OCA Chaplain Participates in International Youth Celebration
Priest Timothy Yates, an OCA Chaplain in the United States Air Force, currently stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, was among the speakers at the celebration of the World Day of Orthodox Youth held here during the weekend of February 10-12, 2023. With the blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, the annual event was organized by the Fellowship of Orthodox Youth of Poland and Supraśl: a World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth. The gathering brought together over 350 youth from 15 countries from as far as Australia and the United States, to celebrate their Orthodox faith and explore the theme, “For where two or three are gathered in my name there I am among them.” Mt 18:20.
The celebration combined worship, fellowship, discussions and cultural entertainment. On Friday the participants enjoyed a cultural evening as they were treated to a theatrical performance titled, “Road to Paradise ‘’ which detailed the history, culture and life of Belarussians living in Poland and a concert of Belarussian folk music. Taking advantage of the fast-free Friday, the youth enjoyed a traditional Polish bonfire with kielbasa and bigos (a Polish stew of meat, sauerkraut and shredded fresh cabbage). Impromptu Serbian folk dancing and Georgian folk singing also made the evening an unforgettable night of Orthodox culture and fellowship.
On Saturday the participants began the day with morning prayers before embarking on a day of visits to sites of cultural and historic interest in Warsaw including Holy Trinity Chapel in the old town, the oldest Orthodox Chapel in Warsaw founded in 1818.
In the afternoon the youth attended a concert which included folk music by the Rikhi Ensemble from Gori, Georgia and a memorable performance by Enej, a Polish-Ukrainian Folk-Rock band.
Following the concert the participants participated in an open question and answer session with Bishops, Clergy and Monastics. Participating in the panel discussion were His Grace Bishop Andrew of Supraśl; His Grace Bishop Varsonufry of Siemiatycze, a graduate of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary; Mother Catherine, Superior of the Monastery of Saint Catherine the Great in Zaleszany, Poland; Archimandrite Stefan Toma, Holy Ascension Greek Orthodox Church in Berlin; and Priest Timothy Yates from the Orthodox Church in America.
“It was an honor to be asked to speak at this unique event that brought together Orthodox youth from so many different countries and cultures,” said Father Timothy Yates. “I came away inspired by the energy and optimism of the youth, and despite any challenges world Orthodoxy might now be facing, this event revealed the unity of the Church that always exists. I was impressed by the joy and passion that the youth have for Christ and His Church.”
On Sunday the Divine Liturgy at Warsaw’s Hagia Sophia was celebrated by His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa, His Eminence Archbishop Gregory of Bielsk Podlaski, His Grace Bishop Andrew of Supraśl, and His Grace Bishop Varsonufry of Siemiatycze together with parish dean Mitred Archpriest Adam Siemieniuk and local and visiting clergy. The Divine Liturgy was followed by a festive meal.
“Such meetings like this celebration of the World Day of Orthodox Youth are important because they help us to learn more about ourselves as Orthodox Christians, and they give us an opportunity to meet other young people from around the world and remind us that we are not alone in the world,” said Bishop Varsofufry.
The importance of this international celebration of the World Day of Orthodox Youth was summed up by Gregorz Garbus from Poland who described his experience in this way, “This celebration of the Word Day of Orthodox Youth was an unforgettable time for me. This was my second international event, the first of them was the World Gathering of Orthodox Youth in Supraśl, Poland last summer. Both then and now, after the event, I was accompanied by the conviction that I finally felt what the Church is. I didn’t understand it, but I felt it. How can you explain that dozens of people who have never met, who speak different languages and represent different cultures, can create such deep friendships and strong bonds in just a few days? I don’t know how it works, but it works! I think this is the power of being in the Church, where we have the opportunity to feel some tiny particle of infinite divine love.”
The OCA’s participation in the celebration continues a long history of participation in international pan-Orthodox youth work, and cooperation with the Fellowship of Orthodox Youth in Poland. “In the past the OCA’s Department of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry co-organised many events with its Polish counterpart and this past summer we had a few students from the Diocese of the Midwest who participated in our event in July,” said Archdeacon Joseph Matusiak, Director of Suprasl. “We look forward to youth from the OCA participating in international youth events here in Poland and in other locations in the future.”
Supraśl, A World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth is an association which seeks to network and bring together youth from around the world. It was founded in the Summer of 2022 following the success of Supraśl 2022: A World Gathering of Orthodox youth which was held at the Monastery of the Annunciation in Supraśl, Poland.
View a photo gallery of the World Day of Orthodox Youth celebration
To learn more about Suprasl you can visit their website or Facebook page.