July 25, 2014
Northville, NY: Bishop Nicholas leads his first "Day of Remembrance of the Fallen Faithful" at SGPA’s scout camp

On Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th of July, St. George Pathfinders of America summer scout camp, "Tsarskoe Selo" Chapter in Northville, NY marked the "Day of Remembrance of the Fallen Faithful" (Russian: DPV).

The camp’s spiritual counselor, Archpriest Yaroslav Belikow, led the All-Night Vigil in St. George's Chapel. After the service, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, arrived at the camp. While still a deacon, Fr. Nicholas Olhovsky frequently served in Novo-Pavlovsk. This visit was his first in hierarchal rank.

After the Vigil and dinner, the DPV ceremony continued as planned on the camp’s parade grounds. The ceremony began with opening remarks by the Chief Scoutmaster, Natasha Konon, followed by the presentation of the color guard, which included the chapter’s standard, flanked by the American and Russian flags. After the recitation of the twelve points of the Scout Law, each one accompanied by the lighting of a torch, the roll call of all those present in formation was performed, and – according to old army tradition – the roll call of the "faithful" was performed. This roll call includes fallen members of the Organization and, from before its inception, those members of the Russian scouting movement at large, starting with the Holy Prince-Martyr Alexis. At the end of roll call, Fr. Yaroslav performed a litiya for all departed scouts.

After the ceremony, everyone proceeded to the traditional solemn bonfire, at which several of the counselors delivered poignant talks. Among them was His Grace, who reminded everyone that our Lord Jesus Christ is the God not of the dead, but of the living, and that all of our brothers and sisters commemorated at the ceremony remain with us, and will be resurrected. A thoughtful word was delivered by Scoutmaster Vladimir Fedorov, based on the saying Le roi est mort, vive le roi! ("The king is dead, long live the king!"); that is to say, that even though many great counselors have left for the next world (in particular the beloved Chief Scoutmaster Alexey Zacharin, who reposed in the Lord on July 6th of this year), nevertheless our work with the children must continue uninterrupted.

The following morning, the scouts stood in formation before the chapel to greet Bishop Nicholas. His Grace celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by Fr. Yaroslav and Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk (cleric of St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Church in Utica, NY). Almost all of the scouts and counselors communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

After breakfast, the raising of the flags was held on the parade grounds, followed by the changing of the weekly counselors. Chapter director Scoutmaster Nicholas Pokrovsky thanked His Grace for his archpastoral visit and the spiritual instruction given to the children.

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