Camp MET BC Family Reunion // Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada)

His Eminence, Rev. Frs. Dorotheos Tryfonopoulos and Constantinos Economos, newly tonsured Sub-Deacons Christian Skrivanos and George Zelis, and many of the Altar Boys of St. George Vancouver. Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada)

Under the Jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Camp MET BC Family Reunion On Sunday, January 31, 2016, His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. George in Vancouver; he was assisted by Rev. Fr. Dorotheos Tryfonopoulos (Retired) and Rev. Fr. Constantinos Economos (Parish Priest). Following the Liturgy, His Eminence tonsured two young men as Sub-Deacons: Christian Skrivanos and George Zelis, who help lead the more than 30 altar boys who serve at St. George. The Liturgy marked the beginning of our Camp MET BC Family Reunion, which celebrated the success of our 2015 Summer and Winter Camps, and opened registration for Camp MET BC Summer 2016. The highlight of 2015 was our sold out Summer Camp which had 147 campers and 40 staff participate. After the holy service, a fundraising luncheon was held in the Hellenic Community Hall; the youth then went snow tubing on Mt. Seymour to end the day. His Eminence and the Reverend Fathers with all the youth who participated in the Camp MET BC Family Reunion. The Presentation of Our Lord and Saviour in the Temple February 2 The fortieth day after His birth, the All-holy Virgin brought her divine Son into the Temple of Jerusalem, in accordance with the Law, to dedicate Him to God and to purify herself (Leviticus 12:2-7, Exodus 12:2). Even though neither the one nor the other was necessary, the Lawgiver did not want in any way to transgress His own Law, which He had given through Moses, His servant and prophet. At that time, the high-priest Zacharias, the father of John the Forerunner, was serving in the Temple. Zacharias placed the Virgin, not in the temple area reserved for women, but rather in the area reserved for virgins. On this occasion two very special persons appeared in the Temple: the Elder Simeon and Anna, the daughter of Phanuel. The righteous Simeon took the Messiah in his arms and said:Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation (Luke 2:29-30). Simeon also spoke the following words about the Christ-child: Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel (Luke 2:34). Then Anna, who from her youth had served God in the Temple by fasting and prayer, recognized the Messiah and glorified God. She then proclaimed to the inhabitants of Jerusalem the coming of the long-awaited One. But the Pharisees who were present in the Temple, having seen and heard all, became angry with Zacharias because he had placed the Virgin Mary in the area reserved for virgins, and they reported this to King Herod. Convinced that this was the new king spoken of by the Magi from the East, Herod immediately sent his soldiers to kill Jesus. In the meantime, the holy family had already left the city and set out for Egypt under the guidance of an angel of God. The Feast of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple was celebrated from earliest times, but the solemn celebration of this day was established in the year 544, during the reign of Emperor Justinian. Some of our youth on Mt. Seymour participating in snow tubing for our Camp MET BC Family Reunion. Source: St. Nikolai Velimirovic, The Prologue of Ohrid – Volume One.