On Friday, the 11th, and Saturday, the 12th of July, for the feast of the Holy Leaders of the Apostles Peter and Paul, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to the Orthodox youth camp of the Association of Russian Explorers Outside of Russia (NORR) in the Catskill Mountains in Woodbourne, NY. Over 130 youth (campers and leadership) and an additional 40 staff and instructors (donating their time and efforts as volunteers) gathered for three weeks for their summer camp.

Camp NORR has been operating in New York since 1967, when the joint efforts of Archpriest Seraphim Slobodskoy and Vasilli Feodorovich Joukov continued the tradition of training and educating children and youth in a Russian Orthodox environment. This summer, NORR is running its 59th camp in the Catskills.

Metropolitan Nicholas officiated All-Night Vigil and celebrated Divine Liturgy in the camp chapel, consecrated in honor of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Serving alongside His Eminence were: Archpriests Constantine Semyanko (camp spiritual leader and rector of Presentation of Christ Church in Stratford, CT), Alexandre Antchoutine (dean of New York City & Long Island), and George Temidis (secretary of the diocesan administration), and Deacons Nicholas Ilyin (cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY) and Andrei Antchoutine (cleric of Holy Virgin Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY).

Almost all of the campers confessed their sins and communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

The youth choir sang magnificently under the direction of Senior Instructor Irina Stepanova. In his sermon, Metropolitan Nicholas spoke about the unity of spirit using the example of the apostles: they were separated in body but united in spirit; we should follow their example and stay united in spirit.

After a festal breakfast, the entire camp was photographed with His Eminence. At the request of the youth, Metropolitan Nicholas met with them for conversation and a question-and-answer session.

Camp program director Junior Instructor Kirill Shamin thanked the Metropolitan for finding the time in his busy schedule to come to NORR and spend two days in a true camp environment.