Mary Magdalene – The Retreat of the Heart

A Contemplative Retreat in France

August 31 to September 7, 2026 | Saint Michel du Var Monastery

An Invitation to the stillness of the Heart

In the heart of Provence, where silence breathes through stone chapels and olive groves, Mary Magdalene – The Retreat of the Heart in France invites you to return to the inner sanctuary of your being — the living temple of the Divine Feminine.

Guided by Véronique Flayol, guardian of Mary Magdalene’s relics, and Vadim Garine, iconographer and artist of the Orthodox Monastery of Saint Michel du Var, this journey is a path of contemplation, creation, and communion.
Rooted in years of devotion to the Prayer of the Heart and the sacred use of aromatherapy as a pathway of healing and presence, Véronique invites you into a space where body, soul, and spirit meet in silence and fragrance.

Here, prayer becomes art, silence becomes song, and the heart itself becomes the place of encounter with the Beloved.

The Essence of the Retreat

This retreat is not about traveling outward, but about journeying inward — from thought into stillness, from separation into union, from devotion into being.

Each day unfolds gently through:

Morning meditation and sacred chants in the monastery chapel
Contemplative teachings inspired by Mary Magdalene’s inner path
Art and icon workshops guided by Vadim Garine
Anointing rituals and workshop
Daily Yoga and breathwork in the forest
Times of silence in Magdalene’s crypt and at the Ste Baume Grotto

Within the monastery of Saint Michel du Var, prayer and beauty merge into a quiet joy.
It is an experience of living presence — of coming home to the light that you are.

The Sacred Space of Creation

Within the monastery’s vast frescoes painted by Vadim Garine, you will be immersed in an atmosphere of beauty and prayer.
Each image, each brushstroke, becomes a doorway into silence.

You are invited not to “paint” or “create,” but to let creation flow through you — as Mary Magdalene did in her years of contemplation.

This retreat is a living experience of union with the Divine through creativity — a remembrance that art and prayer are one.

Your Guides

Véronique Flayol

Spiritual guide, lecturer, and aromatherapist, Véronique has devoted over 40 years to sharing the living presence of Mary Magdalene in Provence.
Her family has been the guardian of Magdalene’s relics at Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume for over three centuries.
She has been dedicated for many years to the practice of the Prayer of the Heart — a path of inner silence, simplicity, and union.
Through her guidance, she unites history, fragrance, and mysticism, offering spaces of beauty, healing, and transformation.

Vadim Garine

Orthodox artist and iconographer, Vadim has painted more than 700m² of frescoes in the monastery, blending tradition, symbolism, and divine inspiration.
His teachings open a direct experience of the sacred through art, inviting each participant to encounter the divine image within.

Michelle Adams

Michelle is an internationally experienced wellness teacher and certified yoga therapist with over 20 years of practice in yoga, breathwork, and stress-resilience training.
Her teaching style is gentle, grounded, and deeply attentive to the inner experience . She invities each participant to reconnect body, mind, and spirit.
Michelle will guide the yoga and breathwork sessions. During our contemplative retreat, she will offer a supportive and transformative approach rooted in both science and spiritual practice.

Retreat Details

Dates: August 31 to September 7, 2026
Location: Orthodox Monastery of Saint Michel du Var, France
Guides: Véronique Flayol & Vadim Garine
Price: €2,480
- Accommodation not included (donation basis paid directly to the monastery)
Group size: Limited to 12 participants
Included:
Transportation, teachings, meditations, workshops, yoga, sacred rituals, and artistic materials.
Not included:
Flights, accommodation (paid directly), and travel insurance.

Reserve Your Place

If your heart feels called to this contemplative journey, join us for a sacred week of silence, beauty, and light.
We welcome only 12 participants — reserve early to secure your place.

Gift of Gratitude

As a gesture of gratitude, the first five bookings received before December 31, 2025
will receive a €150 early-bird gift toward the retreat.

May this blessing support your journey into the heart of the Divine Feminine.

Contact: vflayol@gmail.com
Payment: Secure link provided upon registration

Would you like to feel into the journey before deciding?

You are welcome to schedule a personal Zoom conversation with Véronique — a gentle, no-pressure space to ask your questions and listen to your heart’s resonance.