Divine Liturgy at the Camps of Our Holy Metropolis

On Friday, July 3, 2015, Metropolitan Sotirios celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the summer camps of our Holy Metropolis. One hundred forty-one (141) campers and thirty (30) volunteers (camp counsellors) participated in the Divine Liturgy and in Holy Communion.

Rev. Fr. Theologos Drakos is responsible for the camps in Toronto and Ontario; he was assisted this year by six (6) brother clergymen.

The camps of our Holy Metropolis began in 1998. Today, the Metropolis has camps in Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal and Kitchener.

This year’s first camp period was held this week; the camps in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Montreal will soon follow.

The program of our camps is comprehensive; the highlights include the sacrament of Holy Confession, in which all campers partake; Divine Liturgy and Holy Communion, in which again all the campers partake. In addition, the program includes various sporting events and spiritual components with many activities which allow campers to learn and apply our holy Orthodox faith.

Fr. Theologos and the volunteers have expressed their full satisfaction with this first camp period. Fr. Theologos said characteristically: “Camp is a difficult and tiresome work, but its joys are greater and its satisfaction real. It generates feelings of emotion and admiration for our children.”

Metropolitan Sotirios spoke to all the campers after the Divine Liturgy on the future of Hellenism and Orthodoxy in Canada, and of the society in general. He expressed his full satisfaction with the work that is done at the camps. He especially thanked the Camp Director, Fr. Th. Drakos, as well as the other priests, the parents and the children. Deeply moved he said: “I did not expect to see this progress in Canada. I praise and thank our Thrice-Holy God who deemed us worthy to see such great successes and I am grateful to all those who contribute to the success of our camps throughout Canada. I hope that with every passing year we keep moving from progress to progress and have many more camp periods and many more campers. Glory be to God.”