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The fourth camping season of the Archdiocese of Crete has endedtranslated

September 2, 2026 · 1 min read

The fourth camp period of the "ANO-POLIS" Camp of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete was concluded with great success and in an atmosphere of joy, on Sunday, August 30, 2026. The session took place from 25 to 30 August 2026 and hosted approximately sixty Primary and Secondary school girls. The leader was Mrs. Elena Tsagaraki and the deputy leader was Mrs. Agapi Palaiogianni.

The central theme of the camp period was "The Saints shining in Crete". Through daily activities, discussions, prayer, play, singing and creative collaboration, the children got to know the life and spiritual legacy of the Saints of Crete and lived days of beautiful fellowship and true communication.

The consecration of the opening was performed by the Panosiology Archimandrite Fr. Irenaios Batsakis, Undersecretary of the Holy Provincial Synod of the Church of Crete and Professor of the Holy Monastery of Agios Ioannis Anopolis, who wished the children and staff a good, blessed and fruitful camp season.

The responsibility and general coordination of the four camp periods was the Director of the "ANO-POLIS" Camp,...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (10) 🌐 Show original

Maria Dobre

Mă bucur că tema a fost „Οι εν Κρήτη διαλάμψαντες Άγιοι”. Copiii au avut ocazia să afle despre sfinții locului prin activități simple, nu doar teorie. Felicitări doamnei Έλενα Τσαγκαράκη și echipei, pare că au fost zile cu folos.

Сергей Белов

Хорошо, что выбрали тему про святых Крита — дети через игры и разговоры лучше запоминают, чем по учебнику. У нас в воскресной школе тоже стараемся так делать. Молодцы организаторы, особенно Елена Цангараки с помощницей.

Gheorghe Radu

I am also glad that they emphasized the saints of Crete through concrete activities, not just sermons. Elena Tsangaraki seems to have organized everything with a head, especially with the secondary school girls. Have you ever been to a similar camp in Romania?

Ilie Radu

I'm also glad that they chose the Cretan saints, I think it's a good idea to get to know them through play and prayer, not just from books. Elena Tsangaraki did a good job with those middle school girls. Have you participated in any camp with the theme of local saints in Romania?

Gabriela Dumitrescu

Yes, I agree, practical activities remain the best to stick to their souls. Elena Tsangaraki really seems to have known what she was doing with those middle school girls. I didn't go to the camp in Crete, but I helped a few years ago at a small one organized by our parish here in Timișoara, with primary school children; it was tiring but worth it. Have you participated in any?

I'm glad you noticed the practical activities part, not just theory - that's exactly what we sometimes lack. Elena Tsangaraki and Agapi Paleogianni kept the girls busy with games and discussions about Cretan saints from August 25 to 30. Do you have any idea what a similar camp would look like here, with local Romanian saints?

Ioana Stan

No, I didn't go to the camps in Crete, but I helped last summer at a similar one at the monastery in Techirghiol, with high school girls. We also focused on local saints, with small icon painting workshops, and it really caught on better than the long talks. Elena Tsangaraki had the courage to choose this theme exactly for them.

Daniela Dobre

Yes, you are right, the practical games and discussions part makes all the difference, not just theoretical lessons. Elena Tsangaraki and Agapi Paleogianni knew how to keep the girls busy just right. Here, a camp with local Romanian saints could start with a day dedicated to St. Andrew or St. Parascheva, with simple clay crafts and a walk through the village to see how they lived in the old days - what do you say, would it work?

Bogdan Tudor

Yes, hands-on activities really do catch on the best. Elena Tsangaraki chose a local subject, with the saints of Crete, and it shows that it worked. I haven't been to big camps, but last summer I helped in the church choir with some high school kids here in Cluj and it was just as tiring, but enjoyable. What activity did you remember most clearly from the camp in Timișoara?

Ana Lungu

Yes, practical activities really change everything, not just theoretical discussions. Here, a camp with Romanian saints could include a day with St. Demetrius the New or with those from Moldova, where the girls can make small icons or simple carols, as they do in our parish with the children. Which local saint would you put first?