Inspired by the example of Syndesmos, the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth over the past decades, and recognizing the current need to strengthen bonds between the youth of the Orthodox Church worldwide an international group of young adults and youth workers is organising Suprasl 2022: A World Gathering of Orthodox Youth in July 2022 in Suprasl, Poland. "What are we, the Orthodox, going to do to
avoid our sickness, namely, our indifference to one another?" In 1949 the Greek theologian Nikos Nissiotis asked this question as Orthodox faithful around the world experienced life after World War II. This question remains relevant more than 70 years later, begging the additional question, “…and how are we going to do it?”
Suprasl 2022 is the place for dedicated youth workers and young adults from Orthodox churches around the world to experience the unity and universality of our Holy Orthodox Faith, to be inspired by engaging leaders, stimulating discussion, to seek tangible ways to continue bearing fruit together as they search to provide an answer to Mr. Nissiotis' question. Suprasl 2022 is hosted by the Orthodox Church of Poland and the Fellowship of Orthodox Youth in Poland with the blessing of its primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, and His Eminence Archbishop George of Wroclaw and Szczecin. The festival programme is being planned by a group of Orthodox youth workers representing more than a dozen countries. The executive organising committee is made up of Archdeacon Joseph Matusiak(USA/Poland), Priest Hildo Bos (Holland), Priest Spyridon Tsimouris (Greece), and Mr. Aleksander Wasyluk (Poland). Programme
The heart of Suprasl 2022 will be worship. Each day will begin with morning prayers and a reflection (homily) on scripture for the day. Each evening will conclude with evening prayers. Clergy will be available each evening for confession. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated twice during the event once at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Theotokos, and once at the meeting site on the final evening. Through lectures, workshops, service projects and fellowship Suprasl 2022 will explore the theme “Go and bear fruit” (John 15:16). The lectures and workshops will be organized around five thematic tracks: Youth Work; Orthodoxy and the Arts; Music; Orthodoxy and Ecology and Missions. Workshop topics will include Youth Ministry: How to Communicate, Listen to and Reach Youth, Challenges and Opportunities of Sharing the Gospel While Living as a Minority, Using Social Media to Minister to Youth; Orthodoxy & Ecology: Practical Ecological Projects for Individuals, Families and Parishes, Theological Perspectives and Practical Application; Missions: Called to missions: the Experience of Being a Missionary at Home and Abroad; Orthodoxy and Arts: Creative Arts as Mission, Finding Our Vocation in the Church Through the Arts, From Creator to Creativity: Understanding Human Creativity; Music: Byzantine and Znameny Chant for beginners, Teaching Liturgical Music to Children, Composing Liturgical Music and more. Each evening participants will be able to relax at Café Syndesmos, a space that will host music, informal discussion on the topics of the day, films and fellowship, and where participants can share their culture and traditions during an international evening. Application
The event is open to all Orthodox Christian youth between the ages of 18-30. Priority in registration will be given to those applicants who are currently or have the potential to be leaders in their communities. The event aims to bring together a blend of youth workers and youth who are actively seeking to grow in leadership roles in their communities. Groups of applicants aged 16-18 will be considered when accompanied by an adult chaperon.
