National Boys’ Camps Held. (28 June – 28 July 2014)

    Again this year the beautiful tradition of our Church continued, which began 15 years ago, the organization of children’s summer camps for boys and girls, divided into three age groups, which were held from June 28 to July 28 in 2014.

    In the boys’ camp 230 boys took part from four dioceses across the country and 50 young people served as their counselors (student of the ecclesiastical high school of Sukth, or other high schools, catechists, teachers and students of the Theological Academy and other faculties); 29 campers were baptized. During these days young children became more connected with God and with one another.

    All the campers and staff thanked His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios, for his continued support for this national event, which plays a crucial role in the formation of the children and youth of our Church.

The First Camp – Children’s Camp

    The first boys’ camp this year was organized from June 28 to July 7, at the premises of the Holy Monastery of Saint Vlash and the “Resurrection of Christ”, Theological Academy in Durrës, under the direction of Deacon, Spiro Topanxha. It was attended by 85 children between the ages 10-13 years from across the country, from Orthodox families, and also from families with other religious backgrounds.

    The theme this year was, “God Is With Us.” Every part of the camp was associated with the main theme and the activities were coordinated in accordance with the age of the children that were participating. The themes were developed by catechists and the teachers of the Theological Academy. The first theme that was explained at the camp was: “God is with us in creation and in every creature we see God’s presence”. At the camp the history of Salvation was also spoken about, noting that God did not create man and abandoned him in the difficulties of life, but takes care of him. Also discussed at the camp were the prophets Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, etc. As well as the topic that God become man in order to save us from sin, to become good and holy like Him, Christ himself etc. Then the closing theme was: “How to be with our God every day of our life, and not only at the camp.”

    The program of the camp was well organized and composed in a way that campers had the possibility to grow spiritually, to learn more about different things and to be entertained. The entertainment was plentiful and quite attractive. This period was a period of relaxation after schools, and also an enjoyable period for creating Christian friendship. The children who participated in the camp continue to keep their Christian friendships even after the camp. During the last days of the camp 12 children were baptized, who thus joined the Orthodox Church.

    Deacon Spiro Topanxha

    Photo: Amarildo Tashi

The Second Camp – The Camp for High School Students

    The second national camp for boys that attend high school was held from July 8 to 18, on the premises of the Holy Monastery of Saint Vlash and the “Resurrection of Christ”, Theological Academy in Durrës, under the direction of Harallamb Tereziu, Professor at the Theological Academy. It was attended by 100 boys from throughout the country, ages 14-17 years old. They were divided into 10 groups and each group bore the name of a saint. The theme of the camp was “God Is With Us”.

    The camp had a varied spiritual and recreational program. Bible Studies were held every day, based on the Gospel according to Matthew, social and spiritual discussions, learning and explanation of the Symbols of the Creed, games and sports activities, crafts, songs etc. Since they were close to the city of Durrës, the youth also spent plenty of time at the beach.

    Campers learned that the environment that surrounds us is a gift to us from God and as such should be kept clean and well maintained. “To clean the environment in a day”, was their initiative, supported by the “Adria Net TV” (local television in Durrës), during which they cleaned a part of the coast.

    The boys also prepared a festive concert and presented songs, skits, dance, crafts and an exhibition of photos from the very first boys’ camp, which took place 18 years ago. The concert was also attended by the television network “Adria Net”.

    In order to give the campers the idea that being part of the Church and serving it is the responsibility of all of its members; on one day of the camp the campers became leaders and the leaders become campers. And the result was significant. The campers saw that as a leader, you must be ready to face difficulties, to have knowledge and to have experience in organizing, to have experience in your service and to love Christ and anyone who is present. The last days of the camp were very important. 14 young people were baptized and the baptisms were conducted by the Bishop of Bylis, His Grace Asti.

    Dhimitër Piperi

    Photo: Deacon Stefan Ritsi and Harallamb Tereziu

The Third Camp – Students’ Camp

    The third boys’ camp was held in the Monastery of St. George, in Cukë of Saranda, from July 19 to 28, under the direction of Miron Çako, Director of the Catechism Office of the Archdiocese. It was developed with cooperation between the Orthodox Youth Office and the Office of the Catechism. The camp gathered 45 young boys from across the country, to spend 10 days together and to learn more about the Orthodox faith and to connect it to everyday life. The theme of the camp was “God Is With Us”.

    This camp contained lots of innovations, among them the co-programming of free time and activities. The free program, in the morning and in the afternoon, was organized very beautifully in integration within the camp program. This free time, which was very important and which took a considerable part of the camp program, gave the boys the opportunity to value and to schedule in the right way the time, the place, the atmosphere of the camp, the friendships and the free conversations with each other, but also to seek an Orthodox understanding about the issues and problems that intersect daily life. The joint program with prayer and services in the old church of St. George, the meals, the themes and the biblical and ecclesiastical studies, the Christian songs, the sports and recreational activities, provided the basis and the example of a daily life between friends and brothers in Christ.

    Besides the daily program, one day all the campers visited the archaeological park of Butrint. The visit not only introduced us to the ancient city, built around IV century BC, which has passed many stages throughout its history, but also filled us with deep spiritual experiences; being present at the ruins of at least eight Churches, in the city where were also martyred St. Donatus and Therini (celebrated on 23 April). Unforgettable were the moments and the hymns in the large baptistery paleokristian of the VI century, as well as offering hymns and prayers, even songs in the great ruins of the early century Christian Churches of the VI and XIII century.

    On Saturday, July 27, three campers became part of the Orthodox Church through the sacrament of Baptism. The service was conducted in the azure waters of the Ionian Sea, on the cliffs below the monastery hill.

    Deacon Stefan Ritsi

    Photo: Deacon Stefan Ritsi