A new online discussion group series for high school students is being launched by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco. Called “OrthoTalks”, the first series will focus on Lent. This six-part series will help teens in “Cultivating a Purposeful Life” and will address questions like, “Why am I here? What is the purpose of life?”
Rev. Father Gary Kyriacou, Pastor of the Metropolis of San Francisco Youth and Young Adult Ministries created this program to provide high school students an opportunity to engage in dialogue with their peers and have meaningful discussions on issues relevant to them, while empowering them on their lifelong journey as Orthodox Christians.
“This is an excellent program, and I am eager to see the fruit that it bears. Our teenagers are a special age group, faced with many challenges and navigating through many vulnerabilities,” stated His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos. “We need to listen, love, guide and educate them so they can discern the path ahead for their lives, while retaining their connection to the Church.”
OrthoTalks for Lent begins on Thursday, March 18 and is offered weekly on Zoom through Thursday, April 22, with all sessions beginning at 6:30 p.m. PST.
Rev. Father Gary Kyriacou shared, “This is an opportunity for our youth to come together from all over our Metropolis and share, learn and grow in a very unique way. The clergy in our Metropolis have a deep love and genuine concern to help our kids navigate the challenges they face and will encounter. I encourage every High School student to set aside Thursday nights in Lent to come and ask the questions they want answers to.”
Schedule of Topics and Presenters:
Thursday, March 18, 2021: Cultivating an Enquiring Life, Rev. Father Peter Dogias – Assistant Priest, Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, Redondo Beach, CA
Thursday, March 25, 2021: Cultivating a Determined Life, Rev. Father Christopher Retelas – Proistamenos, Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church,
Thursday, April 1, 2021: Cultivating a Committed Life, Rev. Father Nicholas Mueller – Assistant Priest, Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Oakland, CA
Thursday, April 8, 2021: Cultivating a Confident Life, Rev. Father Panagiotis Sotiras – Proistamenos, Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church, Stockton, CA
Thursday, April 15, 2021: Cultivating a Servant Life, Rev. Father Christos Kanakis – Proistamenos, Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Long Beach, CA
Thursday, April 22, 2021: Cultivating an Authentic Life, Rev. Father Jacob Saylor – Assistant Priest, Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Scottsdale, AZ
REGISTER HERE: https://gosfyouth.org/goya#/orthotalks to receive the Zoom link for OrthoTalks for Lent.
