January 9, 2010
Methuen,
MA: St. Herman’s Youth Conference was held in
St. Xenia's Church
On Tuesday,
December 22, youth of the Eastern American Diocese, as well as others
from across the United States and Canada, gathered together in
Methuen, MA for the annual Saint Herman’s Youth Conference. The
conference was well-attended, with members coming from as far as St.
Louis, Florida, and Seattle, totaling over 100 participants. Clergy
also came from across the diocese to celebrate St. Herman and to
provide guidance for the participants of the conference through
lectures and discussions, both formal and informal.
On Wednesday and
Thursday, participants took part in many activities. Many notable
speakers gave lectures on a wide variety of topics, followed by
discussions on these and other topics in smaller groups. Groups also
traveled to a nearby homeless shelter on both days, and several groups
went caroling in a nearby town and at a nursing home.
The culmination of
the conference was the divine services in honor of St. Herman of
Alaska on the evening of Thursday the 24th and morning of Friday the
25th of December at St. Xenia’s Church in Methuen. The Diocesan
Youth Choir beautifully sang both the All-Night Vigil and Divine
Liturgy, as well as a litiy for Archimandrite Joasaph (McLellan), and
was conducted by Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky. Almost all of those who
attended the conference were able to receive the Holy Mysteries, for
which the clergy expressed particular joy. In his address to the
conference, His Grace Gabriel, Bishop of Montreal and Canada. praised
the choir and the conference organizers, and noted the importance of
building and maintaining Orthodox friendships over the course of the
entire year.
Following the
services, there was one last lecture and an open forum with all the
clergy so that attendees could ask any questions that they still had
on their minds. After a final goodbye banquet, the entire conference
participated in a talent show which included skits, beautiful singing,
dancing, and other various talents.
It was announced
that next year’s conference will take place in Jordanville, NY,
where it originally began over 30 years ago. In the meantime, a Lenten
reunion retreat will take place in Rochester, NY on February 26-28.
Those who attended and those who could not are all encouraged to come.
Participating
Clergy
Bishop Gabriel of
Montreal and Canada
Archpriest George Lagodich (Montreal, Canada)
Archpriest Alexis Duncan (Atlanta, GA)
Archpriest George Lardas (Stratford, CT)
Priest Peter Jackson (Buffalo, NY)
Priest Michael Crowley (Methuen, MA)
Priest Brendan Crowley (West Springfield, MA)
Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (Novo-Diveevo, NY)
Protodeacon Alexander Jarostchuk (Roslindale, MA)
Protodeacon Michael Soloviev (Albany, NY)
Deacon Dimitri Temidis
Deacon Constantine Desrosiers (Methuen,
MA)
Lectures
Fr.
Alexis Duncan – Iconography
Fr. Constantine Desrosiers – Christian Sects
Subdeacon Nicholas Ganson (Holy Epiphany, Roslindale) –
"Signposts on the road to Christian Adulthood"
Matushka Ann Lardas – "How to finish raising yourself"
Media
Office of the Eastern American Diocese
