First, when I came to know about setting up a youth tent camp among the crowds that were to come to Diveyevo for the festivities I was in doubt whether it was a right thing to do. Now, thank God, I am sure that it was right! It all came to a certain three-dimensional image. Its length is the distance from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vorkuta, Tver, Nizhny Novgorod, Kursk, Minsk and France to Diveyevo covered by 160 participants of the International Days of Youth (IDY). Its width is the amplitude of the Diveyevo fields, the Russian soul and our circle of contacts. And its height is the prayerful veil of St. Seraphim spread over the youth camp, over every one of us and over the whole of Russia.

Now the details of this image. First of all, the Centenary of the canonization of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the village of Diveyevo where the holy elder used to strain his efforts to form the St. Trinity Convent. In twenty minutes walk from this Convent are the long rows of tents. Those with red ribbons are of the “Common Cause”.

Common Cause is the inter-regional youth public organization that has been contributing to the education of children and youth in the Orthodox tradition for more than one year. In accordance with the Federal Program of the Centenary of the Canonization of St. Seraphim of Sarov, Common Cause was engaged in the preparations for the IDY since February. Youth activists for the IDY were trained at specialized youth seminars held near Moscow. Delegates from youth organizations of Russia, CIS and other countries were invited to take part in IDY. Many of them have read about IDY in www.o-d.ru.

Each morning the day’s schedule was hung out in the Common Cause, but the turbulent reality of each day usually went beyond of the schedule. Each member of the camp had his or her own exciting program, his or her own little destiny. It was as though St. Seraphim himself was taking each one of us by the hand and leading, summoning or showing. As a result each one of us has taken something of his or her own from Diveyevo, his or her own joy

The varied life of one united camp was apparent at dawn. Mornings started at different times for different people. At 5.30 a.m. the zealots (persons on duty) wake up and start the lofty and arduous service to thy neighbor. At 6 a.m. the prayerful rise to sing the Akathist to St. Seraphim. 7 a.m. is the “change of the guard” time in the refectory: the here commanding meet for briefings. At 8 a.m. the ringers strike their bells* (*bells were ringing throughout our stay in the camp thanks to a group of bell-ringers from Sergiev Posad who brought their portable belfry). And then the God’s young people warm up their bodies in the sun and their souls in a common morning prayer. Our friends, the French Catholics (a group of youngsters headed by two priests), especially liked our long Orthodox prayers.

After our morning prayers Hieromonk Rafael (Belovolov) who came from the city of Vorkuta gives us his blessings for our good deeds and from that moment on life starts boiling up. On 29 July IDY participants splashed out of the camp and joined the procession that accompanied the Translation of the Relics of St. Seraphim from Diveyevo to Sarov. In Sarov the Alexy II, the Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, was consecrating the church in the name of St. Seraphin of Sarov built near the Saint’s cell. Bell ringers, gonfalon bearers, choir members... Sun, sky, thousands of people... Even the zealots who remained on duty in the camp enjoyed the fete and the joy from the nearness and help of St. Seraphim. Diveyevo is a special place where miracles are a part of everyday life. If you look closer – every step you make here is accompanied by a miracle, be it even a small one: a miraculous concatenation of circumstances, a happy meeting... In the evening one could hear stories about such “miraculous concatenations” on that day. Father Alexy Shevchuk, a priest from Tver, told us about the help given to him by St. Seraphim. In the morning just before the procession he received a message from his daughter saying that she was to pass her first entrance exam in a university and asking him to pray for her. Before starting on the procession Father Alexy conveyed this message to his scouts who had come with him to the camp. Later in the same day another message came from his daughter. She advised him that she passed the first exam with an “Excellent” result and was enrolled without having to pass the other two. “We were never sure that she would pass the exams at all!” – concluded Father Alexy.

Many of the pilgrims visited the holy springs, walked in the St. Seraphim’s groove just as St. Seraphim had once precepted, prayed and worked in the Convent. Our impressions of all this were most bright and joyful. The zealots had a happy chance to fulfill the commandment to love and serve thy neighbor: guarding and cleaning of the camp, cooking... A few words about the meals. “The catering was brilliantly organized, - wrote an IDY participant just before the departure. – No one could ever guess when the people on duty would make the meals on their field-kitchens. This enabled us to walk alone, separately from groups, to the monastery, to the springs etc. without having to observe the lunch hour”.

By al means, one of the most important components of our camp life was interpersonal communication. The scholarly name of “seminars” in fact was given to discussions with knowledgeable persons. These discussions were held somewhere in the shade among the tents. Meetings with Andrey Kuraev, the “Deacon of all Russia”, lasted for three days. At evenings the concert meadow gathered those who like singing and listening: many have liked the idea of inviting the Orthodox bards from Krutizy Club to sing at IDY. Moreover, anyone wishing to sing or recite poetry could come to the mike and do so. Everything there was as it should be: the stage, the lighting, the microphones... but there was also some night singing which did not require all this equipment. They sang well and loud. The festive mood in the camp was complemented by our bell-ringers from Sergiyev Posad. We didn’t have much time for contacts with each other – only one week. Still, the most important thing was done: we got acquainted and had a chance to feel the joy of it and in this happy mood we exchanged our phone numbers and addresses. After the camp’s closure its life will now continue invisibly: letters, phone calls, e-mails will be flying all over Russia... This is what one IDY participant said about this short but happy period: “One could hardly find a place like this one on our sinful planet where so many people are so close to each other. “Christ is among us”, - I remembered this greeting throughout my stay here.”

By the evening of July 31 the festivities in Diveyevo reach their peak: the maximum number of pilgrims come to this God-saved place, we even have to give them some of our tents; in the Convent at this time the last stones are laid in the paved paths and the last flowers are planted. At noon our gonfalon bearers and bell ringers set off to meet the procession returning from Sarov to Diveyevo with the relics of St. Seraphim. Others are meeting the relics in the Diveyevo Convent. Chimes, sky and people, people, people... The Holy Patriarh arrives. The ceremonial meeting of the relics in the St. Trinity Cathedral of Diveyevo Convent. Demonstration of the divine service on a large outdoor screen. Numerous fathers in the yard of the Convent taking confessions and dispensing unction… the Holy Day!

There were four Liturgies on August 1, the day of St. Seraphim. Three were at night and one in the morning headed by Alexy II, the Holy Patriarch. Many of the campers decided to take the Holy Communion in the night time. Brightly lit cathedrals of the Convent under the cupola of the starry sky – the Holy Day! Two enormous cathedrals could not accommodate everyone who came to the night liturgies. People had to wait for the Communion in the Convent’s yard. There was the exciting atmosphere of an Easter night. Suddenly a “people’s voice” came from one of the cathedrals. It became louder and then we could clearly hear:

- Christ has arisen!

- Truly arisen!

...An even greater number of people came to attend the Patriarchal Liturgy on 1 August. It was held in the open air. The Patriarch was concelebrated by an assembly of hierarchs, primates and many members of the clergy. Now even the territory of the Convent could not accommodate all the worshippers, so many of them came to Diveyevo for the festivities. People were greeting each other:

- Happy Holiday! Christ has arisen!..

The most unexpected event that occurred during our stay in the God-saved village of Diveyevo was our departure. Preparations for the journey home, trips to the Convent to say goodbye to it, the last concert of the bards, the farewell camp-fire in the fields... that was all. But an image has imprinted itself in our hearts: Diveyevo, festivities, tents, sky, sun, people, friends and, of course, St. Seraphim of Sarov who has become very dear to us and who fills us with his ardent love.

Thanks to the Common Cause for their daring idea. Till next IDY Meeting in 2004!