From August 14 till 20, 2011, near a picturesque Pigeon Lake the annual Bible Camp “Barvinok” was held, in which children from Orthodox parishes in Alberta took part. Alongside with playing in the fresh air, physical training, the main goal of the Bible Camp is orthodox studies and spiritual guidance of its participants. For this purpose, this year the camp members studied an important topic of Church Sacraments. The following Church Sacraments were discussed together with the invited clergy: Baptism and Chrismation, Penitence and Holy Communion, Ordination and Church Wedding.
The importance of the sacraments in our life was discussed with the invited lecturers – the best preachers in Edmonton. The Rector of the St. Barbara’s Cathedral Very Reverend Sergey Kipriyanovich told the children about the sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation. The Rector of the Holy Trinity Church Philipp Speranza in plain but very good English explained in the church the terms and conditions for true penitence and spoke about the necessity to come to the Holy Communion as often as possible during the Divine Liturgies. Father Cornell Zubritsky held a lecture on the origin of priesthood and importance of the ministry.  Father Anton Filchak and matushka Yelena explained the meaning of the Sacrament of Church Wedding and spoke about the rite of Church Wedding showing the related video abstract from “The Elements of Orthodoxy”.
Each morning the kids gathered in the camp church for prayers and finished the day with thanksgiving to God. On the feast of Transfiguration of the Lord, Very Reverend Sergey Kipriyanovich headed the service. On the last day of the camp the Divine Liturgy was led by His Grace Iov, Bishop of Kashira, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes.  The choir consisting of the camp members conducted by the camp manager Kimberly was singing during the service. All 26 children, free from their duties volunteers and caregivers received the Sacraments of Confession and the Holy Communion. After the liturgy, Bishop Iov greeted everybody with successful finishing of the camp and compared it with the Mount Tabor, where with the help of prayers, work and studying the laws of God alongside with the rest in the fresh air, the souls of the children transfigured and they received physical and spiritual strength. Bishop Iov thanked the administration, the spiritual guide and the volunteers for their great and diligent work, who like angels protected the kids and created an earthly paradise for them.  Bishop Iov also encouraged the parents to contribute to constant and closer communication of the children with God at home and in the church.
While departing, many children had tears in their eyes as they were sorry to part from their new friends and leave this wonderful place, kind guides and senior friends. The kids expressed their great satisfaction and wished the camp could last longer.