Difference between revisions of "Antiochian Village"

From OrthodoxWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(History)
(History)
 
(22 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
The '''Antiochian Village''' is a center for Orthodox activities in Bolivar, Pennsylvania that was founded in 1978.  It is under the jurisdiction of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] and consists of a conference center and a camp.  It was the site of the [[Ligonier Meeting]] in 1994.
 
The '''Antiochian Village''' is a center for Orthodox activities in Bolivar, Pennsylvania that was founded in 1978.  It is under the jurisdiction of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] and consists of a conference center and a camp.  It was the site of the [[Ligonier Meeting]] in 1994.
  
==Conference and retreat center==
+
==History==
The conference center has one hundred guest rooms, meeting rooms, a banquet hall, dining facilities, and a theological research library. The Saints Peter and Paul chapel is also located within the center. In 2004, the Antiochian Village Heritage Museum was opened, featuring historical artifacts of Orthodox significance, such as [[icons]] and [[vestments]].
+
The vision for our youth began in [[1973]], as Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York|Philip (Saliba)]] announced his vision and ultimate desire to serve and build the spiritual lives of our youth by creating a camping program for [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]].
 +
 
 +
The Archimandrite George M. Corry, St. Michaels, Greensburg, PA, was appointed to the task along with his parishioner, Archdiocese Trustee, & long time friend, Mr. George S. Koury, of Irwin, PA. Together they began the search in Western Pennsylvania.
 +
 
 +
Five years had past until a nice, useful facility was available for purchase in the Laurel Mountains of Western Pennsylvania. Camp Fairfield, a 280 acre campground, had cabin accommodations for 160 campers and counselors, and needed only cosmetic enhancements for its initial use. The existing structures included 20 cabins, administrative offices, a dining hall with kitchen, nursing lodge and infirmary. The maintenance building, caretaker’s residence, and staff house were judged to be “appropriate camp style.” Key to the recreational area was a nice size swimming pool, with attached bath house, a softball field, and volleyball, basketball, and a tennis court. The land and its structures were perfect for the time and needs of the Archdiocese; while providing plenty of additional land for expansion.
 +
 
 +
On March 31, 1978, the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America signed the final sales agreements to take ownership of what is now The Antiochian Village. The Metropolitan Philip immediately established two primary councils. The first was the Administrative Council for daily operations, co-chaired by father George M. Corry and mr. George S. Koury. The second council was the Programming Council, chaired and organized by father John Namie, pastor of St. George Orthodox Church, Houston, TX. Father John was assisted by the then Youth Director of the Archdiocese, Mr. [[Basil (Essey) of Wichita|Bill Essey]].
 +
 
 +
During the 33rd Archdiocese Convention in Houston, TX, Metropolitan Philip announced the purchase of the Antiochian Village as "a new spiritual dimension to our lives and will inaugurate a new era of religious maturity in our Archdiocese". The first Administrative Council was filled with the additional talent and energy of Theodore Mackoul, the V. Rev. John Badeen, Thomas Hier, John Roman, Elsie Kaleel, Albert Joseph, Fred Simon, William Salem, Richard Tony, Michael Anthony, Michael Shamey, and Dennis Slyman. The original Programming Council was similarly enhanced with the addition of: Dr. John Boojamra, Edward Joseph, Brenda Joseph, John Litsios, the Very Rev. James Meena, Pearl Nahass, father Anthony Scott, father Joseph Shahda, Vladimir Swydan, and Donna Yazge.
 +
 
 +
May 28, 1979, the Order of St. Ignatius granted $10,000.00 to the Administrative Council to produce a professional land use study, plus $60,000.00 for equipment purchase, chapel and building repairs. The original A-frame Presbyterian chapel was granted a $30,000.00 gift from The Order to be converted into St. Ignatius Church as a true Orthodox House of Worship.
 +
 
