The Antiochian Village was the vision of His Eminence [[PHILIPPhilip (Saliba) of New York|Metropolitan Philip]] of the Antiochian Archdiocese. The 280-acre grounds were purchased from Camp Fairfield, a Presbyterian camp, in 1978, and the first camping season was the summer of 1979. The Conference and Retreat Center was built in 1985 and doubled in size in 1990.  Camp Directors: 1979-1988 Fr. John Namie  1989 Fr. Matthew George 1990-1991 Fr. Paul Finley 1992 Fr. George Alberts 1993-1996 Fr. Joseph Purpura 1997-2006 Fr. Michael Nasser 2007-Present Fr. Anthony Yazge Fr. John Namie served as was the camp's founder and first camp director. Under his tutelage and leadership the camp grew from a meager 2 camper session into an ACA accredited camping program that served hundreds of Orthodox Youth each summer bringing our country's children closer 1979 to their faith1988.  After an unsteady 8 years of turnover of the camp The current director position, is Fr. Michael Nasser brought the turbulent camping program back on track, as who has been at the camp again started to realize Metropolitan PHILIP's original vision.  Under Fr. Michael's guidance and genius the camp grew from a 3 session summer program into the perennial powerhouse of all Orthodox camping and youth development institutions in all the universesince 1997. The camp now contains 4, 2 week summer sessions, as well as 2 winter camp sessions, 2 family camp sessions, iconography camp, chanting camp, Villedge Adventures, and the Villedge Roadtrip. Through his work the camp now reaches out to over 1000 Orthodox Youth throughout North America. Fr. Michael Nasser left his final mark on the Antiochian Village by jump starting the Village 2010 campaign, which ensures a brighter future for continuing success in ministering to America's Orthodox youth.  Fr. Anthony Yazge completed his first full year as camp director continuing Fr. Michael's work towards the 2010 program. He also hired the best staff of all time in Village history in the summer of 2007. Greg Hakim led an all-star set of male counselors as they reached out and transformed the troubled lives and ensured the salvation of hundreds of of Orthodox youth within the borders of Lebanon, Brazil, California, and Canada. This incredible male staff also created their own personal prayer to help bind and unite them together in their undivided purpose of promoting the Christian lifestyle.  Along with Greg Hakim's excellent guidance of the male counselors, a few of his counselors stepped up their game. Namely his cousin and 3 time returning all-star counselor Dan Hakim, and younger brother of Charles Abdelahad, Nick Abdelahad. Both served as challenge course facilitators and thrived in every aspect of camp life. Nick, better known as session 2's session priest Fr. Michael Abdelahad's son, survived the summer without any major injuries, as is his norm.  As if Greg's influence could go no farther, he revolutionized the art of late night food runs in the unit. Instead of sticking the the typical pizza and Sheetz, he brought us a new and exciting way to enjoy each other's company in the unit. This consisted of piles and piles of Dino's meat filled wings. Although the excessive wing's sauce smothered the top of the picnic table, unit 4 campers were still unable to detect the previous evening's events.  To experience the male staff's love and unity, you need not look farther than their revolutionary alarm clock system. With reliance on each other and their undeniable faith in God above, the male staff worked to ensure punctuality in attendance of Daily Orthros and Divine Liturgy, the climax of the Orthodox Christian life. The importance of this is invaluable because as we all know early is on time, and on time is late.   Edited by: Dan Hakim and Nick Abdelahad ==Top Village Quotes=="Early is on time, on time is late, and late is really really late."  "I'm the Bishop, not the answering machine."  "Do you know what an idiot is? An idiot is a stupid person."  "Where was Andrew? Maybe he was fishing. Too bad for him."  "If you invite your best friend to your wedding, you're marrying the wrong person."  "Through Christ we are always together."  "We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us...I mean we could." "Ma ma hoo hoo"  "Haha floor is bed."  "What if the basketball courts are on fire?"  "Modest is Hottest."   Added by: Dan Hakim, Greg Hakim, Nick Abdelahad, Katherine Newhouse, and Beth Ann Baker ==Best Bombers 2007=="Hey Metropolitan PHILIP, you are really dope, you're way way way better than the Pope." "Hey construction workers, you work all day long, you must be pretty strooooong." "Hey Fr. Anthony, you know that we love you, with Fr. Michael gone I guess you'll have to do." "Hey Nurse Pat, we come to you for answers, but I broke my arm and you gave me Jolly Ranchers."   Added by: Dan Hakim, Greg Hakim, Nick Abdelahad, Katherine Newhouse, and Beth Ann Baker