January 30 – February 1, 2026
Stony Creek, NY – Adirondacks

From Friday through Sunday, January 30 to February 1, Fr. Martin Kraus and six other men gathered in the Adirondacks for their annual Mountain Men Respite. They were graciously hosted at Delbert Clement’s family homestead in Stony Creek, NY — a beautiful 60-acre property surrounded by winter woods and centered around a large frozen pond.

The weekend brought true Adirondack winter conditions. Daytime temperatures ranged between 10–15 degrees, and nighttime temperatures dropped to between –15 and –20 degrees. The men slept in hot tents, each heated by wood stoves that required steady tending throughout the night. Thanks to Dell’s generous preparation, there was abundant firewood for both the tent stoves and the large outdoor fire that became the heart of the retreat.

A simple ice chapel was constructed on the property, providing a sacred place for prayer amid the snow and silence. There, surrounded by frozen water and winter stillness, the men gathered to pray together. The stark beauty of the chapel reflected the simplicity of the retreat itself — stripped of distraction and centered on worship and fellowship.

On Sunday morning, the group traveled to Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Ballston Lake for Divine Liturgy. Fr. Martin was invited by Fr. Matthew Markewich, the Rector, to deliver the homily for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. The Gospel and hymns of the Triodion providentially reinforced the theme of the weekend.

Discerning God’s Will with the Help of the Church Fathers

The retreat centered on the theme: Discerning God’s Will with Help from the Church Fathers. Friday evening reflections focused on νῆψις (nepsis) — watchfulness — and the battle against λογισμοί (logismoi), the intrusive thoughts that seek to rule the heart. The stillness of the mountains provided an ideal setting to explore this patristic teaching: when the body grows quiet, the movements of the inner life become more visible. The Fathers remind us that discernment begins not with dramatic decisions, but with wakefulness and humility.

On Saturday evening, the reflections turned toward the healing of the νοῦς (nous), the spiritual eye of the soul, and its return to the καρδία (heart), the center of the human person. Drawing from the Gospel of the Publican and the Pharisee, the men considered how humility, stillness, and truthfulness before God form the foundation for spiritual clarity. Discernment, the Fathers teach, is not guessing hidden plans but allowing the heart to become quiet enough to perceive God’s guidance.

Life in the Snow

During the day, the men snowshoed through the woods and across the frozen pond. The deep snow and quiet landscape fostered reflection and unhurried conversation. Meals were prepared over the open fire, and long discussions unfolded about faith, vocation, struggle, and responsibility.

The extreme cold required attentiveness — tending fires, layering clothing, rising in darkness to relight stoves. In many ways, the elements themselves became teachers. The cold demanded discipline; the fire required vigilance; and the silence invited honesty.

Brotherhood and Renewal

The Mountain Men Respite was marked by simplicity and brotherhood. Without distraction, conversations deepened and prayer became more intentional. The teaching of the Fathers — especially concerning humility and watchfulness — moved from theory to lived experience.

The men returned home strengthened not by dramatic resolutions, but by a quieter resolve: to practice humility like the Publican, to pause before reacting, to seek counsel rather than self-justification, and to cultivate interior watchfulness in daily life.

In the cold of the Adirondacks, in the glow of firelight, and in the stillness of an ice chapel, the group was reminded that discerning God’s will begins by standing honestly before Him and praying with the simplicity the Church teaches:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”