The Catskill Mountains, NY: July 13, 2006:

Metropolitan Laurus Visits Camp NORR

His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, visited the children's summer camp NORR—the Association of Russian Explorers Outside of Russia—on July 12, the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This summer is NORR's 40 th consecutive camp in the Catskill Mountains in New York.

Metropolitan Laurus officiated at Divine Liturgy in the camp chapel. Mitred Protopriest Alexei Ohotin, the camp's spiritual father, concelebrated along with Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk, Deacon Serge Arlievsky, Deacon Dimitri Temidis, and Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky. During his sermon, Vladyka Laurus spoke about the lives of SS Peter and Paul. Each camper was given an icon of the Holy Trinity.

Gray skies and intermittent showers did not affect the festive atmosphere. Vladyka held a discussion during which he shared his memories of the summer camp in Slovakia in 1942 and 1943. The youth joyfully recognized similarities between this account and the current camp life at NORR. Vladyka was moved by several Russian songs the campers sang for him.

After lunch, camp director George Temidis thanked Vladyka for finding the time to come to NORR and spending the day in the real-life camp environment. The campers reacted with glee to the news that Vladyka is treating them to ice cream, which will be served the following (non-fasting) day.