Pan Orthodox Conference
"Seek First the Kingdom of God"
June 7th – June 11th 2023
Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church
Butte, Montana
What is MontaNika ?
MontaNIKA is an annual conference organized by the Orthodox community in Montana, specifically by the parishioners of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Butte, MT. The conference is held under the blessing and guidance of His Grace, Bishop Maxim. The demand for the conference was so great that the organizers decided to continue it on a yearly basis, striving to make each year even better than the last.
The conference aims to showcase the unique qualities of Montana that make it suitable for Orthodox values, community, and growth. It highlights the state’s natural beauty, expansive land, and the potential for Orthodox missions and development. The organizers believe that Montana provides an ideal setting for those interested in moving to the state and contributing to the growth of Orthodoxy, not only locally but also across the nation. They consider the freedom to nurture and expand Orthodoxy in Montana as a template for the rest of the country.
The theme of the MontaNIKA conference for 2023 is “Seek First the Kingdom of God.” This theme is designed to help attendees understand the importance of prioritizing spiritual matters in their lives and living an Orthodox lifestyle characterized by fellowship, communication, cohesion, camaraderie, coordination, and unity in Christ. The conference features a distinguished lineup of speakers, with Bishop Maxim serving as this year’s keynote speaker. Each speaker will deliver talks on the topic of “seeking first the kingdom of God.”
The MontaNIKA conference offers participants an opportunity to explore the wonders, beauties, and potential of Orthodox life in Montana. It provides a platform for sharing knowledge, building connections, and fostering a deeper understanding of Orthodox values and practices.
Price and Registration
- Early-Bird Registration (before April 21st): $140
- Regular Registration (after April 21st): $170
- Children under 12 are free; Orthodox priest and their families are free (voluntary donation), but they need to register early, since there is limited capacity.
- Please note that speaker lineup is subject to change at any time due to unforeseen circumstances, scheduling conflicts, or other reasons beyond our control.
- NO REFUNDS
Speakers
Bishop Maxim
Bishop Maxim (Vasiljevic) was elected Bishop of Los Angeles and the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in 2006. He graduated from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, in 1993. He completed his Master of Theology at the University of Athens in 1996, and then three years later, in 1999, at the same university, he defended his doctorate in the field of Dogmatics and Patristics. He worked for one year on his post-doctorate in Paris and the Sorbonne in 2003-04, in the field of Byzantine History and Hagiography. During this time, he also delved in the theory and practical application of painting at the French Academy of Fine Arts in Paris. Bishop Maxim is a professor of Patristics and was teaching Christian Anthropology, Byzantine Philosophy, Canon Law, and Dogmatics at various universities and schools. He speaks Greek, French, Russian, and English. He was the editor of “Theology” – Journal of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade. He also leads the Diocesan school of iconography. Bishop Maxim’s scholarly books, studies, and articles include essays on Holy Fathers and Saints; he has also written on the hagiographical and iconographical themes.
Fr. Turbo Qualls
Fr. Turbo Qualls is the rector of St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church in Kansas City Missouri. Fr Turbo is an iconographer, and spiritual director for the St. Elizabeth sisterhood, which is an urban monastic community and the Mount Tabor school of Liberal Arts, which provides classical education that is rooted in Orthodox tradition. Fr Turbo holds graduate and postgraduate degrees in Addiction Studies and Pastoral counseling with an emphasis in crisis response and trauma.
Fr. Dcn. Ananias
Fr. Deacon Ananias Sorem, PhD is CEO, Founder, and President of Patristic Faith, as well as the Founder and Organizer of Orthodox MontaNika. Father is an Orthodox apologist and teaches Philosophy at Fullerton College and Carroll College. He serves with Fr. Russell Rodoicich at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Butte, MT. Fr. Deacon has a BA in Liberal Arts from Thomas Aquinas College, together with an MA (Honors) and PhD in Philosophy (Epistemology; Philosophy of Science; Philosophy of Mind) from University College Dublin. His current academic work focuses on philosophical theology, epistemology, and the philosophy of science. Father is the author of several articles and peer-reviewed papers, including: “Searle, Materialism, and the Mind-Body Problem,” “Gnostic Scientism and Technocratic Totalitarianism,” “An Orthodox Approach to the Dangers of Modernity and Technology,” and “An Orthodox Theory of Knowledge: The Epistemological and Apologetic Methods of the Church Fathers.” He is also known for his YouTube channel, the Norwegian Nous (now Patristic Faith), where he provides content on theology, apologetics, logic, and philosophy. He is also a co-author of the recent book with esteemed Orthodox priests and scholars, Let No One Fear Death: Orthodox Christian Leaders Respond to the Covid-19 Challenge.
