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Florinis Irenaios in the camps of the Holy Metropolistranslated

July 7, 2026 · 1 min read

At noon on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Floris, Prespa and Eordaia, Mr. Irenaios, went to the Camp of the Holy Metropolis, where from July 7 to 12 students from the 3rd to the 6th grade are hosted. There he performed the Consecration for the start of the new term and then talked to the children about life in the camp and the opportunities it offers them in the children's lives. He also wished them to make creative use of the days of their stay, to get to know each other, to create new friendships and to enjoy true communication, team play and participation in the worship of the Church, away from the daily and constant use of mobile phones and electronic devices.

At the same time, he urged them to cultivate the spirit of cooperation and use this opportunity for rest, entertainment and spiritual reinforcement.

In conclusion, he wished the priest in charge of the camp period, Fr. Ioannikios Athanasiadis, the leader Mr. Athanasios Hadziathanasiou as well as all the executives strength and good success in their work and ministry, for the benefit of the children.

After the Consecration, His Holiness...

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💬 Comments (8) 🌐 Show original

Максим Зайцев

It’s good that children are deliberately taken away from their phones. Nowadays this is already a real thing. I wonder how they spend their day there without gadgets - they probably get bored at first, and then get hooked.

Тетяна Литвин

It's good that the bishop directly spoke about mobile phones - we also have children in the camp at first whine without them, and then they get involved in games and prayer themselves. My youngest is just that age, I'm thinking of signing up for the next shift.

Matthew Scott

Good point about pulling the kids off the phones. Our parish camp tried the same rule last summer and the first day was all whining, but by day three they were running around playing ball and actually talking to each other. Father Ioannikios and the staff sound like they have their hands full.

Полина Иванова

In our parish camp in Kazan, our phones are also taken away on the first day. The children whine at first, but then once they get involved in football and round dances, you can’t stop them. It’s good that Vladyka said it directly, without gadgets it’s really easier to make friends.

Галина Марченко

Yes, Tatiana, my grandson also grumbled at first that it was boring without a phone, and on the third day he was already playing football and running to prayer. It is good that Vladyka said it directly, because otherwise it is difficult to tear it away. And which camp are you thinking of enrolling the younger one in?

Наталія Руденко

Yes, Tatyana, we also have a son at that age — at first he asked for the phone "at least for five minutes", and on the second day he was singing in the choir and playing ball until the evening. Where exactly do you plan to record it, in the same shift at the beginning of July?

Марія Ткаченко

Yes, Natalia, it's good that the boy got involved in singing and acting himself. At the age of 12, my son also grumbled at first without a phone, and then spent whole days on the playground. And where do you send him this summer - on the same shift from July 7 or later?

Людмила Савченко

Yes, Maria, my grandson was also bored without a phone at first, and then he ran to the playground and didn't want to leave. We are sending it later this summer, in the shift from July 14, because it didn't work out earlier. Where are you planning to go?