Light from the East: Encountering Orthodoxy offers a guided Lenten journey into the spiritual, theological, and liturgical world of Eastern Orthodoxy.

Rooted in the faith of the early Church and shaped by centuries of prayer, art, and witness, Orthodoxy presents a distinctive vision of Christian life centred on worship, transformation, and participation in the life of God. Across these weeks we will explore its historical development, its separation from the Western Church, its rich visual and sacramental language, and its understanding of salvation as theosis—becoming God by grace.

The retreat combines teaching, conversation, and lived experience, including participation in the Divine Liturgy at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Divine Wisdom (Hagia Sophia), which will invite us not only to learn about Orthodoxy, but to encounter it as a living tradition of prayer and hope during Lent.

The cost of the whole course is a suggested donation of £20. Please do not let this deter you from joining, though.

You can book tickets here

Course content

Saturday 21st February: Orthodox origins: the church of the seven councils

Saturday 28th February: A separate path: schism, the end of Byzantium, the 20th century.

Saturday 7th March: Portal to heaven: the world of icons

Saturday 14th March: Becoming God: Orthodox perspectives on salvation

Saturday 21st March: Divine Liturgy at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Hagia Sophia, Moscow Road (10am)

Saturday 28th March: The new Jerusalem: church, sacraments, saints in Orthodox life.

Regular format each Saturday*

10:30am: Low Mass

11am: Coffee and brunch

11:30: Presentation and discussion

12:30: Conclusion

*save for Saturday 21st March, when we’ll visit the Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 10am.

Advance preparations: 

Lent book – T Ware, The Orthodox Church