Ancient practice for modern life

Why ‘Trexo’?

Trexo (τρέχω) is Greek for “run” — specifically, to run like an athlete: with full effort, clear purpose, and directed energy toward the prize.
We spell it with an ‘X’ because that letter resembles the cross. In Greek, the letter Chi (Χ) represents Christ — part of the ichthus fish symbol (ΙΧΘΥΣ) that early Christians used to identify themselves.

Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.

1 Corinthians 9:24

St. Paul used athletic imagery to describe Christian spiritual formation — the training, discipline, and focus required to attain the “imperishable wreath” of union with God.
Trexo is your training ground for that race.

The Trexo story

I’m Fr. Cathie Caimano, and I created Trexo to find our way back to the basics of what it means to be Christian. To follow Jesus with our whole lives.

WHY?

Because I keep meeting people who want to know more about being Christian, but they’re confused and overwhelmed with all the denominational (and non-denominational differences) and overwhelming - often contradictory - information about what being Christian means.

It made me think that there must be a way to go back to the basics.

AND - that being Christian is not so much about learning about the faith, as it is about practicing the faith. Following Jesus with our whole lives - like the earliest Christians did.

Trexo is something different. Actually, it’s something every Christian has in common.

The Practices come from the people who knew the people who knew Jesus.

From Running to Rule of Life

I’ve been a runner for over 40 years.

Running has shaped my life: my body, my schedule, my community, my soul. It provides structure, rhythm, discipline, and joy.

It was while running that I understood how physical exercise mirrored the spiritual disciplines of my life as a follower of Jesus.

I started to understand that the framework was the same.

We can’t think our way into believing.
We practice our way into relationship with God - and transformation of our whole lives.

Why a ‘gym for your soul’?

The gym metaphor works because it makes sense in our modern world, and because the principle is like physical fitness:

Our bodies aren’t transformed by knowing about exercise. They’re transformed by exercising.
Our souls aren’t transformed by knowing about God. They’re transformed by being in relationship with God.

The Desert Fathers and Mothers called this ascesis (ἄσκησις) - spiritual training or exercise. The same word used for athletic training in the ancient world.

Trexo is ascesis. It is spiritual athletics. It is the training ground for our souls.

Also, it’s not something I just made up.

It’s not my idea at all!

Ancient church teachers, leaders, and monastics (who are also our gym ‘Coaches’), had the concept long ago: work out your soul like you work out your body.

Revered spiritual teachers like St. Ignatius Loyola and St. Basil the Great explicitly used ‘gym’ language for spiritual training and direction as early as the 300s (and of course Paul wants us running that race!).

Is Trexo church?

Yes and no.

Trexo connects you with all those who are Christian today - and all those who have come before us.

We don’t gather on Sundays - although you can gather with other Trexo members for Practice. You can use the spiritual gym to support your life in a church community, the way a runner might go to the gym for extra strength work. Or you can use it as your whole spiritual formation.

You can join as an individual. Or join as a community - practicing Trexo together as your congregation’s Christian formation.

It’s Pre-Denominational

These practices existed before the divisions of Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. They unite all Christians because they’re foundational to all traditions.

No matter what denomination you belong to - or even if you don’t formally belong to any church or denomination - you are practicing with Christians of all kinds, over all ages.

These Practices fit within the specifics of any particular congregation or denomination you belong to. They are the root from which all Christian traditions grow.

It’s Not About Belief. It’s About Formation.

Belief = intellectual assent to what is true.
Faith = relationship with the living God.

Trexo teaches you the practices that form you in Christ - what the Eastern tradition calls theosis (θέωσις), and the Western tradition calls sanctification.

Not self-improvement. Transformation.

You Have Ancient Spiritual Coaches

You’re not figuring this out alone. You have 2,000 years of physicians of the soul guiding you: Cyprian, Syncletica, Tertullian, Basil, Benedict, and more.

Their writings constitute Sacred Tradition - the living voice of the Church transmitted through the ages.

It’s a Complete Rule of Life

Daily Anchor (individual ascesis) + Weekly Rhythm (communal life) + Seasonal Intensives (responding to God’s saving actions) = a full Rule of Life (Trexo Workout) that guides our lives.