"LAUREL HIGHLANDS HIDDEN GEM"
Antiochian Village Conference & Retreat Center
140 Church Camp Trail, Bolivar, PA 15923
© 2025 Antiochian Village | All Rights Reserved
Welcome to the cultural and educational wing!
The exhibits and resources of the Antiochian Heritage Museum & Library celebrate the artistic, cultural, spiritual and literary heritage of the ancient city of Antioch and its surrounding Eastern Mediterranean region. From richly inlaid wood furniture and hand-embroidered textiles to colorful icons that have served for centuries as windows into the heavenly realm, our collections provide guests with unique opportunities for enrichment and exploration.
Exhibits in our Antiochian Heritage Museum celebrate the artistic, cultural and spiritual heritage of the ancient city of Antioch and its surrounding Eastern Mediterranean region. The permanent collection includes:
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Early Christian icons of Greek, Russian and Syrian origin
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Colorful hand-embroidered dresses from the Holy Land
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Richly inlaid wood furniture of Damascus
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Antique engravings and lithographs
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Interactive exhibit about the life of St. Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn
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And much more!
Saint Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn
A beloved early pioneer of Orthodox Christianity in the United States, Saint Raphael was born in 1860 and raised in Damascus in a devout Orthodox Christian family. He received his seminary education on the island of Halki in Turkey in preparation for becoming a priest and bishop. In 1895, he arrived in New York to pastor its Arabic-speaking Christian community and was elevated to bishop in 1904 - the first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated on North American soil. He traveled the continent, tirelessly serving Orthodox communities and establishing churches throughout America until his death in 1915. Originally buried in Brooklyn, New York, St. Raphael’s remains were brought to the Holy Resurrection Cemetery on the grounds of the Antiochian Village Camp in 1989. He was recognized as a saint in the year 2000. In 2024, hundreds of clergy and campers witnessed the Translation of St. Raphael's Relics - a ceremonial moving of his remains from his burial location to the church. A permanent exhibit honoring Saint Raphael includes liturgical items and an interactive touchscreen exhibit.
Current Exhibits
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East Meets West in Ligonier
Exploring the history of the Antiochian Village property through the lives of four historic figures, this exhibit reveals connections that span the centuries – across oceans, continents, cultures, and faiths – as it weaves together the stories of two communities who have worshipped on the land that is now Antiochian Village and called it home.
Coins of Antioch New Testament Times, 5 BC to 68 AD
From pagan emperors to leaping rams, these early Roman coins provide a glimpse of the pre-Christian milieu in which Christ grew up and began his ministry, up through the period when His message of salvation began to spread after His death and resurrection. During this time, the great city of Antioch was the seat of the Roman Empire in the East, and many coins were minted there.
Saint Raphael: Scholar & Shepherd
Historical artifacts and an interactive touchscreen exhibit present the story of St. Raphael’s life and ministry, as well as highlights from the theological thesis he wrote as a young seminarian. The full text of his thesis, translated into English from its original handwritten Greek, is on display in our library.
Titanic Connections: Unique and Untold Stories
Originally created to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, the exhibit is now in our Lower Museum Lobby and features fascinating passenger stories with connections to the Antiochian heritage and to western Pennsylvania.
Past Exhibits
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Voyages East: Antique Prints of Syria and the Holy Land
Scenes of Syria and the Holy Land, as seen through the eyes of 19th century European artists.
Eternal Spring: The Art of Leila Chokheli
Celebrating the joyous spirit and faith of the artist, who lived under Communist rule in her native Georgia.
Sacred Illuminations by Tatiana Nikolova-Houston
Contemporary works of art, inspired by antique manuscripts and the artist’s Bulgarian heritage.
Women with Icons: Photographs by Jocelyn Mathewes
Portraits of Orthodox Christian women, honoring the beauty and meaning of iconography.
Splendor of Damascus: Textiles and Artifacts of Traditional Syria
Hand-embroidered garments on loan from the collection of Farah and Hanan Munayyer.
Spirit & Whimsy: The Art of Niko Chocheli
Colorful original paintings and children’s book illustrations.
The Art of Kahlil Gibran
Original drawings on loan from the Telfair Museum of Art in Savannah, Georgia.
Museum Hours:
June through October:
Monday through Friday 10 am - 4 pm & by appointment
Off-season:
Contact Front Desk to confirm availability
The Antiochian Heritage Library houses approximately 25,000 volumes relating to early Christianity, the theology of the Orthodox Christian Church, Middle Eastern culture, Syriac, Syrian-Arabic and Aramaean Christian history and culture, and Christian-Muslim relations. A resource for families, clergy, educators, and those interested in learning more about the Antiochian heritage and Orthodox Christianity, the library also serves the faculty and students of the Antiochian House of Studies.
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A start-up grant of $100,000 from the Albert and Rosemary Joseph Foundation, as well as ongoing support from the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, has allowed the library to build its collection steadily since its inception in 1987. Significant additions to the library have come from the collections of Dr. George Atiyeh, former head of the Near East Division at the Library of Congress; the Saint Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology in Sacramento, California; and Dr. Michael G. Farrow, former Vice-Chair of the Department of Sacred Music of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The library considers donations of materials which are in good condition and are directly relevant to the library’s mission, as outlined in our Donation Policies and Procedures.
Free Admission
Open Year-Round
Group Tours
Library Hours:
Monday through Friday 9 am - 5 pm
Weekend Hours Vary
Contact Front Desk for Current Hours or
Schedule Appointment with our Librarian