wfn.org | [GOAA] Altar Boys Hold First Annual Retreat at Hellenic College

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
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Email: communications@goarch.org

Contact:
Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
646.519.6180

Date:
May 3, 2005

ALTAR BOYS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY CONVENE AT HELLENIC COLLEGE/HOLY CROSS
FOR FIRST ANNUAL NATIONAL ALTAR BOY RETREAT

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
year's schedule, please contact the Reverend Mark A. Leondis, National
Director of the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at (646)
519-6180.

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