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.