The Association ‘Theophilos’ in Thessaloniki Presented Children’s Camps
Organized by the charitable organization of the Holy Monastery of Hilandar ‘Theophilos’, a presentation of thematic children’s camps was held on June 17, 2026, at its premises in Thessaloniki. These camps are organized annually to connect children of Serbian origin from the diaspora and the region with their homeland.
Partners involved in the initiative include: the Association of Serbs in Northern Greece ‘Beli Krin’, the Office of the Minister without Portfolio responsible for monitoring the situation, proposing measures, and participating in the coordination of activities in the field of relations between the Republic of Serbia and the diaspora, the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Thessaloniki, and the Representative Office of the Republic of Srpska in Greece.
The event, held at the premises of ‘Theophilos’, which are used for teaching by the Serbian supplementary school ‘Saint Sava’ in Thessaloniki, was attended by: the Very Reverend Archimandrite Methodius, Abbot of the Holy Imperial Serbian Lavra of Hilandar on Mount Athos; Đorđe Milićević, Minister without Portfolio in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, responsible for monitoring the situation, proposing measures, and participating in the coordination of activities in the field of diaspora relations; Nikola Nedeljković, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia to the Hellenic Republic; Jelena Vujić Obradović, Consul General of Serbia in Greece; representatives of the Representative Office of the Republic of Srpska in Thessaloniki; Nemanja Kovačević, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation in the Government of the Republic of Srpska; representatives of the Association of Serbs in Northern Greece ‘Beli Krin’; as well as representatives of the city of Kruševac.
The guests were welcomed with opening remarks by Antonina Miljković, Director of the Hilandar charitable organization ‘Theophilos’ in Greece, who also presented the motives and explained the importance of the Holy Monastery of Hilandar’s active mission in working with youth both in the homeland and in the diaspora.
After the address by the Abbot of Hilandar, the Consul, and the Minister, a presentation of children’s camps in six Serbian cities followed, delivered by Katarina Božanić, President of the Association of Serbs in Northern Greece ‘Beli Krin’, and Nevena Plavšić, Assistant Mayor of the City of Kruševac.
On this occasion, guests were also introduced to the activities within the ‘Hilandar Lighthouse’ initiative, with special emphasis on the work of the Hilandar camp in the ‘Hilandar Village’ in Sijarinska Banja.
‘Hilandar Village’ in Sijarinska Banja, managed by the charitable and educational association ‘Teofil 1198’ from Čačak, is part of the mission of the ‘Hilandar Lighthouse’ initiative and one of the key activities of the Hilandar Monastery in its work with children and youth. Last year, the camp hosted one hundred children from Greece, North Macedonia, and Kosovo and Metohija, and this year it will host around 200 children from the Republic of Srpska, Slavonia, and central Serbia.
