The Metropolis of Boston Camp and the “Kosmos” Youth Exchange Program
BOSTON – More than eight hundred children of all ages from the communities of the Metropolis of Boston throughout New England participated this year in the programs of the Metropolis of Boston Camp Center, located in the town of Contoocook, NH.
Among them are twenty-five young adults from Greece who are part of the ‘Kosmos’ program. They have come from the Metropolis of Neapolis and Stavroupolis in Thessaloniki. This joint program pf the metropolises of Boston and Neapolis for the exchange of youth who stay at their respective camps was established in 2017, instituted by the Metropolitans of the respective Metropolises, Methodios of Boston and Barnabas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis.
A commemorative photo of the children of the summer camp of the Metropolis of Boston as well as the children from Thessaloniki. Photos provided by the Metropolis of Boston
The group from Greece is being hosted at the facilities of the Metropolis of Boston Camp Center, and they will visit and be hosted by communities throughout New England. Their program includes tours of the city of Boston, its universities, museums, and other attractions.
Metropolitan Methodios personally visited the Metropolis of Boston Camp Center to welcome the children from Thessaloniki. He dined with them, as well as with the children of the Greek-American community who are attending the camp. While the Metropolitan was present, there was a celebration with Greek music and traditional Greek dances.
The theme of this year’s summer camp period is ‘Wisdom Arise’, and the participants are taught about the holy gospel and how to make the teachings of the gospel a living experience in their lives.
Metropolitan Methodios, in his statements to The National Herald, said, “I glorify God for the very good children our communities have, with ethos, character, faith, and devotion to the Church, as well as to our Cultural Heritage.” He also said, “I thank God, our priests, benefactors, and all our parishioners who, with their love and generosity have created this spiritual hive of our Metropolis, our Camp Center.”
The children of the parishes on New England and the children from Thessaloniki performing Greek dances at the Camp. Photos provided by the Metropolis of Boston
He added, “I was once again pleased with the very good children who came to us from the Metropolis of Neapolis and Stavroupolis for the fifth year, while our own children are preparing to go to Thessaloniki to the Metropolis of Neapolis near my worthy and beloved brother, Metropolitan Barnabas, who is a true jewel of the Church of Greece.”
Regarding whether Metropolitan Methodios himself will visit Greece, he said, “yes, God willing, I plan to first go to the Ecumenical Throne’s Synod at the beginning of September, and from there I will go to Greece, which, as you know, I love and honor very much because it is the cradle of Orthodoxy and Civilization.”
The youths from Greece are accompanied by Fr. Lazaros Chatziathanasiou, a priest of the Metropolis of Neapolis and an associate of Metropolitan Barnabas.
At the airport the visitors were welcomed on behalf of Metropolitan Methodios of Boston by the Chancellor of the Metropolis, Fr. Theodore Barbas, along with other clergy of the Metropolis. It is noted that this is the second visit of children from Greece after the coronavirus pandemic.
In the coming days, twenty-five children from the Metropolis of Boston will depart for Thessaloniki, where they will be welcomed by Metropolitan Barnabas. They will be hosted at the Metropolis camps and will tour the religious, historical, and cultural sites and monuments of the second city of Greece, as well as other cities.
It is reminded that the Camp Center of the Metropolis of Boston is located in the town of Contoocook in the state of New Hampshire, about a two-hour drive from Boston and about half-an-hour from the capital of New Hampshire, Concord. It is an idyllic location with a large lake, a chapel dedicated to Saint George, a hospitality house, a dining hall, and over thirty buildings for campers, creating a setting resembling a small village.
The Hospitality House consists of thirty-five double rooms, each with a private bathroom, meeting spaces, a dining hall, and recreational and entertainment areas.
A commemorative photo of the children from Thessaloniki with Metropolitan Methodios and Fr. Lazaros Chatziathanasiou, who accompanied them. Photos provided by the Metropolis of Boston
There is also a special program for children with special needs, who have their own building, donated by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, built to specifications making the camping stay of these children as comfortable as possible. There are special supervisors and counselors for the children with special needs.
The day for all children at the camp starts with prayer at the Saint George chapel, followed by breakfast and the day’s program, which includes swimming in the large lake within the camp area, and learning Greek dances and customs.
If families have financial difficulties and are unable to pay the nominal fee for the camping period, the Metropolis of Boston provides scholarships. Metropolitan Methodios told The National Herald, “I do not want any child to be left out of the camp program for financial reasons, all children are welcome.”
The acquisition of the Camp Center was made possible by donations from the Greek-American community, the largest of which was from the George Behrakis family.
Currently, another major project is underway, which will be added to the existing building complex: the construction of a modern indoor gymnasium, which will further enrich the Camp’s program.
