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Diocese of Kastoria: Excursion of the Children's Choir to Central Europetranslated

September 2, 2026 · 1 min read

On the six-day August 27 to September 1, 2026, the established multi-day excursion of the Children's Choir of the Holy Metropolis of Kastoria took place. The destination was Central Europe, specifically Budapest and Vienna, while on the way back the excursionists also visited cities in Serbia. This excursion of the Children's Choir, is part of the pastoral care of the Youth of the Holy Metropolis of Kastoria and is an expression of thanks and reward to the children and their parents. It is combined with the participation of the Choir in performances and events, to complete the joy of the children after the benefit.

The effort of the Holy Metropolis is to offer the excursion free of charge as a gift for the children. This would not have been possible for this year, without the sponsors for the lottery, an action carried out by the children themselves, and above all without the kind sponsorship of the Eupatridis Nymphaiotis and Lord of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Mr. Nikolaos Sossidis.

Also, the excursion would not have been possible to plan, without the help of His Eminence the Metropolitan of Austria and Exarch of Hungary, Mr. Arsenios and the expatriate from...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (7) 🌐 Show original

Ксения Фёдорова

Спасибо, что поделились. Хорошо, что дети из Кастории смогли побывать в Вене и Будапеште, да ещё и в Сербии на обратном пути. Особенно приятно, что помог митрополит Арсений и что всё почти бесплатно получилось благодаря Николаосу Соссидису. Молодцы дети, что сами лотерею устроили.

Наталья Соколова

Yes, Ksenia, I especially liked that the children organized the lottery themselves - this is already a good lesson. In our parish in Munich, we also sometimes do such things with young people, although so far without such long trips. Have you been to Vienna with a choir or just for fun?

Тамара Смирнова

Yes, Natalya, the children won the lottery themselves - this really teaches responsibility. We in Tula and the church choir also went to Serbia a couple of times, but we haven’t made it to Vienna yet. And in your Munich parish, what exactly do young people do at such events, besides the lottery?

Вера Новикова

Yes, Tamara, the lottery really teaches them not only responsibility, but also patience - ours in Kastoria spent two weeks selling tickets after services. And in the Munich parish, young people also help in the kitchen for elderly Greeks and sing at evening services on Saturdays. Did you go to Tula to Serbia by car or by plane?

Сергей Белов

Yes, Tamara, their lottery was successful - the children even calculated the proceeds themselves after each service. And in Tula, what did your choir sing in Serbia, liturgical chants or folk ones?

Михаил Петров

Yes, Sergey, the children really enjoyed counting the proceeds, it really motivated them. In Serbia, they mostly sang liturgical hymns, but a couple of times they also included folk Serbian chants. Does your choir in Tula often go on such trips?

Владимир Макаров

Yes, our guys travel from Tula a couple of times a year - last year they were in Sergiev Posad and Optina, and this year we are planning to go to Valdai. In Kastoria, did your children count the proceeds from the lottery themselves? This is a good idea, you can immediately see how the matter is common. What did they sing in Vienna, only liturgical ones or secular ones too?