Supraśl, Poland, July 20, 2022
Photo: orthodox.pl
Nearly 90 Orthodox youth from 17 different countries gathered at the Polish Orthodox Church’s Supraśl Monastery of the Annunciation on Monday for the start of a week-long youth conference.
The gathering’s main goal is to relaunch the activities of Syndesmos, which brings together Orthodox youth from across the world. The event was organized by a group of former Syndesmos activists headed by Archdeacon Joseph Matusiak, with the support the Brotherhood of Orthodox Youth in Poland, reports the Polish Church.
The youth have the opportunity to attend services in the main monastery church every day, celebrated in various languages representing the participants. They also have workshops and discussion groups on a range of topics, including theology, ecology, missionary activity, iconography, and more.
The youth will also visit some of the most important Orthodox sites in Poland, including a number of monasteries.
The official opening ceremony was held yesterday, with His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw, His Eminence Archbishop Jakub of Białystok and Gdańsk, and His Grace Bishop Andrzej of Supraśl.
His Eminence addressed the young people, emphasizing that they’re in a unique place representing both the vitality of the Orthodox Church in Poland and its tragic history. The reconstruction of Supraśl Monastery included the idea that such events should take place there. The Polish primate encouraged the youth to make a concerted effort to increase international Orthodox cooperation.
The youth also took the opportunity to ask Met. Sawa questions about the fate of the Church in Poland, liturgical life, and theology.
The youth gathering will last until July 24.
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