SYNDESMOS Youth Camp, Trikeri

"We're like a family" said one of the 27 young Orthodox Christian participants after attending the camp on Trikeri Island which was organised by SYNDESMOS, 25 July - 4 August, 2000. Participants,who came from nine different countries and spoke an equal number of languages, offered a wealth of positive responses to a week of life out in the open and under canvass!
Despite our different backgrounds, we shared our unity in Christ with one another. This was reflected during prayers, read and chanted in different languages and melodies. The entire week was an enriching experience of other cultures, traditions and languages, and it was this experience that we took home with us when we parted. Each of us had a genuine experience of seeing our fellow participants as part of the family, part of the Body of Christ, part of the reality of living the commandment given to us by Christ to "love one another." Furthermore, Trikeri Island turned out to be the perfect location for appreciating God's glorious creation through the beautiful sunsets, the amazing skies at night, the reflections in the huge expanse of sea, and the white, sandy beaches.
It was helpful that every participant spoke English well enough to participate freely in discussions and to have no need of translation. Discussions were informal and the atmosphere was relaxed. A wide variety of issues and topics were treated with objectivity and with interest, particularly the discussion on the subject of the Internet, which gave the opportunity for debate about the positive
and negative aspects of the World Wide Web within the context of the Orthodox way of life. Other discussions included parish life and the parables.
Despite the intense heat and simple conditions, we worked zealously to keep the area in and around the camp clean, tidy and pleasant. The structure of a typical day included prayer and outdoor work in the morning, followed by free time, with discussions in the afternoon. An evening programme and prayer ended each day. The reconstruction of the old "dock" was a significant part of our practical
activities, inaugurated by His Eminence, Metropolitan Ignatios of Volos, who arrived at the island by boat. As Metropolitan of the diocese in which our camp was located, his visit was significant, and we were honoured to have the opportunity to speak with him informally.
The week was filled with many other activities. We had the chance to get to know Father Stylianos, priest in the monastery not far from our camp site, and from whom we were happy to receive icons of the Mother of God, to whom his monastery is dedicated. We also enjoyed a rewarding tour to Mount Pelion, where we visited the youth camps of the same diocese and Saint Lavrentios Convent,
where we learned about the founder of the convent, its history, and the saint whose name it bears. We also visited the village of Pteleos, where we were blessed to meet and speak with His Eminence, Metropolitan Apostolos of Poliani and Kilkis and other people from the camps of his diocese. He noted that Orthodox children from all over the world participate in the camp every year.
Everywhere we went we were welcomed with joy and love. "We give thanks for everything to God, to all our brothers and sisters, who have made it possible for all of us to pass such a blessed time here in Trikeri," we concluded. "We will come back again!"
Our special thanks to Metropolitan Ignatios of Volos, to whom we are grateful for supporting the camp; to Father Themistocles, who helped so much with the practicalities; to those who moderated the discussion groups; and finally to Manos, Spiros and Lydia for organising the event.