St. Catherine's Vision
Contact Us…
If you would like more information or are interested in supporting our initiatives please contact the Executive Committee through email at: 
SCOBA Jurisdictions…
- Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America
- Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
- Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church
- Carpatho Russian Orthodox Diocese in the USA
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
- Orthodox Church in America
- Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America & Canada
- Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
A Variety of Gifts…
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (St. Paul, First Letter to the Corinthians 12:4-7).
We are a group of women graduates of Orthodox Theological Schools that have come together (with the blessing of SCOBA) to help harness the skills and knowledge of our women graduates in the service of the Church. A planning committee has been established and has been working for over three years. The goal of the committee is to identify women graduates, solicit their interests and participation, and to select and prioritize projects that will benefit the Church.
2007 Retreat
The second retreat for women graduates of Orthodox theological schools sponsored by Saint Catherine's Vision took place in August of 2007. It was held on Cape Cod at Sacred Hearts Retreat Center, a serene and welcoming place. Participants worshipped together each day in the chapel and met for Bible study in the library. The wooded walking trails and beach offered another way to be close to God in the colors, sights, and sounds of His creation.
Discussion at the retreat centered on articles from Encountering Women of Faith, the first book published by the group. Looking at the lives of some of the saints whose stories are included in the book sparked lively conversation about the Church today and the ways in which women continue to serve. Like other dedicated Orthodox women, those who attended the retreat are eager to use their gifts in the many ways that our rich Tradition has invited them to do for centuries.
Another session at the retreat focused on the suggestions and instruction offered by invited consultants. Their advice and their encouraging, co-operative spirit greatly helped in shaping the group's plans for new projects, fundraising, and outreach to more women graduates.
Encountering Women of Faith: St. Catherine's Vision Collection Volume 2
A project now underway for Saint Catherine's vision is the second volume of Encountering Women of Faith. Like the first volume, which has garnered several favorable reviews, this book will be a collection of chapters written by SCV members, reflecting on the lives of women saints. The writers relate these saints' stories to the lives of modern women, and to their own personal faith and their relationships with God and with other people. A special feature of the book is a series of discussion questions following each chapter.
Saints Mary of Egypt, Thekla, Perpetua and Felicitas and Maria Skobtsova are among those about whom chapters are being written for this book.
Special Note: Volume 3 of Encountering Women of Faith is planned for the near future. Any woman graduate of an Orthodox theological school who is interested in submitting a proposal for this book-a personal reflection on the life of the Theotokos-may do so. The email address for Saint Catherine's Vision is 
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Women's Conference in Volos, Greece
Three members of the Saint Catherine's Vision Planning Board will attend an (international) WCC Consultation entitled The Participation of Orthodox Women in the Ecumenical Movement: Past, Present, Future to be held June 8-12 at the Volos (Greece) Academy for Theological Studies.
Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald, Barbara Harris and Valerie Zahirsky will take part in the conference to consider the participation of Orthodox women in the Ecumenical Movement, past, present and future. Since 1976, the World Council of Churches has given Orthodox women opportunities to meet and confer across ethnic, national and cultural differences. The Volos meeting will be a chance to assess the results of those meetings and conferences. It will also be an opportunity to consider ways that the Churches, and their members, can respond to the problems facing society in the 21st century.
Encountering Women of Faith: St. Catherine's Vision Collection Volume 1
This is an historic book, as it is a Pan-Orthodox initiative written collaboratively by the co-authors. An initiative blessed by SCOBA, this is also the first book written to honor women everywhere who have pursued Orthodox theological studies, as well as all women who have dedicated themselves to Christian service. The books is co-authored by members of the Board of St. Catherine's Vision (SCV), a working group of persons seeking to study and support the many ways women and men are called to serve within the life of the Orthodox Church today.