Nine students of Holy Trinity Seminary attended a youth symposium dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the repose of St. John of Kronstadt. The symposium took place at the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad in New York on October 25 and 26. This event was the first of its kind to be organized by the Synodal Youth Department in cooperation with the St. Nicholas Cathedral of the Moscow Patriarchate. This is worthy of note especially since the group of seminarians who attended the symposium was comprised both of students who were born abroad as well as those who came to Holy Trinity Seminary from the Moscow Theological Seminary.

The symposium began on the morning of Saturday, October 25th with a molieben to St. John, after which Archpriest Alexander Abramov of St. Nicholas Cathedral read a lecture on the life and works of the saint. Afterwards, participants of the symposium visited the Russian Consulate, where they were greeted by the Consul General Sergei Viktorovich Garmonin. Mr. Garmonin gave an overview of the activities of the consulate, and answered questions. Priest Joakim Provotakis addressed the participants after the visit to the consulate, focusing on the power of prayer as exhibited by St. John of Kronstadt in tending his flock, and related how he himself experienced St. John’s help during difficult periods in his own life.

The symposium attendees had opportunity to partake at a choir rehearsal for those who wished to participate in singing the divine services. All-night vigil for the participants was scheduled at St. Nicholas Cathedral, and a number of guests joined the choir that evening. After the service, His Grace, Bishop Merkury, invited the symposium attendees for tea. Bishop Merkury welcomed the young people and introduced Sergei Ivanovich Kisliak, Russian ambassador to the United States. Sergei Ivanovich addressed the symposium attendees, expressing his joy at seeing such a multitude of radiant faces of youth who had come together to learn about their religious and cultural heritage.

Divine Liturgy on the following day was served in the Synodal Cathedral, with Bishop Merkury officiating. HTS students took part in the service by singing in the choir and serving in the altar. After Liturgy, Fr. Andrei Sommer read a greeting to the participants from His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion.

The students of our seminary came away enriched both by the edifying lectures and by their interaction with other Orthodox youth.