 +
That same year, at the 34th Archdiocese Convention in Hollywood, FL, His Eminence began looking ahead at the possibilities beyond camping and introduced the idea of an all year conference facility to be used by and for clergy retreats and conferences, programs for youth ministry, liturgical practice and sacred music, Christian education, theological research, marriage workshops, SOYO, Teen SOYO, Antiochian Women, The Order of St. Ignatius, and the Archdiocese Board of Trustees.
 +
 
 +
The first camping year was termed “disappointing results”. Word spread as campers and staff traveled back to their home parishes and spoke of their experience at The Village. Under the direction of father John Namie, the camping program made great strides, not just in the number of campers, but in the quality of the camping program. Many other Orthodox dioceses began to use The Village for their retreats, and The Village summer camping program quickly fulfilled the dreams and prayers of those directly involved, especially the hundreds of youth partaking in the awesome Village experience.
  
"The Village" hosts Orthodox as well as external events and retreats.  The [[Orthodox Christian Fellowship]] East Coast College Conference takes place at the conference center each December.  There is an annual Sts. [[Thekla the Protomartyr|Thekla]] and [[Raphael of Brooklyn|Raphael]] Pilgrimage every fall.  St. Thekla is the patron saint of an outdoor chapel on the camp grounds, and St. Raphael is buried just next to the outdoor chapel. The Antiochian Archdiocese has many of its national delegate's meetings and its biennial Clergy Symposium at the conference center, due to the central location and facilities that are conducive to host such meetings.
+
The weekend of September 29, 1979, the Antiochian Village was dedicated in front of 1,200 faithful, and the following was declared by His Eminence: “The Antiochian Village is not here to serve only the people of this great Archdiocese, but is offered as a gift to all Orthodox Christians in this country, and because “I do not dream impossible dreams, I merely interpret the dreams and aspirations of my flock. The Antiochian Village was the dream of my people, and I have only striven to translate these dreams into realities. Each achievement presents us with another beginning. There is no summit, only height in the doing the work of Jesus Christ.
  
==Camping program==
+
The outreach continued to grow. September, 1979 was the dedication of The St. Thekla Chapel and 1st Annual Pilgrimage. Hundreds came from all over the United States to begin this journey and offer their petitions. The St. Thekla Pilgrimage continues today, as busloads of the faithful travel from all over to participate and refresh their spiritual lives.
The Antiochian Village Camp program holds both a summer and winter camp each year.  The summer camp consists of four 2-week sessions from June to August each year. Approximately one thousand campers between the ages of 9 and 17, as well as sixty staff, attend the camp every summer.  Some main parts of the summer camp program are daily services in the St. Ignatius chapel, Christian education classes, a challenge course, an overnight camping program, and afternoon sports and activities. There are two 4-day winter camp sessions for older campers (12 to 17 years old) over long weekend breaks from school in the winter.  Winter camp includes a day trip to go snow tubing and various outdoor winter activities. The camp also has a family camp for families to attend together, and in 2005 started the Vill''edge'' Adventures program for 16 to 18 year old campers.  In the summer of 2006, there will be "Sacred Arts Camps" for [[Byzantine Chant|Byzantine Chanting]] and [[Iconography]].
 
  
In addition to [[Thekla the Protomartyr|St. Thekla]] and [[Raphael of Brooklyn|St. Raphael]], the camp's patron [[saints]] are the child saint [[Artemius of Verkola|Artemius]], [[Herman of Alaska|St. Herman of Alaska]] and [[Ignatius of Antioch|St. Ignatius of Antioch]].  The [[reliquary]] at the St. Ignatius Chapel includes [[relics]] of St. Herman, [[Moses the Ethiopian|St. Moses the Ethiopian]], and others.
+
In 1982, The Antiochian Village received accreditation by the American Camping Association.
  
The camp is currently conducting a capital campaign called "Village 2010" to raise money for many neccesary upgrades to facilities. The St. Ignatius Chapel will be expanded, five new cabins will be built, a new dining hall will be created, as well as numerous other projects.
+
The Antiochian Village Camp continues to grow and offer memories that no other event or time can offer. The camping sessions are usually filled very quickly, and campers call their friends from previous years to make sure that they will see them again during the same session, in the same cabin, and relive The Village Magic that only a “Villager” will understand.
  
