August 18, 2013
Resaca, GA: A Children’s Summer Camp was held at Glorious Ascension
Monastery
In
an effort to unite the Orthodox youth in Georgia, the parishioners
of
Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Atlanta organized a new summer
camp on the grounds of
Holy
Ascension Monastery in nearby Resaca. The Eastern American
Diocese is usually home to four summer camps – two chapters of SGPA
camp in New York and Washington, NORR camp in New York, and St.
Seraaphim’s Camp in Pennsylvania. All of these camps are located in
the northern half of the Diocese; owing to long travel times, it is
often difficult for Orthodox youth in the American South to attend
such camps. With the creation of a new summer camp in Georgia,
Southern youth are now able to spend their summers socializing with
their Orthodox peers.
The Orthodox camp was formed by the blessing of His Eminence,
Metropolitan Hilarion, through the initiative of the parish rector,
Priest Eugene Antonov. The first camp season was successfully held
from July 29 through August 2, and attended by approximately 20
children and 10 adult counselors.
The camp’s planning and execution were carried out with the active
support of Archimandrite Maximos (Weimar), abbot of Holy Cross
Brotherhood in East Setauket, NY and administrator of Ascension
Monastery, and especially Fr. Eugene thanks to whom the camp was
organized and children brought together.
Every
morning in camp began with prayer; after breakfast, lessons on
Orthodox topics were held. Fr. Eugene reminded the children about
the sacraments of the Church, especially the sacrament of
Confession. Hierodeacon Parthenios (Miller; cleric of Holy Cross
Brotherhood) taught on monasticism and the life of St. Seraphim of
Sarov. Frs. Eugene and Parthenios led altar lesson for the boys,
while the girls baked prosphoras and worked on crafts with Matushka
Irina Antonov. Sister Christonymphi (Teodor; a nun at Ascension
Monastery) taught the children how to make candles. Under the
supervision of counselors Christodoula and Katherine, the children
made icons of St. Seraphim.
After lunch, it was time for sports and recreation: children rode in
boats and swam in the lake, played soccer, volleyball, and
ping-pong. Leading the sports games were Deacon Anton Kouznetsov and
counselors Oleg, Ilya, and Alexey. It was they who also set up a
bell for reveille and a large case for an icon of the Ascension on
the camp’s parade grounds. Counselors Christodoula and Katherine
held dancing lessons, which concluded with a demonstrative
performance on the last day of camp. Children were assigned
obediences in the kitchen or on clean-up duty. Older campers worked
in the kitchen and helped organize the children’s activities.
Especially involved in camp set-up were Matushka Irina Kouznetsov
and parishioners Taisia, Galia, Tatiana, Alla, and Vera.
The
days would conclude with evening prayers and a bonfire.
On Thursday, August 1, the feast of St. Seraphim of Sarov, Fr.
Eugene celebrated the Divine Liturgy. The boys served in the altar.
Most of the campers confessed the evening before, and communed at
Liturgy.
On behalf of Joy of All Who Sorrow Parish, Fr. Eugene expressed
tremendous thanks to Archimandrite Maximos, Hierodeacon Parthenios,
and Sister Christonymphi for the opportunity to organize the camp
and for their help running it.
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