Orthodoxy & Education Conference, 2025

What do you need to start your Orthodox School?
Does your already existing school need help?
Do you have a school that you want to shift toward a Classical model?

This conference covers the questions dealing with the founding, establishing, equipping, and thriving of your school.

Among the topics covered: incorporation and bylaws, building a board, finding a headmaster, hiring faculty, getting students, creating and maintaining your curriculum, getting buyin from the parishes, handling your state dept of Ed., creating an Orthodox culture, finding a building, staying sane and pious through it all.

Keynote: Dr. Jesse Cone, Headmaster of St. Constantine Academy, Pittsburgh.

With talks by

Dr. Cyril Gary Jenkins of the St. Basil Center
Mr. John Heitzenrater, headmaster of Chrysostom Academy
Laura E. Wolfe, author of Patterns for Life: Orthodox Reflections on Charlotte Mason
Education; and Sasha and the Dragon

Admission includes all lectures and workshops, and all meals, receptions, and breaks.

Partial admissions are available, and you should contact the organizers if you can only make part of the conference. We are happy to accomodate.

Childcare available!

Hotels of various prices are within 5 -10 minutes of Chrysostom Academy, which also has plenty of parking.

If you stay through Sunday, Lehigh Valley has five parishes (including St. Nicholas OCA which is right across the street) within 10 minutes drive of the Conference (St. Nicholas Greek, St. George Antiochian, St. Mary's Carpatho-Russian, Protection of the Virgin Ukrainian) with St. Paul Emmaus about 20 minutes away.

Tentative Schedule (more details soon).

Orthodoxy & Education Conference
16-18 October
Chrysostom Academy
Bridle Path Road, Bethlehem, PA

Thursday, 10 Oct
5:00-6:30 Registration
6:30 Greetings
6:45 Key Lecture 1:Dr. Cone
8:15 Reception

Friday, 11 Oct
8:30 Coffee and Danish
9:00 First Workshop Talk: TBA
10:15 Break
10:30 Second Workshop Talk: 9:00 First Workshop Talk: TBA
12:00 Lunch
1:30 Third Workshop Talk: 9:00 First Workshop Talk: TBA
2:45 Break
3:00 Fourth Workshop Talk: TBA
4:30 Break for The 9th Hour
5:00 Dinner
7:00 Keynote Lecture 2: Dr. Cone (more info coming)
8:30 Reception

Saturday 12 Oct
8:30 Coffee & Danish
9:00 Vendor Presentations
9:30 5th Workshop: TBA
10:45 6th Workshop: TBA
12:00 Lunch
1:30 Keynote Lecture 3: TBA
2:45 Break
3:00 Fifth Workshop Talk: TBA
4:30 Break
5:00 Vespers at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Final Thoughts on the Future of Orthodox Education

Host or Publisher St. Basil Center for Orthodox Thought and Culture