Having celebrated Divine Liturgy on Sunday, December 24 in Protection of the Mother of God Church in Rochester, NY, the attendees of the 44th annual St. Herman Youth Conference continued their work.

In the afternoon, the youth interacted in various social groups continuing their discussions from days prior. After a splendid dinner, the long-awaited talent show was held in the hotel ballroom. Many of the young people spent months preparing their acts by singing Christmas carols, playing instruments, and performing traditional dance. With resounding applause after each act, the performers earned accolades from their peers and even from the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, who was in attendance supporting the youth.

On Monday morning, social workshops continued through the morning. In the afternoon, the second keynote address of the conference was delivered by Priest Nikolaj Kostur (cleric of the Serbian Orthodox Church) on the life of the Holy Hierarch Mardarije (Uskoković) of Libertyville and his missionary efforts in North America. The youth listened with great interest, learning more about one of the most recent glorified saints of the Orthodox Church.

Following the lecture, the clergy assembled into a panel, during which they heard pressing ecclesiastical, social, and moral issues questions concerning the youth.

The conference was made possible by a generous grant from the Fund for Assistance (FFA) to ROCOR, which has been faithfully supporting the three St. Herman Conferences held every year in December: on the East Coast, in the Midwest, and on the West Coast, as well as by donations from the Eastern American Diocese and several parishes, who support this work with the youth with an open heart.

A final banquet was held in the church hall masterfully prepared by the parish sisterhood. A bonfire was held outside, with youth embracing friends old and new before heading to their rooms and departing back to their home parishes early Tuesday morning, December 26.