To grow in Christ
in the children’s day camps, organized by the Orthodox Church

 

	With the blessing of his Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios again this year in many parishes of our Church children’s day camps that lasted one week with the central theme “To grow in Christ” were held.
They were organized at the end of August and the beginning of September, with a wide participation of the children, led by priests, catechists and many young volunteers. The program was held from 8:00 – 12:00.
	Each day the camp started with the Morning Prayer and continued with the spiritual talk, art and craft, songs and some cases it ended with lunch together.
The children had some days with spiritual and physical refreshment, preparing for the new academic year. The spiritual sub-themes were: “To grow in faith; to grow in truth; to grow in love; to grow in thoughts, words and deeds”.
	From 20 - 26 August, in Tirana was organized the day camp in two Kid’s Clubs; in the morning at the facilities of the “Annunciation” day care center and in the afternoon in the Church’s facilities in “Qemal Stafa” street. Dozens of children took part who attended with interest the program prepared form the coordinators of the Central Children’s Office, which was also the organizer of this national activity.
In Kavaja, the day camp was organized from August 27-th – September 2-nd, in the facilities of Saint Nicolas Church. According to their ages the children divided in three groups: “Love, Faith and Truth”. This camp offered the possibility, not just to grow in faith, but also recreation because it offered many games.
	In Shkoder more than 50 children took part in the activity which took place in this city and in the village of Vrake. From 24 - 31 August the camp was held in the city of Gramsh with the participation of more than 100 participants. The camp took place at the “Transfiguration of the Savor” church. Local clergy, catechist of the Central Catechism Office, students of Theological Academy and young people volunteers from the village of Gjinar and the city of Gramsh provided the staff of the camp.
The camp began with the morning service, with a commentary on the Gospel of the day and continued with learning songs, spiritual talks, various games, art and crafts, etc. The program also included excursion to various places in the city but the most impressive was the excursion to the Monastery of Saint Vlash. There the children were received by his grace Bishop Nikolla of Apollonia who welcomed them warmly.
From 13 - 22 August the activity was organized in the area of Gjinar. Around 120 children from the age of 7-14 took part. The theme of the camp was “To grow in Christ”. The sub-themes were developed by catechists and students of the Theological Academy. Fr. Jani Ranxha assisted in the organization of the camp who also served various services. These children that live in a remote area showed how much they love God and expressed their gratitude to the Shepherd of our Church whom made this activity possible.
Seeing that in the rural areas is a serious lack of activities, the Central Children’s Office of our Church organized a summer day camp in the areas of Melize-Shelcan where children of these villages participated. In addition to the interesting program, a march to the church of Saint Nicolas was organizd and an excursion to the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Durres.
	Në kamp morën pjesë rreth 65 veta, nga të cilët ishin 45 fëmijë nga Shelcani dhe 20 nga Mëliza. Një veprimtari e tillë u realizua edhe në fshatin Kuqan të komunës Shirgjan, ku në të morën pjesë 58 fëmijë të moshës nga 7-14 vjeç.65 children took part in the camp of which 45 were from Shelcan and 20 from Melize. The same activity took place in the village of Kuqan of the commune of Shirgjan in which participated 58 children between thee ages of 7-14.

These summer day camps were also held in the Metropolis of Berat at the end of August and the beginning of September in Poro of Vlora, Berat, Lushnje, Shen Pjeter, Bubullime, Krutje, Fier, Milof and Karavasta. In each camp between 40 - 60 children took part. Once again the local clergy, catechist and orthodox young people assisted. The children thanked God and the Archbishop for the great care that he takes for them.

From August 27-th – September 2-nd, in the church of the prophet Ilia in the city of Korca, the day camp was organized with the participation of approximately 100 children. The children had the opportunity to learn how to grow in their faith, to grow in the orthodox Christian spirit in a close spiritual relationship with the Church, God and the neighbor through daily spiritual talks. A special aspect of the camp was the hour for art and craft which the children looked forward with a great desire because it reinforced the daily spiritual message and it was also entertaining to the children. The program closed with a children’s festival where 25-30 children competed with poems, skits, songs and comedies. The final day of the camp was September 2-nd where the children took part in the Divine Liturgy and some of them received the mystery of Holy Communion.

The day camp was organized for the first time this year in the city of Librazhd, where around 25 children took part. In the camp football matches and other games were organized and also an excursion in the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Durres.

All the children in the various parishes were very pleased by the day camps organized by our Church, taking the message of the camp “To grow in Christ”. It is truly beautiful to work in the vineyard of the Lord but the joy that children give is always special.
 

   Translated by: Gabriela Bezhani

   Edited by: Nathan Hoppe