NEW YORK – On Thursday July 17, Archbishop Demetrios of America visited Camp Saint Paul, the Direct Archdiocesan District’s youth camp in the scenic Berkshire Hills of Connecticut near the town of Litchfield.
Camp Saint Paul, now in its eleventh year of operation, will host a total of more than 650 campers in its 2015 four weeks program. The Archbishop arrived late morning at the picturesque campsite next to Bantam Lake, the largest lake in Connecticut, to the warm and enthusiastic welcome of about 165 campers, who along with their counselors, the staff and several members of the Clergy, were eager to see him, enjoy some time with him, hear his words of wisdom and advice and ask him lots of questions. His Eminence enjoyed the company of the children, their Greek dancing, their cheerful playing and other activities.
A barbecue style lunch was offered in the great lawn of the camp, followed by the cutting of two very large cakes in the image of the Greek and American flags, as the children sang the two respective national anthems and cheered.
During a gathering of all campers and staff, the Archbishop offered wise words of spiritual enlightenment and encouragement and expressed his pride and appreciation for the camp and the participation of the campers.
“It is wonderful to be here, said the Archbishop, surrounded by this amazing natural beauty, but above all it is wonderful to be surrounded by the human presence of the children, it is a breath of fresh air in every sense.”
His Eminence commenting about the camping ministries of the Archdiocese said that for the Church it is important to have this tremendous opportunity of having the children here and for them to be near the Church from a young age, while enjoying educational, and entertainment opportunities, athletic activities and at the same time developing healthy relationships. The summer camp, he added, as an institution, is one of the most important tools used by the Church to ultimately connect the children to God, to themselves and to their families.
Camp St. Paul, the camping youth ministry of the Direct Archdiocesan District, operates under the guidance of His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese; the care of camp director Fr. Elias Villis and the support of the district’ s Youth Director, Dn. Panagiotis Papazafiropoulos, all present at the camp during the Archbishop’s visit. Also present were Frs. Luke Melackrinos, Nicholas Dassouras, Perikles Kallis and Dn. Chrysostomos Panos.
The success of Camp Saint Paul is only paralleled by the success of the other camping programs of the Metropolises, across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. They all offer an opportunity to our young people for physical wellness and spiritual edification. The camp provides them with all that is necessary to stay close to the Church and the Faith. It is a great service and ministry to the youth, building and cultivating their Orthodox and Hellenic character.
In addition to “Ionian Village,” the national youth summer camping ministry of the Archdiocese in Greece, there are 19 other camps operating in the United States as follows: Direct Archdiocesan District: Camp Saint Paul; Metropolis of Atlanta: Saint Stephen Summer Camp; Metropolis of Boston: Metropolis of Boston Camp; Metropolis of Chicago: Camp Fanari, St. Mary’s Church Camp; Metropolis of Denver: Camp Emmanuel, Eastern Orthodox Youth Camp; Metropolis of Detroit: Metropolis of Detroit Summer Camp, St. Nicholas Camp, St. Timothy’s Summer Camp; Metropolis of New Jersey: Camp Good Shepherd, CVC Summer Camp; Metropolis of Pittsburgh: Summer Camp Nazareth; Metropolis of San Franscisco: St. Nicholas Ranch, Ascension Cathedral Camp, All Saints Camp, Camp Angelos Youth Camp, Saint Sophia Camp and All Saints Pan-Orthodox Summer Camp.
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHskd79CNE
