On Friday, December 24, young people from across the Eastern American Diocese and beyond arrived at St. Luke the Blessed Surgeon Church in Pompano Beach, FL, for the start of the annual St. Herman Youth Conference.

Beginning the day, the visiting clergy and youth greeted conference chairman Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada and Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, who brought with him the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. A short moleben was served in the church.

Archbishop Gabriel then greeted all of the participants, noting the historical nature of the conference being held for the first time in Florida, and reminding them that the most important aspect of the days’ proceedings is to confess of one’s sins and receive Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

The first keynote lecture was delivered by Dr. Sampson Nash on the topic of Orthodoxy and Bioethics.

After lunch, the conference-goers were split into various workshop groups led by Bishop Nicholas and clergy, where they were able to interact closely in a more informal manner.

The parish then treated all to a sumptuous dinner, after which a panel question session began before all returned to the hotel, spiritually uplifted to continue the sessions in the coming days.