Philokalia Ministries Lenten Retreat 2026

The Dismantling of the Religious Self

Four Lenten Reflections on Delusion, Abandonment, and the Life That Remains in God

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“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

John 12:24

The fathers do not speak often about religious achievement.

They speak, instead, about truth. About humility. About the slow purification of the heart.

Not because religion is empty, but because the human heart is complex. We can pray, fast, and strive for faithfulness, and yet still find ourselves learning, over time, what it truly means to belong to God. Lent reveals this not as condemnation, but as mercy.

The journey of faith is not the construction of a stronger spiritual identity. It is the gradual discovery of a deeper life that God Himself sustains within us.

There are moments when the consolations we once relied upon begin to fall away. When familiar certainties no longer hold us in the same way. When God invites us to trust Him beyond what we can see or control.

This is not loss. It is invitation.

It unfolds gently, often quietly.

First, we begin to see where we have sought life apart from Him.

Then, we discover the limits of our own strength and righteousness.

Then, we learn what it means to entrust ourselves to Him more completely.

And finally, we begin to glimpse the life that does not depend on our effort, but on His presence within us.

This is the path of Lent.

It is not a path of destruction, but of transformation.

Not a loss of the self, but its fulfillment in Christ.

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You are warmly invited to join us for this four-part Lenten series with Philokalia Ministries.

February 21, 28; March 7,14: 7:00pm-8:30pm EST via Zoom

Together we will reflect on the wisdom of Scripture, the Desert Fathers, and modern spiritual elders as they guide us into deeper honesty, humility, and hope. These evenings are offered especially for those who desire to enter Lent not merely as an external observance, but as a living encounter with the mercy and renewing grace of God.

Whether you are weary, searching, or simply longing for a deeper life of prayer, you are welcome.

More Information on how to register will follow soon!

PDFs of original reflections will be sent out with the Zoom Link

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