==History==
+
The Conference and Retreat Center was built in 1985 and doubled in size in 1990.  Fr. John Namie was the first camp director from 1979 to 1988.  Under his directorship, the camping program grew from a two-camper session to an ACA accredited camping program that served hundreds of Orthodox Youth each summer.
The Antiochian Village was the vision of His Eminence [[PHILIP(Saliba) of New York|Metropolitan Philip]] of the Antiochian Archdiocese.  The 280-acre grounds were purchased from Camp Fairfield, a Presbyterian camp, in 1978, and the first camping season was the summer of 1979.  The Conference and Retreat Center was built in 1985 and doubled in size in 1990.   
 
  
Camp Directors:
+
After a succession of directors, Fr. Joseph Purpura was the director from 1993-1996, during which time the Ligonier meeting was held.
  
1979-1988      Fr. John Namie 
+
Fr. Michael Nasser was made director in 1997. He grew the camp from a three-session summer program into the current format of four fortnight-long summer sessions, as well as two winter camp sessions, two family camp sessions, an iconography camp, a chanting camp, Village Adventures, and the Village Roadtrip. Through his work the camp now reaches out to over 1000 Orthodox youth throughout North America. One of his final moves was to start the Village 2010 campaign.
1989            Fr. Matthew George
 
1990-1991      Fr. Paul Finley
 
1992            Fr. George Alberts
 
1993-1996      Fr. Joseph Purpura
 
1997-2006      Fr. Michael Nasser
 
2007-Present    Fr. Anthony Yazge
 
  
Fr. John Namie served as the camp's founder and first camp director. Under his tutelage and leadership the camp grew from a meager 2 camper session into an ACA accredited camping program that served hundreds of Orthodox Youth each summer bringing our country's children closer to their faith.
+
The current director is Fr. Anthony Yazge. He took up this position in 2007, having previously participated in the camping program as session priest.
  
After an unsteady 8 years of turnover of the camp director position, Fr. Michael Nasser brought the turbulent camping program back on track, as the camp again started to realize Metropolitan PHILIP's original vision.
+
==Conference and retreat center==
 +
The conference center has one hundred guest rooms, meeting rooms, a banquet hall, dining facilities, and a theological research library.  The Saints Peter and Paul chapel is also located within the center.  In 2004, the Antiochian Village Heritage Museum was opened, featuring historical artifacts of Orthodox significance, such as [[icons]] and [[vestments]].
  
Under Fr. Michael's guidance and genius the camp grew from a 3 session summer program into the perennial powerhouse of all Orthodox camping and youth development institutions in all the universe.  The camp now contains 4, 2 week summer sessions, as well as 2 winter camp sessions, 2 family camp sessions, iconography camp, chanting camp, Villedge Adventures, and the Villedge RoadtripThrough his work the camp now reaches out to over 1000 Orthodox Youth throughout North AmericaFr. Michael Nasser left his final mark on the Antiochian Village by jump starting the Village 2010 campaign, which ensures a brighter future for continuing success in ministering to America's Orthodox youth.
+
"The Village" hosts Orthodox as well as external events and retreats.  The [[Orthodox Christian Fellowship]] East Coast College Conference takes place at the conference center each DecemberThere is an annual Sts. [[Thekla the Protomartyr|Thekla]] and [[Raphael of Brooklyn|Raphael]] Pilgrimage every fallSt. Thekla is the patron saint of an outdoor chapel on the camp grounds, and St. Raphael is buried just next to the outdoor chapel.  The Antiochian Archdiocese has many of its national delegate's meetings and its biennial Clergy Symposium at the conference center, due to the central location and facilities that are conducive to host such meetings.
  
