From March 14-18, youth from across the New England Deanery of the Eastern American Diocese gathered for the 4th annual pilgrimage to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.

The youth met new friends, attended the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy, completed chores at the monastery, took part in discussions, and listened to a two-part talk by Priest John Boddecker (monastery cleric; senior lecturer of Sacred Scripture, Department of Scriptural Studies & Exegesis; and Director of Graduate Studies at Holy Trinity Seminary).

Fr. John took them on a journey beginning with Creation and ending with the Book of Revelation. He talked about what the Old Testament Tabernacle and Temple foreshadowed and sought to accomplish: to allow God to dwell in our midst and for us to safely approach Him and be sanctified by Him, so that we ourselves can become the Temple of God. Fr. John encouraged the youth to keep their temples (themselves) clean of idols, so that God can dwell in them.

 The youth were also blessed with an informal question-and-answer session, led by monastery abbot Bishop Luke of Syracuse, after lunch on Saturday.