March 2026 News & Updates
Hello, dear friends of Saint Basil! We hope this finds you well during these final days of Lent as we await the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
March was a rich and eventful month here on campus. In addition to the typical hustle and bustle of school activities, sports, extra-curriculars, and Lenten chapel services, two events occurred in March that were special beyond compare.
The first was the formal start of an official Saint Basil Academy partnership with the GOA’s Saint Anastasia Fellowship (SAF) ministry. There was a great write-up about it in the Orthodox Observer which you can check out here in case you missed it. Lead by Father Nikolas Delaveris, SAF ministers to those who have been impacted by addiction in any form, whether by watching a loved one deal with addiction, dealing with it personally, or simply living in a community and a world where addiction has taken its toll. The children and residents of Saint Basil Academy are at particularly high risk, and one of the goals of the partnership is to make sure that they have the tools they need in order to navigate life today. On March 19th, Father Nikolas held a beautiful paraklesis service to Saint Anastasia in the Saint Basil chapel followed by an address to our children and residents. We are thrilled that he is planning to hold these services monthly on campus and will also provide professional development to Saint Basil staff on an Orthodox understanding of addiction and recovery.
Two days after paraklesis, Father Nikolas came back to campus to serve as clergy leader of the 2026 Saint Basil Academy GOYA Retreat! To say that the retreat was a success would be an understatement. It was absolutely phenomenal! We had over a hundred GOYAns from New York and New Jersey in attendance, and the day was fruitful in so many different ways. Father Nikolas led the keynote address on the topic of Creation and of course knocked it totally out of the park. The kids were engaged, attentive, and best of all, off of their phones! The entire day was technology-free and it was beautiful watching all the kids come to life and interact with one another separate from their devices. A fantastic crew of volunteers lead the GOYAns in activities like capture the flag, a Creation Care nature walk, incense making, and chanting. Our friends from the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting hosted a closing campfire complete with s’mores, and the day just could not have been more perfect. THANK YOU to all who participated, volunteered, and helped spread the word. Thank you most especially to Father Nikolas for giving so generously of his time, his energy, and his spirit. We are so blessed to have friends like him and like all of you in our lives.
We wish you all a beautiful holy week ahead as we eagerly await the joyous spreading of Christ’s light and his triumphant Resurrection.
IC XC NIKA!
The Saint Basil Family
Did You Know?
Did you know that Saint Anastasia lived during the 4th century and bears the title Pharmakolytira or Deliverer from Potions? She survived numerous forms of imprisonment, torture, and even a failed execution before eventually being martyred. Click here for more information on this incredible saint.
Saint Anastasia, please intercede for us!
Support Our Work
As a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity, Saint Basil Academy depends upon the financial support of its beloved friends and donors. Our supporters contribute in many different ways, from monetary and material donations to naming Saint Basil as a beneficiary in life insurance and estate planning. Saint Basil Academy also has several earmarked funds in place for therapeutic art classes and outdoor excursions. Sponsoring a resident, becoming a host family, and/or referring a child to Saint Basil Academy are other vital ways of providing support as well. When you give to Saint Basil Academy, you are helping a child in need in a powerful way.
© Saint Basil Academy
© Saint Basil Academy