Fr. Anthony Yazge completed his first full year as camp director continuing Fr. Michael's work towards the 2010 programHe also hired the best staff of all time in Village history in the summer of 2007Greg Hakim led an all-star set of male counselors as they reached out and transformed the troubled lives and ensured the salvation of hundreds of of Orthodox youth within the borders of Lebanon, Brazil, California, and CanadaThis incredible male staff also created their own personal prayer to help bind and unite them together in their undivided purpose of promoting the Christian lifestyle.   
+
==Camping program==
 +
The Antiochian Village Camp program holds both a summer and winter camp each year. The summer camp consists of four 2-week sessions from June to August each year.  Approximately one thousand campers between the ages of 9 and 17, as well as sixty staff, attend the camp every summer.  Some main parts of the summer camp program are daily services in the St. Ignatius chapel, Christian education classes, a challenge course, an overnight camping program, and afternoon sports and activities.  There are two 4-day winter camp sessions for older campers (12 to 17 years old) over long weekend breaks from school in the winter.  Winter camp includes a day trip to go snow tubing and various outdoor winter activitiesThe camp also has a family camp for families to attend together, and in 2005 started the Vill''edge'' Adventures program for 16 to 18 year old campersIn the summer of 2006, there will be "Sacred Arts Camps" for [[Byzantine Chant|Byzantine Chanting]] and [[Iconography]].
  
Along with Greg Hakim's excellent guidance of the male counselors, a few of his counselors stepped up their game. Namely his cousin and 3 time returning all-star counselor Dan Hakim, and younger brother of Charles Abdelahad, Nick AbdelahadBoth served as challenge course facilitators and thrived in every aspect of camp life. Nick, better known as session 2's session priest Fr. Michael Abdelahad's son, survived the summer without any major injuries, as is his norm.
+
In addition to St. [[Thekla the Protomartyr|Thekla]] and St. [[Raphael of Brooklyn|Raphael]], the camp's patron [[saints]] are the child saint [[Artemius of Verkola|Artemius]], St. [[Herman of Alaska]] and St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]]The [[reliquary]] at the St. Ignatius Chapel includes the [[relics]] of St. Herman and St. [[Moses the Ethiopian]].
  
As if Greg's influence could go no farther, he revolutionized the art of late night food runs in the unitInstead of sticking the the typical pizza and Sheetz, he brought us a new and exciting way to enjoy each other's company in the unit.  This consisted of piles and piles of Dino's meat filled wings.  Although the excessive wing's sauce smothered the top of the picnic table, unit 4 campers were still unable to detect the previous evening's events.
+
The camp is currently conducting a capital campaign called "Village 2010" to raise money for many necessary upgrades to facilitiesThe St. Ignatius Chapel will be expanded, five new cabins will be built, a new dining hall will be created, as well as numerous other projects.
  
To experience the male staff's love and unity, you need not look farther than their revolutionary alarm clock systemWith reliance on each other and their undeniable faith in God above, the male staff worked to ensure punctuality in attendance of Daily Orthros and Divine Liturgy, the climax of the Orthodox Christian life.
+
==Directors==
 +
* 1979-1988: Fr. John Namie  
 +
* 1989: Fr. Matthew George
 +
* 1990-1991: Fr. Paul Finley
 +
* 1992: Fr. George Alberts
 +
* 1993-1996: Fr. Joseph Purpura
 +
* 1997-2006: Fr. Michael Nasser
 +
* 2007-present Fr. Anthony Yazge
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 
*[http://www.antiochianvillage.org/ Antiochian Village]
 
*[http://www.antiochianvillage.org/ Antiochian Village]
*[http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp/camphistory.html Antiochian Village History]
+
*[http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp/about/history.html Antiochian Village History]
  
 
[[Category:Organizations]]
 
[[Category:Organizations]]
 
[[Category:Pilgrimage Sites]]
 
[[Category:Pilgrimage Sites]]
 +
 +
[[ro:Satul antiohian]]

Latest revision as of 13:56, September 12, 2015

The Antiochian Village is a center for Orthodox activities in Bolivar, Pennsylvania that was founded in 1978. It is under the jurisdiction of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America and consists of a conference center and a camp. It was the site of the Ligonier Meeting in 1994.

