ST IAKOVOS RETREAT CENTER OPEN HOUSE EVENT DRAWS RECORD ATTENDANCE

NUMEROUS CLERGY FROM THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, AND IOWA ATTEND TO OFFICIATE YEARLY BLESSING SERVICE OF FACILITY CHAPEL

KANSASVILLE, WI: Over 250 Greek Orthodox clergy and parishioners traveled to the St Iakovos Retreat Center on Friday, May 6, for the annual Open House and Blessing Service of the facilities Chapel. With the upcoming four weeks of FANARI Youth Camp already mostly filled, the record attendance enjoyed a beautiful day to preview the many activities the camp has to offer, with the farthest (an entire bus load) coming from Sioux City, Iowa.

While Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, was unable to attend due to illness, clergy from throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Indiana officiated the service of the Feast Day of the St. Iakovos Retreat Center Chapel; the Chapel of the Life-giving Spring (Ζωοδόχος Πηγή).

Following this service, lunch was served in the main lodge, hosted by the St. Iakovos Retreat Center Board and Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos (“Friends of the Poor”), a women’s philanthropic auxiliary. Guests and visitors then had the opportunity to tour the grounds and new facilities as well as visit the farm animals.

The establishment of the St. Iakovos Retreat Center, which serves as the site of the Summer FANARI Youth Camp amongst other activities, is an accomplishment of Metropolitan Iakovos’ years of organizing and fundraising. The St. Iakovos Retreat Center is a 137-acre facility featuring the 11-acre Friendship Lake with over 50 acres of pinewood forest. The St. Iakovos Retreat Center is a unique facility offering a peaceful setting for overnight retreats and camps, as well as a beautiful enviornment for celebrations such as weddings and family reunions.

Eastern Orthodox Christians are the second largest Christian faith tradition worldwide. The Metropolis of Chicago oversees all Greek Orthodox Parishes within Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, as well as large portions of Missouri and Indiana. This summer, the FANARI Youth Camp will draw thousands of Greek Orthodox children from throughout the Metropolis of Chicago over a four week period to enjoy all this outstanding facility has to offer as well as further enrich their Christian values and build friendships that will last forever.