Abp. Nathaniel Celebrates Divine Liturgy to Conclude Camp Vatra Junior 2026

GRASS LAKE, MI — Abp. Nathaniel of the Orthodox Church in America's (OCA) Romanian Episcopate presided over the Divine Liturgy on Saturday at the Hierarchical Chapel of the Nativity of the Birthgiver of God at Vatra Românească in Grass Lake, Michigan, marking the conclusion of Camp Vatra Junior 2026.

Concelebrating with the archbishop were Fr. Tiberiu Opriș of St. Thomas the Apostle Romanian Orthodox Church in St. Louis, Missouri, Fr. Spyridon Ickes of Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, and Hierodeacon Benedict Oancea.

The liturgy concluded two weeks of spiritual formation, fellowship, and recreational activities for Orthodox youth attending the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America's annual summer camp.

Following the service, campers, counselors, volunteers, parents, and clergy gathered for a traditional agape meal before participating in a closing program honoring those who helped make the camp possible. Organizers thanked the clergy, staff, volunteers, and families for their support, while campers and staff received commemorative Camp Vatra 2026 T-shirts.

Camp Vatra is one of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America's longest-running youth ministries, bringing together young people each summer for worship, religious education, and community life at the Vatra Românească conference center. Organizers said this year's program continued the camp's mission of strengthening the faith and Orthodox identity of the Episcopate's youth.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Abp. Nathaniel had blessed a new parish center in Tennessee.