History

The vision for our youth began in 1973, as Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced his vision and ultimate desire to serve and build the spiritual lives of our youth by creating a camping program for Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

The Archimandrite George M. Corry, St. Michaels, Greensburg, PA, was appointed to the task along with his parishioner, Archdiocese Trustee, & long time friend, Mr. George S. Koury, of Irwin, PA. Together they began the search in Western Pennsylvania.

Five years had past until a nice, useful facility was available for purchase in the Laurel Mountains of Western Pennsylvania. Camp Fairfield, a 280 acre campground, had cabin accommodations for 160 campers and counselors, and needed only cosmetic enhancements for its initial use. The existing structures included 20 cabins, administrative offices, a dining hall with kitchen, nursing lodge and infirmary. The maintenance building, caretaker’s residence, and staff house were judged to be “appropriate camp style.” Key to the recreational area was a nice size swimming pool, with attached bath house, a softball field, and volleyball, basketball, and a tennis court. The land and its structures were perfect for the time and needs of the Archdiocese; while providing plenty of additional land for expansion.

On March 31, 1978, the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America signed the final sales agreements to take ownership of what is now The Antiochian Village. The Metropolitan Philip immediately established two primary councils. The first was the Administrative Council for daily operations, co-chaired by father George M. Corry and mr. George S. Koury. The second council was the Programming Council, chaired and organized by father John Namie, pastor of St. George Orthodox Church, Houston, TX. Father John was assisted by the then Youth Director of the Archdiocese, Mr. Bill Essey.

During the 33rd Archdiocese Convention in Houston, TX, Metropolitan Philip announced the purchase of the Antiochian Village as "a new spiritual dimension to our lives and will inaugurate a new era of religious maturity in our Archdiocese". The first Administrative Council was filled with the additional talent and energy of Theodore Mackoul, the V. Rev. John Badeen, Thomas Hier, John Roman, Elsie Kaleel, Albert Joseph, Fred Simon, William Salem, Richard Tony, Michael Anthony, Michael Shamey, and Dennis Slyman. The original Programming Council was similarly enhanced with the addition of: Dr. John Boojamra, Edward Joseph, Brenda Joseph, John Litsios, the Very Rev. James Meena, Pearl Nahass, father Anthony Scott, father Joseph Shahda, Vladimir Swydan, and Donna Yazge.

May 28, 1979, the Order of St. Ignatius granted $10,000.00 to the Administrative Council to produce a professional land use study, plus $60,000.00 for equipment purchase, chapel and building repairs. The original A-frame Presbyterian chapel was granted a $30,000.00 gift from The Order to be converted into St. Ignatius Church as a true Orthodox House of Worship.

That same year, at the 34th Archdiocese Convention in Hollywood, FL, His Eminence began looking ahead at the possibilities beyond camping and introduced the idea of an all year conference facility to be used by and for clergy retreats and conferences, programs for youth ministry, liturgical practice and sacred music, Christian education, theological research, marriage workshops, SOYO, Teen SOYO, Antiochian Women, The Order of St. Ignatius, and the Archdiocese Board of Trustees.

The first camping year was termed “disappointing results”. Word spread as campers and staff traveled back to their home parishes and spoke of their experience at The Village. Under the direction of father John Namie, the camping program made great strides, not just in the number of campers, but in the quality of the camping program. Many other Orthodox dioceses began to use The Village for their retreats, and The Village summer camping program quickly fulfilled the dreams and prayers of those directly involved, especially the hundreds of youth partaking in the awesome Village experience.

The weekend of September 29, 1979, the Antiochian Village was dedicated in front of 1,200 faithful, and the following was declared by His Eminence: “The Antiochian Village is not here to serve only the people of this great Archdiocese, but is offered as a gift to all Orthodox Christians in this country, and because “I do not dream impossible dreams, I merely interpret the dreams and aspirations of my flock. The Antiochian Village was the dream of my people, and I have only striven to translate these dreams into realities. Each achievement presents us with another beginning. There is no summit, only height in the doing the work of Jesus Christ.”

