The brilliant atmosphere of the St. John Vladimir monastery and a number of other churches and monasteries in our dioceses shone this summer with all the preparations done to receive the girls with Christian love. In our Lord’s vineyard there are many blessings coming from on high and we are called to welcome them with joy. This year will be always remembered by the leaders of the camp for the high number of attendance. More than 400 girls participated in this great summer ‘school’!
    In the midst of this beautiful green environment, the charm and the calm of this old monastery was felt as 140 girls from several cities of Albania came to participate in the first yearly camp session, one of the most important activities of the summer.
    This year also, the camp has a central theme in which girls learned about Christ, Orthodox Christian faith, but above all they learned about the greatest event in the history of mankind through the theme: “Christ’s Resurrection – my joy!”. This statement by St. Seraphim of Sarov reminded the girls of Great Lent, Holy Week, and most brilliant day: Christ’s Resurrection, as well as His Ascension and Pentecost which is the foundation of the church.
    
    The girls experienced this joy through various activities of the camp, and found it hard to believe they were going to leave the monastery where the experience was as in “the Lord’s Garden” itself.
    The girls participated in all church services, Bible studies, cultural activities and sports. The church services were led by father Viktor Bërdufi who helped girls in their spiritual growth.
    The program had a number of activities the most notable of which were sports competitions, an international party, a festival, olympic games, the presentation of customs of several cities in Albania etc. A special blessing was experienced very emotionally by the girls when 18 catechumengirls joined the Church of Christ and became members of the great Christian family. 
    The second girls’ camp was also organized this year in the Monastery of St. John Vladimir near the city of Elbasan in which 67 girls came together from all over Albania for 10 days. This is one of the most beloved activities for the girls who need new christian friendships and want to strengthen their relationship with God.
    To that purpose, the monastery is annually turned into a welcoming house for these girls. For more than 8 years, the environment of the monastery is properly arranged offering each girl very good living conditions, nice food, entertainment and quiet peace – all through the special care of His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios. 
    The program was made up of spiritual and entertaining activities. Eight groups of girls were formed, named for the fruits of Holy Spirit. The group leaders and those in charge of special activities were girls who had graduated in theology or students attending the Theological Academy “Resurrection of Christ”. A great help was also given by female students from the University of Tirana and some of the Kavaja city youth group.
 
    A number of speakers gave the camp a special atmosphere by sharing with the girls their thoughts about themes such as: The Resurrection of Christ, Joy through the cross, How to live daily with the Joy of Resurrection, Hymnology of Resurrection, and Christ’s Resurrection – my joy! The speakers helped through their speeches to understand and to experience the central theme of the camp.
    Many girls had the opportunity to receive the holy sacrament of confession with father Jani Trebicka. During the last days of the camp 7 girls became new members of the Orthodox Church through their baptism in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. During camp period the girls attended 4 Holy Liturgies thus learning more about the significance and the way this church service is celebrated.
    The celebration of the 15th anniversary of the enthronement of Archbishop Anastasios on August 2nd was one of the most special days for the girls.  Many of them participated for the first time in a Liturgy being celebrated by the Church’s Holy Synod where they got the blessing of His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios.  Their photograph with him will be the most beautiful memory of those days for the girls.
     The third camp in St. John Vladimir monastery was joyfully experienced by more Orthodox girls. For 10 days in August the last camp of the summer was held for girls ages 17-25. In this camp, 70 girls from several villages and cities of Albania such as: Tirana, Durrësi, Lushnja, Berati, Fieri, Vlora, Elbasani etc. participated.
 
    A special blessing to this camp was the visit of Archbishop Anastasios who added to the joy in the camp through his presence there. The girls had the opportunity to have a fruitful conversation with the Archbishop. The girls in the camp led by the group leaders had prepared sketches, role playing and several songs in order to welcome the Archbishop. The zeal and the creativity of the girls were clear as they presented these sketches with all their hearts and minds.
 
    The girls left the beautiful environment of the Monastery with the desire to meet again next year.
 
    Two other girls’ camps were organized in the Diocese of Korça and in Gjirokastra. From July 12th- – 21st a girls’ camp was organized with the participation of 42 girls, the majority of whom participated for the first time in a camp. Father Ilia Kotmilo was the spiritual leader whereas the director of the camp was Kalina Thimo. A great contribution to this camp was given by two students studying at the Theological Academy as well as a great number of members of the youth league of the Orthodox Church in Korça.
 
    The girls were very happy for the days spent in the camp and expressed their desire to meet again next year. Girls from 6-14 years of age spent blessed days participating in all the various activities of the camp in Glikomil of Gjirokastra. Also a special and memorable camp was organized for young mothers.
 
    This summer had its special moments in the Orthodox girls’ camps. Christ’s Resurrection joy was daily experienced in the camp through the singing of the hymn,
 
“Christ is risen from the dead, by death hath He trampled down death, and on those in the graves hath he bestowed life.”
 
 
By: Ana Baba, Sonila Dedja,
Ana Kërçyku, Sofia Bregu
Translated by Joan Baba
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