SYNDESMOS summer institute

The SYNDESMOS Summer Institute was organised for the fifth year at the 16th century Monastery of the Annunciation in the northeastern Polish village of Suprasl 1-10 August 2000.
The Institute is an annual gathering which provides Orthodox Christian young people with an opportunity to meet their brothers and sisters from throughout the world. The 35 young people from 15 countries across North America, Europe and the Middle East participated in discussions and workshops on a variety of topics, including Orthodoxy and Ecology, the Role of Women in the Church, the Oriental Churches, and the history and the current situation of the local Orthodox Churches. Institute speakers
included Janna Possi, Finland; His Grace, Bishop Damian of the Coptic Church in Germany; Vladimir Misijuk, former SYNDESMOS Secretary-General; and His Beatitude, Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland.
The programme also included many meaningful encounters and excursions. The discussions with Bishop Damian proved to be one of the Institute's most interesting events. For the majority of the participants, many of whom had never heard of the Oriental Churches, it marked their first encounter with the Coptic Church. Bishop Damian spent just three of the Institute's ten days with us, sharing the beliefs, culture and customs of his tradition with the participants. One evening, the participants stayed
up for a latenight discussion, during which Bishop Damian fielding questions on a wide variety of subjects.
One of the excursions during the Institute was to Maleze, a small Orthodox village of about 50 families in eastern Poland, where participants attended the Sunday morning Divine Liturgy at Saint George Church. The parish serves approximately 150 families from Maleze and two neighbouring villages. These families welcomed us with love and a hospitality that was truly Orthodox. Of the many events I remember from the Institute, the one that is of greatest importance is celebration of the Divine Liturgy with people of different cultures and languages. Those things which normally divide and inhibit communication were of no importance, as Father George of Maleze told the group: "Today we are all united in the Body of Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile. We are all one body and one family, celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the common language of our common faith. Let us rejoice and give thanks for this possibility."
There are many words I could use to describe the things which took place during the Institute, but I will leave what space is left to share the thoughts of a few of the participants.
Lina Tawil, Palestine: "The most important component of this programme is the possibility to discuss many issues of importance with brothers and sisters from varying backgrounds and to listen to and understand the methods different cultures employ in dealing with life's successes and setbacks. The discussion on women in the Church was very important and helpful."
Anna Deprez, Italy: "The most memorable event of the Institute was the trip to the forest preserve in Bialoweiza and the discussion on the environment which followed."
Alexander Wasiluk, Poland: "The event itself is so important. We are all one body."
Miroslava Popova, Bulgaria: "I enjoyed having the possibility to work in the Church with young people, sharing experiences, and learning about different cultures."
Masha Nedelkina, Russia: "It was a great experience to be able to communicate with people without even speaking their language. The canoeing was great fun too!"
Arek Pleva, Poland: "I was very inspired by the meeting with Bishop Damian, and I was impressed by the presentation on the Oriental Churches in general and the Coptic Church in particular. The late night discussion with the bishop was also very important and informative for all of us."