The outreach continued to grow. September, 1979 was the dedication of The St. Thekla Chapel and 1st Annual Pilgrimage. Hundreds came from all over the United States to begin this journey and offer their petitions. The St. Thekla Pilgrimage continues today, as busloads of the faithful travel from all over to participate and refresh their spiritual lives.

In 1982, The Antiochian Village received accreditation by the American Camping Association.

The Antiochian Village Camp continues to grow and offer memories that no other event or time can offer. The camping sessions are usually filled very quickly, and campers call their friends from previous years to make sure that they will see them again during the same session, in the same cabin, and relive The Village Magic that only a “Villager” will understand.

The Conference and Retreat Center was built in 1985 and doubled in size in 1990. Fr. John Namie was the first camp director from 1979 to 1988. Under his directorship, the camping program grew from a two-camper session to an ACA accredited camping program that served hundreds of Orthodox Youth each summer.

After a succession of directors, Fr. Joseph Purpura was the director from 1993-1996, during which time the Ligonier meeting was held.

Fr. Michael Nasser was made director in 1997. He grew the camp from a three-session summer program into the current format of four fortnight-long summer sessions, as well as two winter camp sessions, two family camp sessions, an iconography camp, a chanting camp, Village Adventures, and the Village Roadtrip. Through his work the camp now reaches out to over 1000 Orthodox youth throughout North America. One of his final moves was to start the Village 2010 campaign.

The current director is Fr. Anthony Yazge. He took up this position in 2007, having previously participated in the camping program as session priest.

Conference and retreat center

The conference center has one hundred guest rooms, meeting rooms, a banquet hall, dining facilities, and a theological research library. The Saints Peter and Paul chapel is also located within the center. In 2004, the Antiochian Village Heritage Museum was opened, featuring historical artifacts of Orthodox significance, such as icons and vestments.

"The Village" hosts Orthodox as well as external events and retreats. The Orthodox Christian Fellowship East Coast College Conference takes place at the conference center each December. There is an annual Sts. Thekla and Raphael Pilgrimage every fall. St. Thekla is the patron saint of an outdoor chapel on the camp grounds, and St. Raphael is buried just next to the outdoor chapel. The Antiochian Archdiocese has many of its national delegate's meetings and its biennial Clergy Symposium at the conference center, due to the central location and facilities that are conducive to host such meetings.

Camping program

The Antiochian Village Camp program holds both a summer and winter camp each year. The summer camp consists of four 2-week sessions from June to August each year. Approximately one thousand campers between the ages of 9 and 17, as well as sixty staff, attend the camp every summer. Some main parts of the summer camp program are daily services in the St. Ignatius chapel, Christian education classes, a challenge course, an overnight camping program, and afternoon sports and activities. There are two 4-day winter camp sessions for older campers (12 to 17 years old) over long weekend breaks from school in the winter. Winter camp includes a day trip to go snow tubing and various outdoor winter activities. The camp also has a family camp for families to attend together, and in 2005 started the Villedge Adventures program for 16 to 18 year old campers. In the summer of 2006, there will be "Sacred Arts Camps" for Byzantine Chanting and Iconography.

In addition to St. Thekla and St. Raphael, the camp's patron saints are the child saint Artemius, St. Herman of Alaska and St. Ignatius of Antioch. The reliquary at the St. Ignatius Chapel includes the relics of St. Herman and St. Moses the Ethiopian.

The camp is currently conducting a capital campaign called "Village 2010" to raise money for many necessary upgrades to facilities. The St. Ignatius Chapel will be expanded, five new cabins will be built, a new dining hall will be created, as well as numerous other projects.

Directors

  • 1979-1988: Fr. John Namie
  • 1989: Fr. Matthew George
  • 1990-1991: Fr. Paul Finley
  • 1992: Fr. George Alberts
  • 1993-1996: Fr. Joseph Purpura
  • 1997-2006: Fr. Michael Nasser
  • 2007-present Fr. Anthony Yazge

External links