BOYA (Balkan Orthodox Youth Association) organized a conference in Varna, Bulgaria from the 10th to 14th of September, 2008, for the 15th anniversary of their association. The theme of the conference was “To Become New Creatures in Christ.” With the blessing of His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios, a group of five people from the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania leaded by Mr. Jorgo Papadhopuli also participated in this activity. Other participants included representatives from the Orthodox Churches of Rumania, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia.
    His Eminence, Preslav Kiril, Metripolitan of Vrana and Veliki, offered the welcoming introduction in which he emphasized the importance of being together in the name of the Lord. After this the President of BOYA, Father Sorini, spoke about the association’s 15 years of history. He said that BOYA has been for him as one of the best experiences of his life. Father Sorini encouraged all the participants to protect themselves from three serious dangers: lack of community, lack of knowledge of the treasure of Orthodoxy, and passivity. It is very important, he emphasized, using words that Archbishop Anastasios has also spoken, “that the youth are not only the future, but also the present of our Church.”
    In addressing the theme, “To Become New Creatures in Christ,” His Eminence, Preslav Kiril, Metropolitan of Varna and Veliki, stated that, “…all of us should fight the good fight of our faith.” The battlefield of this war in which we become new creatures in Christ is the heart. During the Divine Liturgy and in all the mysteries of our Church, we are all growing in Christ. It is all our responsibility to grow and educate a generation that marches to the Kingdom of Heaven.
    
    Each day of this conference new publications from all the participating Orthodox Churches were presented. Publications were introduced which assist with the education of children and with the education of the whole community in knowing and growing in Christ. His Eminence Ioakim, Metropolitan of Sliven, Bulgaria, spoke on the importance of the work of catechism. He emphasized that everyone who has cleansed their minds and hearts do not preach by themselves, but speak by the grace of Holy Spirit. Each of us should not just seek our own salvation, but also seek the salvation of our brother.
    On Saturday, the 13th of September a presentation was given of the book, “Globalization and Orthodoxy” by Archbishop Anastasios, which has been translated into Bulgarian. Mr. Jorgo Papadhopuli offered a general summary of the book and spoke about its importance for the whole Orthodox world. He emphasized that for all its readers, this book opens a wondrous new vision of life in a society of love; and what it means to be a society of organic persons, related by love and not just individuals co-existing.
    In this book, Archbishop Anastasios states that ecumenism is in the blood of all Orthodox people, which is continually cleansed with the blood of Christ, the Savior of the World. Instead of a globalization that seeks to transform populations and people to be worthy of the economic goals of an anonymous oligarchy, the Orthodox vision proposes and invites us to work for a society of love.
    After this, all the participants watched with great interest a presentation on the resurrection of the Orthodox Church of Albania. The history of the resurrection and renewal of our Church during the last 17 years inspired all the participants with a special interest and admiration for this great miracle. We are all blessed in a very special way because we are testimonies of this miracle. Another part of this program activity was the pilgrimage to monasteries, churches and to historical monuments in Varna.
    The conference closed with the celebration of the feast of the Elevation of the Cross in the Holy Liturgy which was held in the Cathedral of Varna, our host city. At the end of the Liturgy, His Eminence, Preslav Kiril, Metropolitan of Varna and Veliki, greeted and thanked all the participants, expressing his wish that the Sign of the Cross would be the symbol of unity and strength on our common journey to the Kingdom of Heaven.
     All of us left the city of Varna with the prayer and hope of sharing with the believers of our Churches the peace and beautiful fruits of this conference.
          
Ana Baba
Translated by Ana Kёrçyku
Edited by Anastasia Pamela Barksdale
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