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Published by the
Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America, May 3, 2005
ALTAR BOYS
FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY CONVENE AT HELLENIC
COLLEGE/HOLY CROSS FOR FIRST NATIONAL ALTAR
BOY RETREAT |
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May 3, 2005
Brookline, MA - Over 100 altar boys from
throughout the Archdiocese, representing the
Direct Archdiocesan District and each Metropolis,
recently gathered on the campus of Hellenic
College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of
Theology for the first annual National Altar Boy
Retreat. The retreat, which was held during the
weekend of April 7 to 10, was a joint effort
between the Archdiocesan Department of Youth and
Young Adult Ministries and the Admissions Office
of Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox
School of Theology.
The boys and their chaperones, totaling over 150
participants, arrived on the Brookline campus on
Thursday evening from as far away as San Diego,
California, for a weekend of classes and
workshops. The retreat was designed to give the
boys a better understanding of the Orthodox
liturgy of which they are such a vital part.
The program began on Friday with a series of
classes and workshops led by Fr. Eugen Pentiuc and
Fr. Gerasimos Makris, followed by a variety of
sessions throughout the weekend conducted by other
clergy and youth directors. His Eminence
Metropolitan Methodios of Boston gave the Keynote
Address on Saturday morning. Following Great
Vespers, His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos also
addressed the boys. Fr. Nick Triantafilou,
President of Hellenic College/Holy Cross, gave the
altar boys their final address, following the
Divine Liturgy on Sunday. Workshops included such
topics as Diakonia and Service, the Importance of
Scriptural Understanding of Service; and a
detailed break down of services before, as well as
preparation for, the Divine Liturgy.
Fr. Mark Leondis, the National Director of the
Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
stated "We thank His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
and members of the Holy Eparchial Synod for their
vision and support in this project. This first
annual retreat was an amazing opportunity for our
young altar servers to come together as one
unified body on the grounds of our beloved school,
learning about their Faith and important service
in the Altar. Plans are underway for next year's
retreat, which will once again take place at
Hellenic College/Holy Cross."
Fr. Panayiotis Papageorgiou from the St. George
Greek Orthodox Church, New Port Richey, Florida,
whose son took part in the retreat added with
enthusiasm, It was both a spiritually uplifting
experience and an opportunity for theological
learning. All of these elements are important in a
world where our children are bombarded constantly
by a variety of messages, all of which are foreign
and many times contrary to our Faith and
Tradition.
The retreat presented the altar boys with an
opportunity to familiarize themselves with
Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School
of Theology, home of the Archbishop Iakovos
Library and Learning Resource Center, and the only
fully accredited Orthodox undergraduate liberal
arts college, graduate center for Orthodox higher
education, and Greek Orthodox Seminary in America.
Hellenic College serves liberal arts minded
students with an undergraduate curriculum of
professional preparation grounded in Orthodox
Christian values as well as a Religious Studies
program designed to prepare students who will
continue their graduate studies at Holy Cross
Greek Orthodox Seminary. The schools are located
at 50 Goddard Avenue in Brookline, Massachusetts.
For more information on Hellenic College/Holy
Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, please
contact Sonia Daly, Director of Admissions at
(617) 850-1285. For more information on the
National Altar Boy Retreat and next years
schedule, please contact the Reverend Mark A.
Leondis, National Director of the Department of
Youth and Young Adult Ministries at (646)
519-6180.
Contact:
Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
646.519.6180
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