EIGHT DATES FALL 2026
Sept 10 • Sept 24 • Oct 1 • Oct 15 • Nov 5 • Nov 19 • Dec. 3 • Dec 10
presented by our Family Wellness Ministry Team
❦ Eight Dates Introduction ~ Essential Conversations for a lifetime of love Presenters: George Papageorge, M.F.T., & Fr. Timothy Pavlatos, M.Div., M.F.T.
Conversations That Matter ❦ Your Date Night ❦ The 4 Skills of Intimate Conversation ❦ The Art of Listening
(We will email you introduction and supplemental materials). Please take time to watch our Introduction Video before beginning 8 Dates on September 10th .
• Introduction Video
( Sept 10) Date 1 — LEAN ON ME: Trust and Commitment, Presenters: Fr. Tom, M.F.T, M.Div., and Presvytera Pat Tsagalakis
❦ Trust is cherishing each other and showing your partner that you can be counted on. Choosing commitment means accepting your partner exactly as he or she is, despite their flaws.
• ZOOM LINK
• Session 1: Prayer – Trust & Commitment
• 8 Dates FALL 2026 Session 1 Handout
(Sept 24) Date 2 – AGREE TO DISAGREE Addressing Conflict. Presenter: George Papageorge, M.F.T.
❦ Conflict happens in every relationship, and it’s a myth to believe that in a happy relationship you’ll get along all the time. Relationship conflict serves a purpose. It’s an opportunity to get to know your partner better and to develop deeper intimacy as you talk about and work through your differences.
• Session 2 Marriage Prayer
(Oct 1) Date 3 – LET’S GET IT ON Sex and Intimacy. Presenters: Fr. James M.Div., and Pres. Donna Pappas
❦ Romantic, intimate rituals of connection keep a relationship happy and passionate. Couples who talk about sex have more sex, but talking about sex is difficult for the majority of couples—it gets easier and more comfortable the more you do it.
• Session 3: Prayer – For Love and Intimacy
(Oct 15) Date 4 – THE COST OF LOVE Work and Money. Presenter: Joe Borgonia, M.F.T.
❦ Money issues aren’t about money. They’re about what money means to each partner in a relationship. Discovering what money means to both of you will go a long way in resolving the conflicts you may have around money.
• Session 4: Couple’s Prayer for Work & Money
(Nov 5) Date 5 – ROOM TO GROW Family. Presenters: Fr. Daniel, M.Div., and Presvytera Michelle Triant
❦ Approximately two-thirds of couples have a sharp drop in relationship satisfaction shortly after a child is born, and this drop gets deeper with each subsequent child. To avoid this drop in relationship happiness, conflict needs to be low and you need to maintain your sexual relationship.
• Session 5: Prayer for Family
(Nov 19) Date 6 – PLAY WITH ME ~ Fun and Adventure. Presenters: Fr. Tom, M.F.T., M.Div., and Presvytera Pat Tsagalakis
❦ Play and adventure are vital components to a successful and joyful relationship. It’s okay if you and your partner have different ideas about what constitutes play and adventure. The key is for you to respect each other’s sense of adventure and what it means to that partner.
• Session 6: Couples prayer for fun and adventure
(Dec 3) Date 7 – SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN ~ Growth and Spirituality. Presenter: Fr. Vasili Hillhouse, M.Div.
❦ The only constant in a relationship is change. The key is how each person in the relationship accommodates the growth of the other partner. Relationships can be more than just two individuals coming together—they can be stories of transformation and great contribution and meaning to the world.
• Session 7: Prayer For A Couples Spiritual Growth
(Dec 10) Date 8 – FINAL SESSION – A LIFETIME OF LOVE ~ Dreams Presenter: Dr. Nikki Frousakis
❦ When dreams are honored, everything else in the relationship gets easier. Honoring each other’s dreams is the secret ingredient to creating love for a lifetime.
• Session 8: 8 Dates Prayer for Pursuing Dreams
Message for Church Bulletins: 8 Dates: Make time for what matters most this fall with “8 Dates,” a relationship enrichment series presented by the Family Wellness Ministry. Starting September 10, 2026, couples are invited to share eight intentional conversations that nurture connection, communication, and closeness. Whether you’re dating, engaged, newly married, or have been together for many years, this is a wonderful opportunity to nurture your connection, strengthen your relationship, and discover new ways to grow together. For 8 Dates info and registration: www.familywellnessministry.org/eight-dates/
ORDER YOUR 8 DATES BOOK
Our “8 Dates” online workshops combine a Christ-centered approach with research based strategies to enhance connection, communication and conflict management skills for couples. Over 800 couples from throughout the country have already benefited from our 8 Dates program.
Join our Family Wellness Ministry team via ZOOM starting Thursday, September 10th as we highlight topics from the popular lifestyle book Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love (Workman, 2019) by award-winning authors and psychologists Drs. John and Julie Gottman, and bestselling authors Doug Abrams and Rachel Carlton Abrams, MD.
“The authors of this book have distilled 40+ years of marriage research into 8 essential conversations that are the hallmark of thriving relationships. They give us the tools to structure these conversations and to enjoy a lifetime of discovery about the person we married to. We cannot wait to share this with the couples throughout the country once again – especially after such phenomenal feedback from our experience over the last few years” ~ Presvytera Donna Pappas
The Eight Dates Marriage series promises to be a balance of vibrant content, integration of our Orthodox Christian faith, and opportunity for small group discussion catered specifically to the various needs that couples face on a daily basis. Participating couples will be given weekly exercises and questions to complete together for additional value outside the scheduled meetings. Ultimately, each couple should come away with the resources necessary for healthy commitment to one another, as well as an expanded Metropolis community of supportive peers in the process.
You will receive information, meeting links and handouts after you register. Please register by September 1, 2026 On September 5th you’ll receive our intro video and materials
8 Dates is a free gift for couples from the Metropolis of San Francisco
For Questions: Please contact Presvytera Pat Tsagalakis
Our Family Wellness Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco continues to host the “EIGHT DATES”experience for over 800 couples. We received overwhelming positive comments by countless couples who participated in growing closer in their relationship with one another.
PARISH RESOURCES:
8 Dates FALL 2026 Flyer
8 Dates Fall Church Bulletin Message SQUARE Bulletin announcement below:
Message for Church Bulletins: 8 Dates: Make time for what matters most this fall with “8 Dates,” a relationship enrichment series presented by the Family Wellness Ministry. Starting September 10, 2026, couples are invited to share eight intentional conversations that nurture connection, communication, and closeness. Whether you’re dating, engaged, newly married, or have been together for many years, this is a wonderful opportunity to nurture your connection, strengthen your relationship, and discover new ways to grow together. For 8 Dates info and registration: www.familywellnessministry.org/eight-dates/
