Feedback from the April 2010 Retreat

"The Iona Orthodox House is a beautiful place to gather spiritual and physical strength with its atmosphere of harmony and hospitality. Services in the chapel, prayers, and discussions about the life of the Saints, Iona and Orthodoxy made me “stop” and relax from my everyday routine. Every day we explored and enjoyed the island's beauty. My thanks to Fr. Rapael, Ignatios and Joanna who organised such a beautiful time and “created” for me a very warm memory about Iona." Natalia Chechina

Doubly removed from the mainland, Iona is a place where one can truly retreat from worldly distraction and enter the place of the heart. The indelible grace of God has soaked into the earth and stones of this beautiful island from the blessing of the great Saint Columba, from the breath of monastic prayer over many centuries, and from the bones of unknown martyrs and saints which no doubt still lie hidden beneath its soil. It was indeed lovely to participate in Orthodox worship in the setting of St Oran's Chapel, and to enjoy the company of the devout Romanian and Russian pilgrims with whom I travelled to Iona, to be so warmly welcomed by Reader Ignatios and his wife Joanna, who labour tirelessly to restore the Orthodox tradition in Iona, and who deserve every support in their great efforts.