St. Herman's youth conference, final day
On the morning of December 27, the participants had a tour of the Monastery, and then gathered in the Seminary Hall, where Hieromonk Roman (Krassovsky) shared memories of the monastic fathers who lived at Jordanville, including Metropolitan Laurus and iconographer and spiritual confessor Archimandrite Cyprian (Pyzhov), both of blessed memory. In the afternoon, Dr. Karina Ross gave a lecture on pagan and apocryphal influences on the idea of Heaven and Hell, and their effects on society throughout history up to the present. The audience then broke up into discussion groups, following which, Pr. Kevin Kalish gave a very apt lecture on the usefulness of secular learning for Orthodox youth.
At five in the evening, the youth gathered in the Monastery church for evening prayers, then returned to the hotel for the closing banquet. At the banquet, His Grace Bishop Gabriel announced that the next St Herman's Conference in December 2011 will be held in Ottawa, Canada. The evening then concluded with a talent show featuring many exceptional performers.
On December 28, the participants checked out of the hotel and parted ways. Our prayers are with the Orthodox youth who attended this conference: that their time here bore much fruit, that they arrive home safely, and that they all return to visit our monastery soon.
At five in the evening, the youth gathered in the Monastery church for evening prayers, then returned to the hotel for the closing banquet. At the banquet, His Grace Bishop Gabriel announced that the next St Herman's Conference in December 2011 will be held in Ottawa, Canada. The evening then concluded with a talent show featuring many exceptional performers.
On December 28, the participants checked out of the hotel and parted ways. Our prayers are with the Orthodox youth who attended this conference: that their time here bore much fruit, that they arrive home safely, and that they all return to visit our monastery soon.
Text: John Martin, Anthony Williams
Photography: Evgenii Pozniak
Photography: Evgenii Pozniak