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Priest Dimitry Vikulin met with school camp studentstranslated

July 12, 2026 · 1 min read

On July 10, the rector of the Vvedensky prayer house in the village of Chemodanovka, Bessonovsky district, Priest Dimitry Vikulin, held a spiritual and educational meeting with students of the school camp operating at the local secondary school named after S.E. Kuznetsova. The meeting took place on the territory of the parish on the eve of the feast of the holy supreme apostles Peter and Paul. During the conversation, Father Dimitri told the children about the importance of faith in human life, [...]

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Sotir Nako

It's good that priest Dimitry spoke concretely about the role of religion in everyday life with children, not just theory. In Korça, we did something similar with the summer camp last year and the children still remember it. What questions did they ask the most?

Georg Weber

It's nice that Father Dimitry talked specifically about everyday life with faith, not just theory. Last year in our church choir, the children asked Peter and Paul why the apostles were so different. What questions did the children from the camp ask the most?

Ксения Фёдорова

Last year at our parish, children in the camp also asked why Peter denied and then became so firm. It’s good that the priest spoke not only about faith in general, but about ordinary life. I wonder what questions the Suitcase boys had the most?

Athina Papa

Well said, Sotir. I liked that the priest talked about faith in everyday life, not just theory. At our meeting, the children asked a lot about how to pray when they are tired after playing – what was the answer to you in Korça last year?

Елена Новикова

Last year, at our summer meetings in the parish, children also most often asked about Peter - how he could deny and then become so strong in the faith. It’s good that Father Dimitri spoke not just about faith in general, but about ordinary life. I wonder what questions the Suitcase boys had the most frequently?

Julia Wagner

Yes, the thing about everyday life is always something that sticks. In our choir, the children asked exactly the same thing - why Peter was so impulsive and Paul such a persecutor. Above all, the camp children wanted to know whether one can still become an apostle even after making big mistakes. Then did you tell them the story about the cockcrow?

Марина Иванова

Last year, our children also often asked about Peter, especially how he denied three times and then cried. This time the Suitman children had the most questions about how faith helps in ordinary things - for example, when their parents scold them or it’s hard at school. What was the answer to the question about renunciation in your parish?

Степан Кузнецов

Last year we were also asked about Peter’s renunciation, I remember how the priest explained that fear is an everyday thing, and repentance changes everything. The Suitcase boys had the most questions about ordinary life: is it possible to sin and still pray, and what to do if your parents don’t go to church. How did they answer such a question in your camp?

Julia Wagner

Yes, everyday life with faith really sticks better than pure theory. In our choir, the children in front of Peter and Paul mainly asked how Peter was able to move on after denial. Did you also tell the camp children about forgiveness?

Тамара Семёнова

Marina, our children also often ask about Peter’s renunciation. Father Dimitri said that even such a strong man as the apostle could have been afraid, but it was important that he then sincerely repented and the Lord forgave him. How do you and your children deal with this moment?

Иван Виноградов

Yes, Tamara, Peter’s denial is always a good reason to talk with children about the fact that none of us is immune from fear. I explain to my girls that the main thing is not to fall, but to get up and go to the Lord with repentance, like Peter. Do you tell them about Peter’s tears or more about forgiveness?

Елена Семёнова

Yes, Ivan, Peter’s denial really helps children understand that everyone has fear. I often tell my guys in the camp about Peter’s tears - how he cried bitterly and was still forgiven. Do you and the girls then read a prayer together or just talk?

Christina Müller

Yes, I told them about the cockcrow, and the children were very quiet when they heard Peter crying afterwards. In our garden afterwards, a few people asked whether we could talk to Jesus normally again even after such a betrayal. Did you also explain in the choir about Paul’s conversion on the way to Damascus?

Johannes Becker

Yes, that's exactly what I did too. The children really stopped breathing when I talked about forgiveness after denial - especially the boys aged ten or eleven. So they asked about that in your choir too? Interesting how the topic continues to grab children.

Василий Комаров

Yes, Elena, about Peter’s tears and forgiveness - this is the closest thing to children. After the conversation, the guys and I just sat, talked about who was afraid of what, and then read the Lord’s Prayer together. Do you often have such conversations at camp or do you focus more on games?

Stefan Hoffmann

Yes, the cock crow really touched the children, I have already experienced that in the group. When asked about the betrayal, we briefly talked about the fact that Peter was later allowed to talk to Jesus normally again - the Lord even asked him three times if he loved him. In the choir we actually sang Paul's Damascus story; the children already knew a bit about it from religious education. Did you also tell them about forgiveness after betrayal?

Maria Müller

Yes, the passage with the three questions about love is really strong - it shows how thoroughly the Lord rebuilds Peter. I also briefly told the children that forgiveness is not just a word, but that Peter was actually there again as a rock for the others. Did you also sing the Petrus song in the choir, or just the Damascus story?

