Diocesan Life The OCA and our Diocese at the Syndesmos International Youth Festival Summer 2016
Pictured: Victor Lutes, Janine Alpaugh, John Shimchick and Joseph Green
by Janine Alpaugh The theme for the 2015 Syndesmos Conference held from August 24-30 in Suprasl, Poland was: Attaining Conciliarity, utilizing the Scriptural text: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Syndesmos is an international organization that brings together Orthodox youth adults from around the world. The participants from France, Russia, Belarus, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Slovakia, Kazan, Serbia, and the United States came together for one week, as Jean Rehbinder said, “to communicate traditions and to share the life of the Church.” The Orthodox Church in America, though it has previously been active, has not had representatives at a Syndesmos event in over five years. Will Kopcha, Victor Lutes, Joseph Green,
John Shimchick, and Janine Alpaugh were selected to represent the OCA (John and Janine are from our Diocese). They made presentations on the OCA’s history and about some American Orthodox organizations (such as the Seminaries, IOCC, OCF, and FOCA). The ambassadors also participated in the choir, providing liturgical hymns in English and incorporating them into the daily prayer services, Vigil and Divine Liturgy. Throughout the Conference several priests including Fr. Chad Hatfield, the Chancellor of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, and Fr. Vladimir Misijuk of Białystok, Poland engaged the participants (Fr. Vladimir is an alumnus of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary and is Former Syndesmos General Secretary). Fr. Chad spoke about, “The Conciliar Model of the OCA: The Dream of Saint Tikhon,” and Fr. Vladimir addressed the topic of: “Attaining Conciliarity: The Task of our Daily Life.” The group reviewed a letter written by a Syndesmos gathering in 1988. In discussing Continued on page 25
Being Faithful Where We Are: Figuring Out One’s Vocation
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A mix of OCA and Greek Orthodox young people, from high school freshman to college graduate 20-somethings, met in the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in New York City on Saturday, May 14, to hear the stories of men and women who followed a calling to serve Christ and His Church. The discussion format made for an intimate setting and allowed for a lively dialogue. The participants also got to connect with other young people who are interested in serving the Church and discerning their own call to ministry. One participant, a young woman named Spyridoula, had this to say about her experience: “As many of us continue to search for God’s calling, Archbishop Michael reminded us well that we ‘must be faithful where we are.’ God has a reason for everything and we must surrender our doubts to Him in order to hear His call.” And Nicholas who attended the event took this lesson away with him: “‘How does one discern what one will do in life?’ We look to the talents and influence God has given us and the needs of others He has put before us.” v
