World Orthodox Youth Day
The Presentation of the Lord is one of the most important Orthodox holidays, celebrated on February 15th
According to legend, on the 40th day after birth, Jesus’ parents brought him to the temple according to tradition There the baby was seen by Anna the prophetess, who notified people about the coming of the Messiah, and by the righteous elder Simeon For the scribe who translated the Bible from Hebrew into Greek, this meeting with the Savior meant the fulfillment of the prediction of the Holy Spirit: “Behold, the Virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son” Candlemas also marks a secular holiday - World Orthodox Youth Day By decision of the General Assembly of the World Syndesmos Movement, it has been celebrated since 1953 In Russia, the celebration acquired official status in 2002 under Patriarch Alexei II
The name of the brotherhood "Syndesmos" was translated from Greek as "Unity of the Spirit in the Union of Peace" The movement was founded by young theologians from France His first conference was attended by more than 50 people, including Russians, Serbs, Romanians, Georgians, Finns, Indians and Syrians The topics for this and other meetings were liturgical life, missionary work, pastoral work, theology, and Orthodox witness in the context of ecumenism Today the Syndesmos movement unites believers from 30 countries living in Europe, America and Africa
In honor of World Orthodox Youth Day, young men and women meet with Orthodox priests at morning services, organize live music concerts, “Days of Good Deeds,” competitions and sports competitions Every diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church hosts congresses and conferences of young people In Moscow, Kemerovo and Biysk, it has become traditional to hold an Orthodox ball in honor of the holiday in February, and a masquerade with ice dancing in the city of Krasnokamensk in the Trans-Baikal Territory At meetings between young people and the clergy, problems of theology are raised, discussions are held within the “Right? Yes!” club, and volunteers are awarded
In St Petersburg in 2020, after the Divine Liturgy, a youth religious procession took place for the first time In foreign dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church, charitable events are held - concerts in support of sick children, orphans, low-income and needy families On February 15, churches hold charity fairs, in which Sunday school students take part Topics for lectures and discussions between the laity and pastors include “Techniques of spiritual safety”, “Christian of the 21st century”, “Missionary work in everyday life”, “Alexander Nevsky - saint, boss, peacemaker”, etc
It is not for nothing that World Orthodox Youth Day is dedicated to Candlemas This holiday is full of obvious symbols On February 15, the spirit and peace, knowledge and life experience of the elder Simeon meets the youth of Jesus Christ The son of Mary and Joseph was small and defenseless, but at the same time full of triumphant joy This is how a person who has come to know Christ should be - full of rejoicing and hope Events held in honor of Orthodox Youth Day help strengthen faith and the ideological unification of young men and women living on different continents and preaching Christianity