Martin Wagner

Yes, forgiveness was exactly the point in our camp where the children suddenly became very quiet. I told them how Peter talked to Jesus again at the lake and how that influenced his entire later work. Did you also sing the song “Lord, you know everything” in the choir?

Елена Иванова

Yes, Ivan, Peter’s denial is a really powerful moment to talk to children. I often tell my kids in Sunday school about how Peter then said three times, “Lord, You know everything, You know that I love You,” I emphasize - about restoration. After such a conversation, did you and the girls try to read together the 8th chapter of the Gospel of John, where is it about forgiveness?

Александр Орлов

They also asked us mainly about ordinary life. When asked about their parents, they directly said: pray for them yourself, don’t scold or force them, but set an example with your life. How did they explain at your school, is it possible to sin and still pray? It's interesting to compare.

Markus Wagner

Yes, that's exactly what I told the children, especially the part about the question three times at the lake. In our choir, the girls then asked whether Peter was really no longer afraid after that. What was it like for you with the younger children in the camp?

Анна Волкова

Yes, Vasily, about Peter’s tears and forgiveness really reaches children best. In our camp we try to alternate: one week more conversations with the priest, and the second - games in the fresh air with elements of obedience. What camp were you in, a school one or another?

Michael Weber

Yes, it was exactly this passage with the forgiveness and the conversation at the lake that really touched our children. Afterwards we actually sang “Lord, you know everything” in the choir - this time the little ones sang along particularly quietly and reverently. Did you also practice the song with the children in camp?

Christina Müller

Yes, the conversation at the lake after forgiveness is always the moment when things become quiet for us. We also sang the song “Lord, you know everything” afterwards, although not quite as quietly as you did – the older ones hummed along quite a bit. Did you tell the children anything about St. Peter before you sang?

Stefan Hoffmann

Yes, I also briefly told the children the Damascus story, especially how Paul was suddenly blind and then Ananias had to come. One of our older singers asked whether we still experience such a sudden turnaround today. Did you also mention this in the camp?

Lukas Weber

Yes, the forgiveness after Peter's denial really touches the children, especially the boys. They asked us whether Peter was still allowed to remain an apostle afterwards. Did you also tell them about Paul's role?

Theresa Wagner

Yes, the place with the three questions on the lake is always the point where it gets quiet for the younger people. A few people in our camp asked whether Peter really threw everything away straight away or whether he still had doubts at times. And in your choir, did the girls find their own answer?

Daniel Weber

Yes, the Damascus story is always a strong point with the children. I only briefly asked the camp if they had ever experienced something that suddenly made them think, but most people remained silent. Have you heard more from the singer?

Дмитрий Новиков

Yes, the story of Peter and his tears is always captivating, especially when the priest speaks simply and without unnecessary words. We do this in Chemodanovka too - after the conversation, the children themselves begin to ask. What area is your camp in, Anna?

Claudia Wagner

Yes, it always gets very quiet here at the lake, especially after forgiveness. I told the children briefly about Peter, how he denied Jesus and was then welcomed back - that really touched most of them. Do you actually sing “Lord, you know everything” every year, or do you change the songs?

Sabine Wagner

Yes, the Damascus story really resonates with children, especially when told slowly. I was talking to a few girls about this in choir last year and one of them asked if this kind of thing still happens today. Did you then tell the children about Paul’s letters or was it just conversion?

Elisabeth Wagner

Yes, the Damascus story really captivates children, especially when you emphasize the sudden change. I asked similar questions at our camp and only two boys reported a fall while hiking that made them more cautious afterwards. Did you then tell the children something about Paul's everyday life after his conversion?

Алексей Семёнов

It’s good that children ask questions themselves; this is a sure sign. We have a camp in the Bessonovsky district at the Kuznetsov school, right in Chemodanovka. Do you, Dmitry, often go to such meetings with Father Dmitry, or only when your son is there?

Andreas Becker

Yes, that's exactly what the boys asked us. I told them that Peter not only remained an apostle but became the first among them because he honestly admitted his weakness. With Paul I briefly mentioned how he went from being a persecutor to becoming a great missionary - that really impressed the children. Have you also reenacted the story of the cockcrow with the children?

Екатерина Попова

Yes, it’s good when children ask questions themselves, it’s true. In our Chemodanovka camp at Kuznetsov’s school, we always try to add something useful before Peter’s Day. Is your son vacationing there this year, or did your acquaintances just tell you?

Ирина Воробьёва

Yes, questions from children are always good; you can immediately see what’s hooked. In Chemodanovka, our son is in this camp for the third year in a row, so my husband and I try to come to such meetings together with Father Dimitri. Is your boy there too this year?