
Pan Orthodox Conference
"Seek First the Kingdom of God"
June 7th – June 11th 2023
Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church
Butte, Montana
What is MontaNika ?
Orthodox MontaNika was formed by Fr. Deacon Ananias in August, 2021 to officially announce the launch his Orthodox Online Ministry known as Patristic Faith, as well as showing people the beauties of Montana and the potential for Orthodox growth and missions within this amazing state. The first conference was held at Carroll College in Helena, MT, where Deacon Ananias is a professor, and consisted of several speakers from the newly launched Patristic Faith website. Although the first Orthodox MontaNika conference was small (approximately 50-60 people), it was an enormous success and proved to be spiritually and educationally edifying for all who attended. In fact, the first conference was such a success that the following year it was moved to a larger venue to accommodate the increased interest and desire to attend Orthodox MontaNika. In June of 2022, the conference was moved to Butte, MT, where Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church co-sponsored and hosted the three day event under the blessing of Bishop Maxim. The 2022 Orthodox MontaNika conference was even more successful than the first, with the number of attendees increasing over double the amount from the previous year and focused on Orthodox Missions and Apologetics. It included speakers such as Metropolitan Jonah and Abbot Tryphon (just to name a few), more events, more tours, additional services (including a Hierarchical Liturgy and Vespers), more meals, better food, and greater fellowship. The demand to have another Orthodox MontaNika for 2023 was so great that the conference organizers not only decided to continue the yearly conference, but they have committed themselves to make this year’s conference even better.
Fr. Russell Radoicich (parish priest of Holy Trinity), the priests of Montana, Fr. Deacon Ananias, the conference organizers, together with the local Orthodox parishioners from across the state all agreed to continue this wonderful conference and agreed to keep it in the beautiful state of Montana. This is because, together with His Grace, Bishop Maxim, we all truly believe that there is no other state the possess the unique combination of beauty, natural community suitable for Orthodox values and living, riches of nature and the large expanse of land that makes it perfect for Orthodox growth and missions. We therefore invite people to explore the wonders, beauties, and potential of Orthodox Montana at our conference so as to provide the faithful with a better idea of what Orthodox life in Montana can be for those interested in moving to Montana and making a life here, where one can help build and grow Orthodoxy in this lovely state and across the nation. We believe that the freedom to grow Orthodoxy in Montana is a template for the rest of the nation.
This year’s conference theme is “Seek First the Kingdom of God,” which is designed to help attendees better understand what it means to prioritize the holy things in one’s life and how to live an Orthodox life of fellowship, communication, cohesion, camaraderie, coordination, and unity in Christ amidst the challenges of life. We have an even more amazing line up of speakers this year, including our own Bishop Maxim as this year’s key note speaker. Each speaker will be presenting talks on what it means to “seek first the kingdom of God.”
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.
- 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 Professor of 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.

Abbess Aemiliane
Abbess Aemiliane serves as the head of the monastery nestled on a beautiful 130-acre property in Union Bridge. Saint Nina’s serves as a home and much more to a small group of Orthodox Christian nuns. Started in 2012, the monastery is part of the North American Diocese of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church. The Sisterhood has its roots in Greece where its Founder and Elder, Archimandrite Dionysios, is Abbot of the Sacred Monastery of the Dormition, “Petra”, in the Agrapha Mountains of Thessaly. Abbess Aemiliane, was the first of the original Sisters of the Monastery of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Thebes, Greece, under its founding Abbess, Eldress Diodora. This original monastic community has grown into five Monasteries, in the US, Greece, and Norway, with nuns from more than 15 different countries. Abbess was one of the injured in the Kansas Sky Walk disaster, before she was a nun and before she was even Orthodox. Her miraculous rescue and the extraordinary circumstances not only saved her life but changed it forever to the glory of God. Her story provides an inspiration for all Orthodox.

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 -
Opening Banquet Dinner
7:00pm - 10:00pm
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 -
Guest Speaker 1
10:45am - 12:15pm -
Lunch
12:30pm - 2:00pm -
Guest Speaker 2
2:00am - 3:45pm -
Afternoon Tours
4:30pm - 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 -
Guest Speaker 3
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 -
Bishop Maxim
2:00pm - 3:30pm -
Afternoon Outings/Free time
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
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Ticket to June MontaNika Conference
-
Ticket to Men’s August Retreat
-
Everything that is included in each event
There is limited capacity and tickets are going fast. So purchase your tickets as soon as possible to assure that you get access to this year’s conference. Speakers are subject to change. No refunds.
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 Comfort Inn
There is limited capacity and tickets are going fast. So purchase your tickets as soon as possible to assure that you get access to this year’s conference. Speakers are subject to change. No refunds.
Regular Conference Ticket
-
Access to all speaker sessions
-
Access to all events
-
8 total meals
-
MontaNika bag
-
Recordings of speaker sessions
-
Discount code for Comfort Inn
There is limited capacity and tickets are going fast. So purchase your tickets as soon as possible to assure that you get access to this year’s conference. Speakers are subject to change. No refunds.

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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Questions?
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