[ARCHIVED NEWS] Monday, January 2, 2006
THIRD ANNUAL WINTER CAMP
St. Petersburg, FL - With the blessing of his Grace Bishop Mitrophan, the third annual winder camp of the St. Petersburg Deanery was held in N. Miami, FL December 27-30, 2005.
This year, as in the previous two years, Bishop Mitrophan found the time in his busy schedule to spend time with the youth of the St. Petersburg Deanery.
Bishop Mitrophan arrived in St. Petersburg on December 24 and celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Petersburg on December 25. During the Liturgy, his Grace awarded protnamesnik Stephen Zaremba, parish priest of the St. Sava parish in St. Petersburg and dean of the St. Petersburg Deanery, with the rank of protojerej (archpriest).
On Tuesday, December 27, his Grace then travelled with prota Stephen and the campers from the St. Sava parish to N. Miami, where they were joined by campers from N. Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, N. Carolina and two vacationing children from Canada, 43 in all, where they were warmly greeted by Prota Svetozar Veselinovic, host priest, and the ladies of the Circle of Serbian Sisters.
The theme of the camp was the Divine Liturgy, emphasizing Evharistija (the Eucharist). On day one, after morning prayers and breakfast, Fr. Dragan Zaric, who serves two mission parishes in N Carolina, spoke to the campers about the Divine Liturgy, what it is and the central role it has in our christian lives. Podadija Natasa Brnjos, wife of Fr. Ljibisa Brnjos, parish priest in Orlando, FL, worked with the younger campers teaching them to sing responses at the divine services.
On day two, Fr. Ljubisa spoke about the Eucharist, beginning with a demonstration on how the priest performs the proskomidia, and then explaining the consectation of the gifts and the significance of the bloodless sacrifice. After this the vestments worn by the priests and bishop were shown and explained to the campers.
The campers spent their nights in cabins rented at the Oleta River State Park, a rural oasis in a major metropolitan area not far from the St. Simeon church. The campers spent their free time in the parish game room and at the park and had a field trip to the Miami Zoo.
After the Divine Liturgy on the feast of the Deacon Avakum, Iguman Pajsije and Prophet Daniel, at which a large number of campers received the Holy Mysteries of Christ, and one last wonderful meal, everyone said their good-bye's and headed for home.
We would like to thank His Grace Bishop Mitrophan for his support and guidance, Prota Svetozar, the Church Board of the St. Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church and the wonder ladies of Circle of Serbian Sisters for their warm hospitality. May God grant them many years of progress and prosperity.