The International Days of Youth in Diveyevo

What for shall the orthodox youth unite?

What for to become closer, get acquainted, pray together?

Our Lord said "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them"(Ma 18,20)

During the days of the celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the canonisation of St. Seraphim of Sarov - one of the greatest Russian Saints - we think of his words: "Obtain peace and thousands will be saved near you"

Today there is war in this world. And we get together to pray for peace.

So many young people have lost reason to live and try to escape in drugs. We want to help each other, to share what we now and what we feel, to see and show that we are not alone.

Today people forget God, but easily think Him to be guilty of what we are responsible for.

We get together to thank Him for this world and each man He created.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Ma 5,16)

At present we are preparing The International Days of Youth in Diveyevo (hereinafter the “IDY”), that will be carried out in honour of the celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the canonisation of St. Seraphim of Sarov and will be held in Diveyevo (near Nizhny Novgorod) from the 26^th of July to the 3^rd of August, 2003, according to the Federal programme.

The basic purpose of IDT is to strengthen the unity of youth on the spiritual and moral bases, on the ideals and values of the Orthodox Tradition.

Our aims within the IDY is to organise confidential and collaborative relationship between the participants of IDY; to create spiritual and moral atmosphere within the youth groups of the pilgrimage camp; to prepare youth for social service; the develop and realise the creative potential of the participants.

Those taking part in IDY will visit the holy places of the Nizniy Novgorod region and places of special historic and cultural value. There will be carried out a number of lectures and seminars on the history and the bases of the Orthodoxy. Youth will have a possibility to take part in the religious processions and services.

Besides concerts, cultural activities and meetings will be organised.

For the IDY there will be organised bus and feet pilgrimage roots with the terminal point in Diveevo, hotel and tent variants of the pilgrimmage camp.

The organisers of the IDY will learn the procedure of the celebrations in honour of St. Seraphim in the town Sarov (near Diveyevo) in the year 1903, coordinate the actions with State and Church organisations involved in the organisation of the Anniversary, work out the 4-day programme of the organisation of the pilgrimage camp near the monastery of st. Seraphim, find partners among State, Churh and public funds.

Media coverage of the IDY is being prepared.

By the 27^th of April 2003 we shall send invitations to Russian and foreign organisations that have goals similar with those of the "Common Cause".