The second week of the Antiochian House of Studies Residency 2025 at the Antiochian Village continued with a rich balance of academic learning, spiritual growth, and fellowship — all central to the AHOS mission of forming faithful servants for the life of the Church.
On September 2, students from across all programs — MTS, SSC, MDiv, and PDd — gathered for an afternoon of intensive class sessions. The faculty guided them through the heart of their disciplines, exploring subjects ranging from Church History and Spiritual Fatherhood to Foundations of Theology and pastoral studies. These sessions reflected the depth and breadth of AHOS’s curriculum, designed to prepare clergy and lay leaders alike for meaningful service in the Church and world.
On September 3, the Residency was enriched by several important gatherings. Faculty members met to reflect on the progress of the program and continue refining the formation process for students. Later that evening, the community came together for Vespers, lifting their voices in prayer and thanksgiving. A highlight of the day was the visit of His Grace Bishop Theodore Ghandour, who met personally with the students, offering words of encouragement and pastoral care. The evening concluded with a warm and joyful time of fellowship in the Village lobby, where friends reunited and shared in the bonds of AHOS community life.
The following day, September 4, began with a Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archimandrite Seraphim Daoud, assisted by priests and deacons who themselves are AHOS students. The liturgy was a powerful witness to the heart of the Residency: a union of study and worship, where academic pursuit flows naturally into the prayer and sacramental life of the Church.
That same day, the students were blessed by two powerful sessions of Orthodox for Life, presented by Emily Yocum, Executive Director. These sessions highlighted the Church’s witness to life and the pastoral and theological challenges of engaging today’s world with fidelity and compassion. The day also featured hands-on liturgical training and classroom sessions for MDiv students, further strengthening their preparation for ordained ministry.
Finally, on September 6, the week concluded with a professional liturgical training session for clergy, once again led by Archimandrite Seraphim Daoud. This session provided in-depth, practical formation for clergy, focusing on the reverence, beauty, and precision that must accompany every celebration of the Church’s divine services.
Throughout the week, the spirit of the AHOS Residency was clear: rigorous study, deep prayer, and heartfelt fellowship woven together in the living tradition of the Church. As students and faculty shared in these moments, they were reminded that the Residency is not only an academic program but also a spiritual pilgrimage, preparing them to serve Christ and His people with humility and faith.
