NEW YORK: February 21, 2007
The Synodal Youth Department Meets in New York

On February 13-14, the Synodal Youth Department convened under the chairmanship of His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America. Participating in this meeting was the Rector of St Nicholas Cathedral in Brisbaine, Australia, Protopriest Gabriel Makarov, who delivered a noteworthy lecture at the IV All-Diaspora Council; the Senior Priest of the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign, Protopriest Andrei Sommer; and Priest Serafim Gan, Personal Secretary of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

The first day of meetings were entirely devoted to the organization of the All-Diaspora Youth Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and logistical matters related thereto. Also discussed were proposals on organizing meetings, seminars and discussions on divine services throughout the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia; the organization of an All-Diaspora Youth Conference in Europe; the creation of an official website for the Synodal Youth Department; coordination with youth groups in the Russian diaspora and in Russia itself. Reports by Priest Gregory Joyce, Priest Andre Sikojev, Priest Peter Jackson and Deacon Serge Arlievsky were heard on youth ministry in the Dioceses of Berlin and Germany, Chicago and Mid-America, Australia and New Zealand and Eastern America and New York. His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus was then personally apprised of the work of the Synodal Youth Department, after which he wished them success.