Events
Save the date for a free networking event for Orthodox women in the greater Seattle area!
Drinks and appetizers on us - all you need to bring is yourself, and maybe a friend!
Location and more details to be announced soon.
Since earliest times, women’s fingerprints have been found throughout the Church. From the icons which adorn our walls, to the wood carvings, vestments and curtains of the liturgies, to the lives of the female martyrs, it is through those who have walked before us that we are woven into the living tradition of the Body of Christ.
On April 18th, join us in exploring how the tangible presence of women’s witness become beautiful examples of the power of faith in Christ. Through church architecture, iconography and martyrdom texts, Historical Theologian and Professor Ani Shahinian will guide us through an exquisite weekend together visiting three Orthodox churches, examining what they tell us about the theological and spiritual power of beauty and its witness to our lives as Orthodox women today.
This one-day retreat includes:
- Private coach tour of three Orthodox churches in the San Diego area
- Dynamic, experiential teaching by a leading scholar
- Catered lunch
- Hands-on Byzantine mosaic afternoon workshop with a treasured keepsake to bring home
- Optional evening Vespers
- A chance to connect with Orthodox women in the San Diego area and experience the healing power of beauty.
There will be an optional Friday night meet and greet on April 17th - appetizers and drinks on us!
Early Registration Price: $179
Regular Registration Price: $199
For anyone traveling to attend this event, a block of rooms has been reserved at Courtyard San Diego Old Town. Contact axia@axiawomen.org to receive the booking link!
Several student scholarships available! Apply here.
We hope you will join us for this one-of-a-kind weekend together as Orthodox women across jurisdictions!
REGISTER
About our Speaker
Ani Shahinian, D.Phil./Ph.D., is the Assistant Professor in Armenian Christian Art and Theology, at St. Nersess and St Vladimir’s Theological Seminaries in New York. Shahinian holds a doctorate in History and Theology from the University of Oxford. Shahinian is driven and inspired by people. She has had a lifelong curiosity in people across cultures, societies, languages, and time. Her journey to explore the depth of the human soul has taken her across many countries and degrees in the fields of human rights, criminal law, philosophy, theology, history, religion, and politics. Her insights continue to develop a more holistic understanding of what it means to be a human person in today’s world. You can learn more about Ani's journey through our recent Woman of the Week interview here!
Axia Women invites you to a complementary Social Hour for all Orthodox women in the greater San Diego area.
Join us for an evening of fellowship & connection on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Enjoy generous Lenten mezze at Georgia's Greek Cuisine!
We'll provide those savory bites - all you need to bring is yourself, and maybe a friend!
Where: Georgia’s Greek Cuisine (reserved patio)
3550 Rosecrans Street
San Diego, CA 92110
When: 7PM
We hope to see you there!
RSVP Here
(Orthodox women only, please)
Join us for this full-length Preaching and Teaching Course with Dr. Teva Regule and take a deep dive into the feast of the Annunciation and the life of St. Mary of Egypt, and what they can teach us today. We’ll study biblical narratives, patristic writings and tradition, iconography, and the hymnography of the feasts to explore what we can learn from two women who said yes to God in ways that dramatically changed their lives as well as their inner worlds.
At the end of the course, you’ll walk away with the skills to conduct biblical research and exegesis, learn sermon methodology, and put together a talk or sermon that can be used in a wide variety of settings. Past participants have used what they learned to craft Sunday homilies, church school lessons, as well as talks to women's groups, parishioners at coffee hour, and more.
Based on your feedback from our mini-course this past July, we’ve extended the sessions to eight weeks. Mark your calendars for Thursdays from January 15 - March 5 (7–9 pm Eastern) and join us!
Details:
Thursdays 7-9PM Eastern
January 15-March 5
Online
Cost:
Early Registration (through Dec 15th): $259
Full Registration (through January 5): $299
This course is now full. Add your name to the waitlist here!
Reach out with any questions to axia@axiawomen.org!
(Orthodox women only, please.)
Axia Women would like to invite you to join us for a Meet & Greet Networking event for Orthodox women!
Come join us for appetizers and good conversation.
We'll provide those appetizers - all you need to bring is yourself, and maybe a friend!
Friday, December 19 | 5-7PM
Let us know you're coming by RSVPing HERE.
We hope to see you there!
Bring your cocktails or mocktails and join us for a happy hour celebration of Susan Ashbrook Harvey’s new book, Ministries of Song: Women's Voices in Ancient Syriac Christianity.
Each attendee will receive a free digital download of the book during the event.
When: Thursday, December 11 | 7:30PM Eastern
We hope to see you there!
(Orthodox women only, please.)
Join us for a webinar and Q&A on the ways we find healing and transformation through our wounds. Registered therapist Eleni Opperwall and trauma-informed coach and author Nicole Roccas will guide us in a two-part webinar on Sunday, October 19th, 7pm Eastern.
Together, we'll explore what it means to be human after trauma through honest, hopeful conversations. Springboarding off of their recently launched Re-Creation Podcast, Nicole and Eleni will draw from Orthodox Christian tradition, personal experiences, and their professional work, sharing insights and stories to support healing and spiritual integration around the wounds of life.
Evening Program:
45 min Talk
5 min Break
30 min Q&A
Cost: $12
(If cost is an obstacle, please let us know!)
About Our Speakers
Eleni Opperwall is a registered social worker and psychotherapist with nearly two decades of experience supporting parents, children, and families. She holds advanced training in perinatal mental health, trauma recovery, EMDR, and attachment-focused therapies, and has worked in both community settings and private practice. Learn more about Eleni’s work at www.eleniopperwallcounselling.com.
Nicole M. Roccas is a writer and trauma-informed writing coach based in Southern Ontario. She is the author of several books, including Time and Despondency: Regaining the Present in Faith and Life. Although she wears many professional hats, she most cherishes the ones where she gets to find words for the paradoxical, “bright sadness” of human existence; empower others to find their God-given voice and choice; and help cultivate greater wholeness in an often fragmented, disconnected world. Learn more about Nicole at https://nicoleroccas.com.
We hope to see you there!
Orthodox women only, please.
Our recent panel, Women Sharing the Good News: Teaching and Preaching, sparked such excitement that we knew we couldn’t stop there. So, we’re taking it to the next level! Join us for Tuesdays in July—July 8–29—for a dynamic four-week mini-course with the inspiring Dr. Teva Regule, and discover how you can teach and preach Christ with confidence and grace.
By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to deliver a compelling sermon or give an engaging coffee-hour talk on the Feast of the Transfiguration. You’ll learn how to craft your message using Scripture, patristic insights,and its liturgical context, including iconography, and hymnography—drawing from the rich wellsprings of Orthodox tradition.
This hands-on experience includes:
- Inspiring two-hour lectures
- A one-on-one tutorial
- Weekly reflection exercises
- Interactive workshop sessions
We’ll meet weekly (online) throughout July, wrapping up just in time for the Feast of the Transfiguration. As an extra bonus, if you’d like, you can record your sermon at the end of the course—Axia will choose at least three to feature on our platforms!
We can’t wait to hear what you have to say. Let’s bring the Good Word to life—together.
All levels welcome.
About the Instructor:
Dr. Teva Regule brings a scholarly mind and a pastoral heart to theology and liturgical life, shaped by a lifelong journey within the Orthodox Church. Raised in the faith and actively involved ever since, she combines heartfelt commitment with scholarly excellence. Teva earned her Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 2007, graduating with highest distinction, and went on to complete her PhD in Systematic Theology at Boston College.
Her academic interests center on the vibrant traditions of Orthodox worship, with a particular focus on liturgical theology and history. Beyond the classroom and church, Teva is a dedicated advocate for the voices of women and young people in the life of the Church. In her home parish women preach during Women’s History Month, and Teva has consistently brought its participants into a rich and engaging perspective on the living tradition of Orthodox Christianity.
Details
July 8, 15, 22, 29th | 7pm Eastern
Early Registration (until June 14): $179
Full Registration (ends on July 1st): $199
Space is limited to 20 students, as participants will receive personal coaching and feedback. We recommend signing up early!
Orthodox women only, please.
Join Axia Women and St. Phoebe Center for the Deaconess for a new webinar, “Women Sharing the Good News: Teachers and Preachers.” Hear from four panelists on their experiences in presenting our faith:
- Nadieszda Kizenko, PhD, historian and professor at the University of Albany (OCA and ROCOR)
- Sherry Shenoda, MD, pediatrician and author who has testified before Congress (Coptic Orthodox)
- Sarah Byrne-Martelli, MDiv, D.Min, board-certified chaplain and author (AOCA)
- Dina Zingaro, MDiv/JD candidate at Harvard Divinity School and Harvard Law School (GOA)
Panel will be moderated by Teva Regule, MDiv, PhD.
When: March 23, 7:00 - 8:30 pm EDT
Online via Zoom.
This is a free event and open to all.
Donations welcome!
Register here!
How do we hunger for righteousness?
Join author Phoebe Farag Mikhail and Axia Women for a hybrid book launch event celebrating Phoebe’s new book, Hunger for Righteousness: A Lenten Journey Towards Intimacy with God and Loving Our Neighbor.
Just in time to prepare for Lent, come explore the familiar traditions and practices of Lent, Holy Week and Easter from the perspectives of modern and ancient Christian heroes – some familiar, others less well-known. Phoebe Farag Mikhail’s new book brings together surprising and challenging reflections, familiar concepts of almsgiving, prayer, fasting, repentance, reading of Scripture, forgiveness, and pilgrimage are given fresh insight. Come meet the author and learn more about how to draw closer to God and share the love of Christ with your neighbors. After the event, Phoebe will be available to sign books.
Monday, February 17th | 7PM ET
In-Person in collaboration with St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, New York
Metropolitan Philip Auditorium, Rangos Building, 575 Scarsdale Road, Crestwood, NY 10707
Online via Zoom (link to come).
This is a free event. (Orthodox women only, please.)