opened on August 22 with a spirit of anticipation and gratitude as students and faculty reunited at the Antiochian Village. The opening ceremony included welcoming addresses from V. Rev. Fr. Michel Najim, President of AHOS, and Fr. Fadi Rabbat, Academic Dean, who reminded participants that their time at the Residency was not only an academic undertaking but also a sacred pilgrimage of transformation. Students were exhorted to engage their studies with both intellect and heart, allowing the encounter with the living tradition of the Church to shape their ministry and witness. The full opening remarks are available here.
The first weekend was marked by prayer and worship, with Vespers on Saturday evening and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, presided by Bishop Theodore Ghandour and concelebrated with Archimandrite Fady Rabbat, Fr. Elias Boulos, Fr. Roman Kohen, Fr. Juvenaly Hale, Dn. John Bean, and Dn. Justin Omstesd. These services set the tone of the Residency, grounding all academic and communal life in the rhythm of the Church’s liturgy.
Throughout the week, students from all programs — MTS, SSC, MDiv, and PDd — engaged in classes covering Church History I, Spiritual Father, Fundamentals of Theology, and other subjects taught by AHOS faculty and enriched by the wisdom of Bishop Thomas. The classrooms became places of both rigorous intellectual exploration and deep spiritual reflection, as faculty and students entered into the living dialogue of the Church’s theological tradition.
Another highlight of the first week was the Graduation Ceremony on August 25, during which AHOS celebrated the accomplishments of students completing their programs. Faculty, family, and fellow students gathered to honor the graduates, giving thanks for their perseverance and commitment to theological study and ministry. The ceremony was a moment of joy for the whole AHOS community, as the Church received new laborers prepared for service in Christ’s vineyard. Full coverage of the ceremony can be found here.
The week concluded with the AHOS Faculty Meeting on August 30, where professors reflected on the progress of the programs, shared insights from their teaching, and planned for the future of AHOS. These gatherings reaffirmed the collaborative spirit that sustains AHOS as a community of learning and faith.
Week Two: Deepening Study and Fellowship
The second week of the Residency, from August 30 to September 6, built upon the foundation of prayer, study, and fellowship laid in the first days. It began with orientation sessions on September 1, led by Fr. Michel Najim, Fr. Fadi Rabbat, Fr. Elias Boulos, and other AHOS faculty. These gatherings welcomed students into the rhythm of the new week, encouraging them to carry forward the spirit of community and dedication as they engaged in their courses.
On September 3, the day unfolded with both academic and spiritual life interwoven. The faculty convened once again for planning and discussion, while students joined together for Vespers, uniting in prayer as the Church’s liturgical life continued to frame their studies. That same evening, Bishop Theodore met personally with the students, offering fatherly counsel, pastoral encouragement, and reflections on the challenges and blessings of living out the Orthodox faith in the contemporary world. The evening concluded with joyful fellowship in the Village lobby, where students, faculty, and friends gathered informally, rekindling old friendships and forming new ones in the spirit of Christian love.
The next day, September 4, began with a Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archimandrite Seraphim Daoud, assisted by AHOS priests and student deacons. The liturgy was a vivid reminder that all learning in the Church is rooted in the Eucharist, the source and summit of Christian life. Later that day, the Residency was blessed by the contribution of Emily Yocum, Executive Director of Orthodox for Life, who led two sessions on the sanctity of life and the Orthodox witness in today’s society. Her lectures challenged students to connect theology with real-world ministry, equipping them to be articulate defenders of life and witnesses to the truth of the Gospel. Meanwhile, MDiv students participated in practical training sessions, reinforcing their classroom studies with essential skills for pastoral service.
On September 5, the Residency reached another milestone with a professional liturgical training session for clergy led by Archimandrite Seraphim Daoud. This workshop focused on the beauty, order, and pastoral depth of Orthodox worship, equipping clergy and future clergy with tools to serve the Church faithfully in their liturgical ministry.
A Time of Grace, Learning, and Communion
Across both weeks, the Residency was a living expression of the School of Antioch: faithful to the Apostolic Tradition, rooted in prayer and liturgy, and boldly engaged with the needs of the Church today. Students and faculty prayed together, studied deeply, and shared meals and fellowship that strengthened the bonds of the AHOS family.
With the blessing of Metropolitan Saba and the guidance of bishops, clergy, and faculty, the 2025 Residency renewed the commitment of AHOS to its mission: forming faithful clergy and laity through rigorous theological education and spiritual formation in the Orthodox tradition.
