Every year, St. George Pathfinders of America’s New York-based "Tsarskoe Selo" Chapter holds a summer camp for boy and girl scouts of Russian heritage in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. The organization is a direct successor to the original Russian scouting movement founded under Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II in 1909. The Tsar charged Oleg I. Pantyukhov to organize the first scout camp in Russia, which met in Pavlovsk Park near the Royal Village, Tsarskoe Selo. Pantyukhov utilized the guides and materials prepared by scouting founder Robert Lord Baden-Powell, most significantly his handbook, Scouting for Boys.

On Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th of July, Tsarskoe Selo held its annual Remembrance of the Fallen Faithful (in Russian DPV) ceremony. Beginning with a roll call of all of the current organization members in attendance, the ceremony then goes on to honor scouts who have passed on into eternity. Especially honored are the founders and pillars of the Russian scouting movement, those who suffered or were killed for their scouting work, and those who dedicated their day-to-day lives to the organization.

The previous week had been an eventful one, with the annual pilgrimage to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, which took place on Tuesday morning, a talent show on Friday evening that campers spent the week rehearsing for, the awarding of scout kerchiefs to the junior scouts, and marking the anniversary of the martyric deaths of the Holy Royal Passionbearers.

The weekend began with Great Vespers on Saturday evening at St. George’s Chapel – abbreviated from the usual All-Night Vigil owing to the threat of rain – served by Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Theodosius of Manhattan. Serving alongside His Grace were Priest Andrew Podymow (cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY, and the camp’s spiritual director) and Protodeacons Sergei Shoomiloff (cleric of St. Michael Church in Wayne, NJ) and Alexandre Sarandinaki (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ).

Both during and after Vespers, the scouts and counselors – as well as many of the parents, alumni, and guests visiting for the weekend – confessed their sins. Dinner followed the service, after which the DPV ceremony began on the camp’s parade grounds. A brief word of introduction and memorial was offered by SGPA’s Head Scoutmaster Natalia Konon. The camp was called into formation, and following the entrance of the Color Guard, twelve torches were lit, each representing one of the Twelve Points of the Scout Law. Roll call for the living and the dead commenced, and upon its conclusion, Bishop Theodosius served a panihida for the departed. The Russian, American, and St. Andrew’s flags were lowered, and the ceremony concluded.

Everyone proceeded to a solemn bonfire, where patriotic and scouting songs were sung. His Grace and others shared thoughts with campers regarding those who had left for the world to come, and about the meaning of service and sacrifice, about Russia and lifelong friendship. The diocesan vicar noted that the work of the camp and the campers is in many ways a continuation of the Christian witness born by St. George the Trophy-bearer (the organization’s patron saint), St. Nina of Georgia (a relative of St. George’s), St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco, and others.

The following morning, Bishop Theodosius celebrated Divine Liturgy in St. George’s Chapel, co-served by the above-mentioned clergy. In his sermon, he spoke, in part, about the Gospel reading of the healing of two blind men by the Savior and the many miracles worked by the Lord on earth, and also touched on the life of Venerable Sisoes the Great, whose memory was celebrated that day.

After breakfast, the flag-raising ceremony was held on the parade grounds, during which camp counselors were relieved of their weekly shifts and handed over leadership to the next week’s replacements. Campers who achieved certain scouting accomplishments during the week were honored, while others were promoted for their service to the organization. Of particular importance was the retirement of Scoutmaster Gregory Galitzine from his position as Chapter director, and the assumption of the position by his successor, Instructor Kira Jordan. For his many years of service at Chapter director and chairman of the Honor Court, Scoutmaster Nicholas Pokrovsky was awarded the organization’s highest honor – the Order of the Polar Bear, 2nd Class.

After a group photo, campers were able to leave camp for several hours with their parents, before returning in the evening.