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Summer camp sponsored by Archdiocese of Athens
Ninety-three youths betweenthe age of 18 and 29 participated
in the six-day summer camp here in July 2000. The participants, who
represented numerous Athens parishes, had the opportunity
to meet and take part in various discussions of the general theme
of the camp, "Jesus Christ, the Great
Stranger."
Each day started with the celebration of Matins in the camp's Church
of Saint Catherine. Every morning the participants attended short
introductory lectures, which in the course of the six days covered
a number of topics. Father Paulos Ioannou spoke on "Christology
and Everyday Life," while Dr. Demetrios Moschos lectured on "The
Person of Christ in Contemporary Theological and Ideological Thought."
Father George Milkas spoke on "Spirituality and Spiritualities."
A panel consisting of six ran-domly selected campers shared their
ideas on the topic, "Progress in Christ and Personal Service
to the Parish."
The campers also had the opportunity to discuss issues raised during
the small group discussions which met every afternoon under the guidance
of the guest speakers and the clergy responsible for the camp programme,
Fathers Antonios Kalligeris and Porphyrios Auad from Palestine.
Apart from the discussions, the campers participated in practical
workshops which introduced the campers to each other in an atmosphere
of friendly cooperation while enhancing and expanding the practical
skills necessary for parish catechists. The workshops included basketball,
glass painting, folk dancing, newspaper editing, Byzantine chanting,
and studying the person of Christ in theological texts and holy icons.
Each day closed with the celebration of Compline.
Highlights of the camp included visits to the Monastery of Saint Agathon
and the nearby Museum of Natural History in Central Fthiotis. Campers
were delighted by the visit at the campsite of His Eminence, Metropolitan
Nikolaos of Fthiotis, who shared the joy he felt in offering hospitality
to the participants.
Since 1998 the Youth Office of the Archdiocese of Athens has attempted
to gather young people from different parishes in order to meet, to
communicate and exchange ideas and experiences from their parishes.
To date, four camps have been organised. The first winter camp was
held in Aliartos Viotias in December 1998. The first summer camp took
place in Makrinitsa Serron at the end of July 1999. The second winter
camp was held in Kolibari Chanion, Crete in December 1999, while the
most
recent one was conducted in Kenourio.
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