Mother Nectaria (McLees)
Mother Nectaria (McLees) is the editor of Road to Emmaus: A Journal of Orthodox Faith and Culture and the managing editor of St. Nicholas Press. She resides with the sisters of St. Xenia Skete in Indianapolis, Indiana. She will be giving a talk titled "Seeking the Kingdom: A Landscape of Christian Pilgrimage."
John Heers
John Heers is the former History Chair at Seacrest Country Day School and a co-founder of First Things Foundation. John worked overseas as a water resource manager in Mali, serving the Peace Corps for nearly three years. He studied history and education at Columbia University, earning a Masters Degree in 1993. By 1995 John was once again overseas working in the Georgian Republic overseeing the delivery of emergency relief to widows suffering the effects of the war in Abkhazia. After nearly nine years teaching in the South Bronx and Harlem in New York City, John took his family of five (now six) to Haiti where he and his wife assisted and taught at a tiny Orthodox Christian church in Port au Prince. Upon return he was invited to assist in the creation of a new independent high school, Seacrest Country Day School. John now works full-time for FTF.
David Patrick Harry
David Patrick Harry is a Religious Studies scholar, Orthodox Christian apologist, and owner of the YouTube channel/podcast Church of the Eternal Logos. Having an academic background studying Eastern Mysticism, Gnosticism, psychedelics, and theories of magic, he devotes the majority of his apologetic efforts towards the New Age and people who identify as “spiritual but not religious.” He is currently a PhD candidate at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA where his research is couched in the sub discipline of “New Religious Movements,” and focuses on the use of psychedelics for “spiritual” purposes post the 1960’s counterculture; arguing that such practices are a novel new religious movement but with a historical lineage tracing back through the history of magic in the Western esoteric traditions all the way to the prehistory of the shamanic tribal setting.
Schedule of Events
6/07 Wednesday
No Official events for Wednesday
- Arrivals
- Hotel Check-ins
6/08 Thursday
Opening Banquet Dinner
- Arrivals
- Hotel Check-ins
-
St. Peter’s Monastery Tour
TBA (optional and voluntary) -
Opening Banquet Dinner
7pm - 10pm
[Conference officially begins]
6/09 Friday
Day 1 of Speakers
-
Morning Prayers
8:30am - 9:00am -
Breakfast
9:00am - 10:00am -
Fr. Dcn. Ananias
10:00am - 10:45am -
David Patrick Harry
10:45am - 12:15pm -
Lunch
12:30pm - 2:00pm -
John Heers
2:00am - 3:30pm -
Optional Afternoon Tours
3:30pm - 6:30pm -
Explore Butte for dinner
Guests are on their own -
Women's Group Dinner Night*
6:45pm - 8:00pm
*dinner not included -
Evening Social and
Music Hospitality Night
8:00pm - 10:00pm
6/10 Saturday
Day 2 of Speakers
-
Morning Prayers
8:30am - 9:00am -
Breakfast
9:00am - 10:00am -
His Grace, Bishop Maxim
10:00am - 11:30am -
Breakout Groups
11:30am - 12:30pm- ∘ Clergy Group
∘ Choir Group
∘ Mother’s Club
∘ Kolo
∘ Women's Auxiliary
∘ Free time for others -
Lunch
12:30pm - 2:00pm -
Mother Nectaria
2:00pm - 3:30pm -
Father Turbo Qualls
3:30pm - 5:00pm -
Vespers
5:30pm - 6:30pm -
Closing Banquet Dinner
6:45pm - 8:30pm -
Evening Meet-Up
8:30pm - 10:30pm
6/11 Sunday
Church & Conference Close
-
Liturgy
10:00am -
Brunch
12:30pm - 1:30pm - Departures
Men’s Combo
-
Ticket to June MontaNika Conference
-
Ticket to Men’s August Retreat
-
Everything that is included in each event
Early Bird Conference Ticket
-
Access to all speaker sessions
-
Access to all events
-
8 total meals
-
MontaNika bag
-
Recordings of speaker sessions
-
Discount code for Best Western
Regular Conference Ticket
-
Access to all speaker sessions
-
Access to all events
-
8 total meals
-
MontaNika bag
-
Recordings of speaker sessions
-
Discount code for Best Western
Orthodox MontaNika Men's Retreat
“Your Brother is Your Life”
August 11th – 13th 2023
Butte, Montana
The Orthodox MontaNika Men's Retreat is a conference that focuses on men's issues and various topics related to manhood from an Orthodox perspective. The retreat includes practical workshops, fraternal fellowship, pastoral guidance, and talks from Metropolitan Jonah, Abbot Tryphon, Fr. Hans Jacobse, and Fr. Deacon Ananias. The retreat follows a similar itinerary to the annual conference held in June and is aimed at providing guidance and support to men in facing the challenges of modern life. Topics may include fatherhood, brotherhood, and sonship, among others.
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