31st Youth Paschal Pilgrimage has taken place

13.05.2010
Maria Nalewajko

Polish Orthodox Church

From 7th until 9th May 2010 Orthodox youth from around the whole Poland had taken part in the 31st Youth Paschal Pilgrimage. It had taken place at Polish sanctuary of the Holy Mount Grabarka.

It started with the vespers and consecration of the water at the krynochka at the base of the Holy Mountain. It has been celebrated by Metropolitan Sawa. Then the chief of the Fellowship of the Orthodox Youth in Poland greeted gathered young pilgrims. In the evening bishop Jerzy consecrated the pilgrims’ cross and it has been placed nearby the Transfiguration Church. After the consecration of the cross bishop Jerzy lit the fire, around which young people sang devotional song from the Bohohłasnik.

The second day of the pilgrimage has started at 7.30 with the Divine Liturgy. It has been celebrated by metropolitan Sawa and bishops Jakub and Jerzy. Then, after breakfast pilgrims have participated in various physical and theological competitions.

At 12 o’ clock bishops Jerzy and Jacob, Frs. Vladimir Misijuk and Mikołaj Ostapczuk have answered countless questions of the pilgrims (this part is cyclical and is called 100 questions to…). In the afternoon pilgrims had an opportunity to learn more about Orthodoxy as they could attend discussion groups, among them about prayer and the 300th Anniversary of the miracle at the Holy Mountain. Then they participated in the vespers and panikhida for the late Archbishop Miron and ihumenia Barbara.

Pilgrims had an opportunity to make a confession and receive Communion at night and on Sunday.

As it was mentioned, Sunday and at the same time the last day of the 31st Pilgrimage has started with the Divine Liturgy. It has been celebrated by Archbishop Jakub.

Archbishop in his homily has made a reference to the Sunday reading about the blind. He also explained that although faith cannot be defined in a rational way, people who believe and follow the commandments shall feel what the faith is.

After the Liturgy, which has been ended with paschal procession an official ending of the Pilgrimage has taken place. The head of the Fellowship of the Orthodox Youth in Poland, Grzegorz Sienkiewicz thanked archbishop Jakub for the participation in the Pilgrimage. The board of the fellowship on behalf of all pilgrims has also thanked ihumenia Hermiona for enabling pilgrims to stay at the Holy Mountain.

Source: