Registration is now open for the 2026 Metropolis Young Adult Fall Retreat, taking place October 22–25, 2026, at St. Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center in Dunlap, California. Orthodox young adults ages 18–35 from all Orthodox jurisdictions—including those who are new to Orthodoxy or simply exploring the Orthodox faith—are warmly invited to join us for a weekend of prayer, fellowship, hiking, meaningful discussion, service, and spiritual renewal in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains.
This Year’s Theme: Food as Medicine: What Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science Teach Us About Nourishing the Whole Person
Our featured speaker, Dr. Pericles Ioannides, will explore food as medicine through the lens of modern medical science and the wisdom of ancient traditions, examining how what we eat can influence health, longevity, and the prevention of chronic disease. Together, we’ll consider not only what nourishes the body, but how our relationship with food, moderation, and fasting can shape the whole person.
The retreat will explore the Orthodox understanding of food as a gift and fasting as a spiritual discipline, inviting us to consider how the way we eat can cultivate gratitude, self-control, and a deeper hunger for God.
Two Registration Options
ADVENTURE PACKAGE — October 22–25 Arrive
Thursday evening and join us Friday morning for a full-day hiking adventure in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks before the retreat officially begins.
REGULAR WEEKEND PACKAGE — October 23–25
Beginning Friday evening, gather at St. Nicholas Ranch for a weekend of discussion, fellowship, prayer, and spiritual renewal. Participants will also visit the sisters at the Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring for a meaningful work project and church services, along with other activities throughout the weekend.
- Date: Thursday, October 22 – Sunday, October 25, 2026
- Location: Saint Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center, Dunlap, CA
- Ages: Orthodox young adults ages 18–35
- Speaker: Dr. Pericles Ioannides
- Theme: Food as Medicine: What Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science Teach Us About Nourishing the Whole Person
We look forward to welcoming young adults from all over for a beautiful weekend to reconnect with God, build lasting friendships, and grow together in Christ.
Guest Presenter
Dr. Pericles Ioannides
Dr. Pericles Ioannides is an oncologist at Adventist Health Hospital in Sonora, CA. He completed residency as the Chief Resident at University of California, Irvine, trained in internal medicine residency at Medical College of Wisconsin, and received his MD from Indiana University School of Medicine. While treating cancer patients with radiation, he also completed a certification in Nutrition Science from Stanford University. Using evidence-based knowledge of “food as medicine” he has presented for organizations such as the Blue Zones on how the role of nutrition has an impact and can even reverse chronic diseases, and in addition, to bridge the gap between ancient spiritual wisdom and modern medical science.
Download the Flyer: Metropolis Young Adult Fall Retreat: “Food as Medicine”
