Calling all Orthodox scouts! Are you a orthodox scout? We are looking for you. The EOCS is conducting its first ever roll-call. We want to hear from you. Hit the reply button below and tell us your name and unit number, also we need to know where in the United States you are from and your church and or sponsoring unit.
Not part of a “orthodox” unit? We want to hear from you also!
Dearly Beloved in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
In 1995, the hierarchs leading the various Orthodox Christian Churches in our land came together to recognize and endorse the work of the Boy scouts of America. This encounter prefigured the promising possibilities for witnessing our unity in Jesus Christ in the land and culture when we live and work in unity. Then and now, we believe that the Scout affirmation and Law are significant aids to our parishes and families in raising young men and women who “do their duty to God.” The methods of the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts USA, and the Camp Fire Boys and Girls programs are tremendous tools and we continue to fully endorse the work of these valued institutions. To read the rest of the letter click here
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALPHA-OMEGA PAN-ORTHODOX SCOUTING AWARD
ALPHA-OMEGA 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED – On Sunday, February 12, 2006, the 50th anniversary of the first Alpha-Omega Award Presentation was celebrated in Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Johnstown, PA. It was in Johnstown at Christ the Saviour Church that 14 young scouts (13 of them from the Cathedral and one from SS.Peter and Paul Church in Windber, PA) fifty years ago were the very first recipients of this new Eastern Orthodox Award established by the Orthodox Church. The anniversary day was marked with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy by His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, assisted by Protopresbyter Frank P. Miloro, Cathedral Dean; Hieromonk Matthias (Moriak), associate pastor; and Deacon Elijah Bremer. Three of the original 14 Scouts are reposed in the Lord. Of the remaining eleven, five were able to be present for the anniversary Liturgy. At the conclusion of Liturgy, Father Miloro spoke about scouting in the 1950’s which led to the establishment of the Alpha-Omega Award in 1955. It is noted that it was through the efforts of Metropolitan Orestes, of Thrice Blessed Memory, and the assistance of Very Rev. Protopresbyter Elias Kozar that this Pan-Orthodox Scouting award was established. His Eminence presented award certificates from the Diocese, as well as letters of commendation that were submitted by George Boulukos, national chairman of the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting. Present for the ceremony were two officers of Penn’s Woods Council, Boy Scouts of America: Mick Bolvin, Keystone District Commissioner, and Cindy Komar-Grose, Keystone District Executive.
Ronald Kovac Receives The Blessing of Metropolitan Nicholas At the Conclusion of the Anniversary Liturgy
Five of the Original 14 Recipients of The First Alpha-Omega Scouting Award Were In Attendance
This is the photo from February 12, 1956 of the original 14 scouts who received for the first time, the new Alpha-Omega Boy Scouting Award in Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Johnstown, PA Left to Right – Bottom Row – John Koslin, Michael Fetsko, John Muchesko (deceased), Steve Kulback, Andrew Maydak (deceased), Fred Kerestesy, Craig Michel Left to Right – Top Row – John Stefanik (deceased), William Russian, Ronald Koval, Donald Koval, John Mihalaki, Timothy Duranko and George Evanisko
2009 – 2010 EOCS CALENDAR
September 30, 2009 [Wednesday] – St. John the Theologian Cathedral, Tenafly, New Jersey
Regular member meeting: final information for the 49th Annual EOCS Boy and Girl Scout Retreat
October 10 & 11, 2009 [Columbus Day Weekend] – 49th Annual EOCS Boy & Girl Scout Retreat
Saint Basil Academy, Garrison, New York
December 1, 2009 [Tuesday] – Holy Trinity/St. Nicholas Church, Staten Island, New York
Regular member meeting
January 13, 2010 [Wednesday] – Executive Board Meeting
Location to be announced
April 4, 2010 – PASCHA
April 14, 2010 [Wednesday] – Holy Trinity Church, New Rochelle, New York
Regular member meeting Final arrangements for EOCS Camporee
April 24 & 25, 2010 [Saturday & Sunday] – Northeast Region Annual Boy & Cub Scout Camporee
Saint Basil Academy, Garrison, New York
June 9, 2010 [Wednesday] – St, Demetrios Cathedral, Astoria. New York
Annual EOCS membership meeting
Seattle Orthodox Scouts Attend Philmont Scout Ranch;
Experience First Known Liturgy on the Trail
By Fr. Michael Johnson
CIMARRON, NM — This summer Orthodox Scouts from in and around Seattle, Washington took an exciting and adventurous trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. As part of their experience, the Scouts participated in the first known Orthodox Liturgy to be celebrated at Philmont.
The event was organized by Troop 67, jointly sponsored by the Seattle area’s Eastern Orthodox churches. The trip was also open to eligible Orthodox Scouts in locally sponsored troops.
Philmont is in the northeast corner of New Mexico. It includes over 137 thousand rugged acres (214 square miles) of wilderness, with mountains, plains, rivers, trees and wildflowers. The area is inhabited by deer, elk, bears and mountain lions plus many species of birds, and even “mini-bears” (chipmunks). These are joined each summer by some 20,000 Boy Scouts from all over the US and some foreign countries.
