AN ARRAY OF SPECIAL GUESTS MAKE THIS YEAR’S DIOCESAN DAYS A SUCCESS!
Shadeland, PA - With the blessings of His Grace Bishop of Eastern America Dr. Mitrophan, the Eastern American Diocese celebrated the Second Annual Diocesan Days last weekend.
This spiritual manifestation began Saturday, August 6, 2005 with the arrival of His Grace, the bishop, together with guest speakers, Fr. Gerasim, Abbot of St. Herman’s Monastery in Platina, California and Fr. Damascene, also of St. Herman’s Monastery. A welcome luncheon for His Grace, the speakers, clergy, campers and faithful was served by the camp staff and officially began the day’s activities.
Following the meal the youth and adults were split in two groups as the youth stayed in the main building to listen to Fr. Damascene while the adults met under the tent outside where Fr. Gerasim spoke. Both speakers focused on the theme for this year’s event, “Called to Be Orthodox”. Fr. Gerasim spoke clearly on the desire to come closer to Christ, ways both clergy and laity can be examples of their Orthodoxy to those around them while Fr. Damascene presented a slideshow to the children and spoke about life at St. Herman’s Monastery in Platina.
The third guest speaker for this year’s Diocesan Days was the very talented Peter Jon Gilquist who took the stage following Frs. Gerasim and Damascene to a combined audience of both youth and adults under the tent outside. Peter Jon gave a very amusing and humorous account of his journey to Orthodoxy, coming from a Protestant background, from his father’s desire to discover the ancient faith to finally being received together with 2,000 Evangelical Orthodox into the Antiochian Archdiocese in 1986. His account was both amusing and very moving as he focused on the journey of the Evangelical Orthodox as well as his own personal journey to faith. In recalling that journey of faith he revealed to the children how he had taken his musical gifts and finally decided to use them for a greater good, writing and performing spiritual and inspirational songs from an Orthodox perspective.
Confessions were heard by the clergy before the evening Vespers service in the church across the street. Fr. Dragan Filipovic of Canton, OH, Fr. Gerasim and Fr. Damascene served at the holy altar for the evening service while Tsar Lazar Male Choir sang the responses. The male choir also gave a wonderful performance of both spiritual and folk songs under the tent following dinner. Afterwards, as the sun was slowly setting in the distance and the chill of the country air approached, Peter Jon gave an evening concert, showcasing some of his different songs.
The Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy the next day began promptly at a very bright and sunny ten o’clock. Joining His Grace Bishop Mitrophan was yet another special guest for the weekend’s event, His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher of Midwestern America. Awaiting the two hierarchs at the doors of the Holy temple dedicated to the Assumption of the Mother of God were the diocesan clergy, assisting the hierarchs before the holy altar. Our very own young campers, the future of our church and holy diocese, sang the responses, assisted by some members of the clergy. Following the liturgy the faithful made the trek across the street for the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new dormitory to be built for the St. Sava Camp.
A luncheon was prepared for the hierarchs and clergy after which the day’s program began. Peter Jon, with guitar in hand, began the Sunday afternoon program with more selections from his soon to be released album as well as older songs. Following this the campers, after spending the long week in training with Nikola Jovic and Nicole, put on a fabulous performance in music and dance enjoyed by all. The local and young band Drustvo performed following the program until the late hours in the afternoon.
Thanks to all the special guests and to the many people that made the journey to Shadeland, this year’s Diocesan Days, our second one as of yet, was very successful. There were quite a few positive comments regarding this year’s attendance compared to last year’s. May God grant that this yearly event only grows in numbers that on that one weekend in August when the diocese closes its churches all the people will join their clergy and flock around their hierarch in appreciation of our diocese and celebration of our holy faith.