St Nicholas Convent Nativity Fast Youth Retreat

December 24-27, 2010

Pond and cabin on the Convent grounds

All-night Vigil for St. HermanVespers

Choir led by Serge VandalovFriday evening

Deacon Dimiti from Holy Trinity parish in Astoria, NY joined us for services

Matins on St. Herman’s Day

All-night Vigil for St. HermanFriday evening

Anointing

Rainbow over the Convent early Sunday morning

A few words following Divine Liturgy

Aaaah! Time for some outdoor fun!

The boysSaturday afternoon

A race to the bottomSaturday afternoon

Greg is flying!Saturday afternoon

Volodya gets their first!Saturday afternoon

Symeon heads for the pond

Ice skating on the pond Saturday afternoon

Testing out the ice on the pond

Thinking about the upcoming talk?

Fr Daniel speaking about Holy Communion

Fr Daniel’s presentationSaturday afternoon

Time for some lunch!

Savva helps out with the dishes

Time for some outdoor fun again

Bringing in some wood for splitting

Methody offering tips on splitting wood(we’re lucky Sasha came)

A job well done

Fr Nikita joins us Sunday afternoon for a talk on music

Mat. Agapia wonders what kind of musicSt Nestor listened to before he battled the gladiator

After dinner it’s Fr. Nicholas’ turnto lead a discussion on the temptations of drinking

Oh boy, why did mat. Agapia give me this topic to talk about…

No worries, he did such a good job that the talk carried on to the bonfire outside later that evening…

Sunday evening bonfire

Monday morningInto the woods to visit the sites picked

for the St. Seraphim shrine

Group number 1’s spot

Singing the troparion to St Seraphim

Alexis thinks this is definitely the best spot

The mothers enjoy the walk in the woods

I think St Seraphim would like this spot

Fr Daniel loves the cold

Sophia tells us about her recent pilgrimage to Greece, Romania and Bulgaria

Time for the talent show

Sarah Granger on the flute

Thanks for suggesting we have this retreat Mia