Because of its popularity, it’s very difficult to gain admission to Philmont, and planning begins over a year in advance. Applicants are placed in a lottery system. After trying unsuccessfully last year, the Orthodox group from Seattle was lucky enough to make it in 2009.
All together there were five adults and nine boys, including John Prekeges, group leader and crew adviser, his brother James as second crew adviser, and Father Dean Koudukis, pastor of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption in Seattle. Father Dean served as group chaplain.
After arriving at Philmont the group spent Monday July 6 in camp preparing for the hike. The Orthodox Scouts were assigned one of the harder treks – a total of 75 miles, although in the end they covered close to 85 miles. Packs can weigh from 45 lbs to over 60 lbs.
Tuesday morning they set out on the 11-day trek. Along the way, they used burros for two days to help pack their gear. Some of the Scouts made a side hike to the top of 12,441 foot Mount Baldy, viewing incredible scenery.
On Sunday July 12, at an outdoor chapel on the trail, Father Dean celebrated the first known Orthodox Divine Liturgy at Philmont. When arriving, Father Dean brought wine and prosphoron with him and the Philmont staff kept these refrigerated at base camp. In an ecumenical gesture, the camp’s Rabbi and Catholic bishop helped make sure that these liturgical necessities were transported to the chapel in time.
The entire Orthodox group attended the Liturgy, joined by a chipmunk who had made his home in the stone altar. The service provided a memorable experience of worshipping God in the natural world that he created.
In addition to hiking the boys accomplished some other fun activities including: horseback riding, blacksmithing, panning for gold, visiting an old mine, and some black powder shooting along the trail. On the last day, they crossed over the famous Tooth of Time. This is a large tooth-like rock that served as a landmark for the early settlers in the area.
Orthodox Scouts in the Pacific Northwest are now looking forward to more exciting trips to Philmont in the summers to come.
(Fr. Michael Johnson is retired having served Greek Orthodox parishes in Seattle, Tacoma, and Kenmore (now Shoreline) WA. He is the Northwest Outreach Coordinator of the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting, a SCOBA agency.)
CLAYTON, WI – Fr. Christopher Wojcik of Holy Trinity
Church here recently presented 10-year-old cub scout
Alexander Giguere with the St. George medal and religious
knot.
Alexander provided new coverlets for 28 beds at a local
nursing home. He is the first scout in his age group in over
a decade to receive the knot.
Alexander is pictured above with Fr. Christopher, his
parents Anthony and Tamara, and his sister Rhiannon.
EOCS SCOUTS HOLD ANNUAL CAMPOREE AT ST. TIKHON’S SEMINARY
The Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting [EOCS] a SCOBA agency, held it’s annual camporee as a historical hike, The Lackawanna Valley Heritage Trail Hike in lieu of the Scout traditional Scout patrol competition. This was the third time in the past 12 years that the EOCS Northeast region held this popular camporee. EOCS board member Larry Sherman and Ron Allegrucci, who were the creators of this national historical trail hike for the Boy Scouts of America, chaired this event.
Although the units arrived at various times on Friday evening, they were able, in spite the rain, to set up camp in the field at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Monastery & Seminary, South Canaan, PA, who were their hosts for the weekend. There were128 Scouts from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania participating in this fun filled weekend.
After breakfast in the seminary gym, the Scouts created a caravan of cars for the trip to Scranton for the opening ceremony at the Steamtown National Historic Site. The Scouts were each presented a booklet and required to answer questions along the trail about each historic site in order to earn the Trail Medal and Badge. The trail consisted of numerous historical sites and churches in the area such as, The Steamtown National Museum, Anthracite Museum, Scranton Iron Furnaces, Trolley Museum and the most popular, a one-hour tour in a coalmine 400 feet under ground.
At the conclusion of the hike, everyone returned to St. Tikhon’s. They were given the opportunity to visit the famous Icon Museum and the Seminary’s Historical Museum and bookstore, before dinner in the seminary’s gym. After a short free time period, the Scouts participated in the traditional Scout Campfire that included songs and skits.
On Sunday morning, the group reassembled and attended religious services where a great number of Scouts received communion. At the end of services, the Very Rev. Stephen Kopestonsky treated everyone with a surprise by presenting two members with the prestigious adult Orthodox Scout Award, the Prophet Elias Award to Peter Hilaris of Troop 25 in Tenafly, NJ and John Cristakos of Troop 23 in Astoria, NY. At the conclusion of services brunch was served, and the Scouts made the long trip home.
The purpose of the EOCS is to promote and provide support, guidance and programs and consultation to Eastern Orthodox Parishes that sponsor Scouting. EOCS is a SCOBA Agency, the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, which promotes cooperation and harmony among the numerous Orthodox jurisdictions in America.
The next EOCS event is the 49th Annual EOCS Retreat on October 10 & 11, 2009 at Saint Basil Academy, Garrison, NY. For information on the EOCS contact www.eocs.org or George N. Boulukos, 862 Guy Lombardo Ave. NY 11520 516868 4050
Take a look at this June 1914 New York Times Article.
nytimes1914
ANDREW SIMEON GOUNARDES and NICHOLAS APOSTOLAKOS received the highest honor for a Boy Scout of the Eastern Orthodox Faith, becoming Eagle Scouts. They were recently inducted into the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Boy Scout Troop 715 of Holy Cross Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
