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Campers awoke on Tuesday morning to their third day of Hye Camp 2005. Rising earlier than the morning bell once again, campers full of excitement and anticipation were ready to start their day. In the first moments when the earliest campers broke the morning silence, all would have appeared to be in order to start a typical day, with the notable exception of red and green decorations adorning all of the buildings on the grounds. The special occasion is Christmas in August at Hye Camp.
The new camp curriculum, developed by the Diocese Department of Youth and Education, provides the unique opportunity to celebrate a major feast day during a camp session. Our first year in the new program starts with the celebration of Armenian Christmas. Counselors accessorized with Christmas attire, including reindeer antlers and jingle bells, led curious campers into the main lodge for breakfast. Despite the festive surroundings, the important aspects of the day focused on the spiritual nature of Armenian Christmas. Fr. Aren led the morning chapel service with the Armenian phrase “Krisdos dzunav yev haydnetsav”,(Christ if born and revealed) and teaching the response of “ortnial eh haydnootiunun krisdosee”, (blessed is the revelation of Christ) and began to explain the importance of Armenian Christmas in the Armenian Orthodox religion.
The six period class schedule began, highlighted by the Armenian Heritage class taught by Digeen Toumajian. Her knowledge and stories on Armenian Christmas customs and traditions kept campers hypnotized with visions of grapes & nuts, anoushabour, and the snow capped peaks of Mt. Ararat. Campers also decorated ornaments in arts & crafts, and learned the Sharagans, “Aysor Tsaynun” and “Amen Alleluia” with Maestro Khoren for the evening Blessing of the Water Service to be held in the evening. The afternoon sports session was centered around the Lisa Mardigian Shoot-out, where campers and staff were given the opportunity to try and score more points from pre-determined spots on the basketball court than Hye Camp Staff Director Lisa Mardigian. A total of 2 campers and 1 staff succeeded in dethroning Lisa.
After dinner, the evening programming commenced with some more singing with Maestro Khoren, along with a fun skit activity led by Hye Camp Director of Programming, Jenni Morris. Following a brief snack, as well as the second report from the W-HYE news staff, campers brought their well-rehearsed verses to the chapel for the evening service.
Fr. Aren led a host of clergy, including special guests Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean of St. Vartan Cathedral in New York and Fr. Garabed Kochakian from St. John’s, Detroit. During the blessing of the water service, John Nercessian served as the Godfather and served as witness to the baptism of Christ. Following the impressive service where campers and staff participated in the singing, all came forward to receive some of the blessed water to consume. Another beautiful tradition in the Armenian Church is the taking home of blessed water to parents, grandparents and the elderly and sick. At the end of camp, each camper will be given a cross-shaped vile of the blessed water to take home to their family members.
As the youngest campers started to clean up and prepare for lights-out, the older campers were able to participate in a discussion on issues of the past and challenges for the future of the Armenian Church, as well as enjoy some free time and fellowship before it was their turn to find a bed for the night. Thoughts of food were on the minds of everyone at Hye Camp as the last light was dimmed for the evening. The wildly popular annual Hye Camp tradition of grilling kebabs for dinner will take place tomorrow night, and all Armenian taste buds are jumping with excitement.
Posted by Jake at August 3, 2005 12:41 PM
