The Youth.
Since the beginning of the restauration of the Orthodox Church of Albania, Archbishop Anastasios has drawn attention on the special role that the Orthodox Youth has as both the present and the future of our Church. He states the main goal of the youth which is the reunion in becoming the Body of Christ through four aspects which are growth in Christ, friendship, witness and service. Also he has always provided financial support for the youth.
In 1993 a youth group was created in Tirana and in 1994 this group developed the first center for the youth which organized a variety of activities. Also in other cities the catechism groups along with the missionaries and the clergy made up their own youth groups. Later on the Theological Hierarchal Seminary contributed in the organization of youth groups and finally the Theological Academy settled a better setting for the further development and organization of catechism work in collaboration with the youth participating in it.
So, in 1999 the Central Youth Office was set up along with the other youth offices in all the dioceses which had as a common aim to organize and coordinate activities for the whole country and the dioceses. The Youth Office strongly cooperates with the clergy, the Children Catechism Office, the Students’s Center, the Women’s Office and the Theological Academy by supporting each other in their work and building up common projects. Many youth groups operate all over the country and they organize several spiritual and cultural activities.
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Spiritual conversations and catechism with the youth.
The main objective for the youth groups is to bring the youth closer to church in order for them to experience Christian faith, life in Christ within the community, and follow the spiritual guidelines for living a Christian life.
Such objectives are usually fulfilled through the brief meetings that are held after the liturgy on Sundays or on other days of the week by the catechists and the clergy of each diocese. Part of these meetings are the conversations, the speeches and the teachings in which the youth receive the answers to their questions regarding spiritual and social life and with regard to different problems that they might have. Also they have common prayers and other church services during these meetings.
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Contributing to the Church Choir.
In every church community the orthodox youth provide their help by chanting in the Church. Some of them attend byzantine music lessons and some large choirs with the youth are developed in the main cities. These choirs take part in the Divine Liturgy every Sunday and also in the music activities and events that are organized in each diocese.
In Tirana, the choir of Radio Ngjallja is set up and consists of the orthodox youth from Tirana who contribute not only to the Radio station but also in many celebrations which take place in different institutions like orphanages, home for the elders and other places where the message of love and hope is delivered. This choir in collaboration with the orchestra of the youth of Radio Ngjallja has released tape recorders and CDs with their own performance.
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Meetings and Conferences.
The meetings or the so-called Youth Conferences have drawn the attention of many young people since the beginning. Their aim is to help the youth to acknowledge life in Christ and to sensibilize them to help people in need by showing their own model of life. Such meetings get organized several times per year.
Each meeting’s program focuses on a particular topic which is used as the theme for the group meetings. During these meetings, several entertaining activities take place as well which help the youth to get to know better each other and make new friends. The participants have a beautiful experience which they share with each other.
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Summer Camps for the Youth.
One of the most important events of the year and also one of the most popular activities among young people is the summer camp for girls and boys. The first camp for girls was organized in Skrofotina of Vlora, in 1995, while the first camp for boys was organized during the same year, in the Monastery of Saint Cosmas in Kolkondas, Fier. Although the Archbishop had little funds for the organization of the camp, he was able to provide facilities for the camps by reconstructing two monasteries. When the works in the monasteries were completed, the camps were moved to their new locations, where they continue to be held till the present. The boys’ camp was located in the Dormition of Theotokos Monastery on the island of Zvërnec, in Vlora, and the girls’ camp took place in the Monastery of St. John Vladimir, in Elbasan.
The main goal of these camps is to organize educational, spiritual and entertaining activities offering hope and encouragement for the youth in order to build up their personal relationship with God. Except these main camps, other local camps are held in the Holy Monastery of Saint George in Çuka of Saranda, in Glikomil of Gjirokastra, in the Holy Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner in Voskopoje of Korça, etc. Around ten camps for boys and girls are organized each year with approximately 1500 people participating in them. During the winter season, our Church also organizes two camps for boys and girls.
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Festivals.
The youth groups of every diocese take part in these artistic and festive events sending their own representatives. They perform religious and traditional folk songs on stage. The first youth festival took place in 1998 and thirteen groups of young people from the whole country participated in it.
At present, local festivals are also organized in every diocese. The best three performances may represent the youth group in the National Festival which is usually held during Christmas time. These festivals not only develop the creativity and the artistic talent of the youth but also help in building up bridges among them by giving them the opportunity to get together and meet each other. In addition, these events contribute also in discovering and enlivening the old traditions of our country by learning and valuing them.
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Daily activities.
Seeing that the number of youth groups was increasing and that not all young people were able to participate in the national activities due to the limited number, daily activities were organized as well.
These youth activities get organized especially in rural areas, since these areas do not have many opportunities for education or entertainment of the youth. These activities include prayer, spiritual and social activities in small groups. Several meetings of this kind are organized in a year span.
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Contributing to children’s camps.
Young people from different youth centers, take the initiative to voluntarily help in organizing activities and day camps for children in different dioceses.
Also, since 2002, they have continued cooperation with the Central Children’s Office to help in the camps organized by our Church in Kosovo.
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Activities with young people with disabilities.
One of the objectives of the Orthodox Youth League is to stay close to people who are in need.
For this reason, the Youth Office has been organizing various activities for young people with disabilities in cooperation with the “David Leka” foundation.
Among other things, a very important activity is the organization of conferences for these people, where about fifty young people participate. During the days of this conference, group discussions, entertaining and sports activities are organized. A special night is the talent show night where young people show off their creative skills.
Church crafts Given the great need for church crafts and by taking experience from summer camps, the youth groups get engaged in church crafts in their areas.
The purpose of these works is to use their free time in a more useful way as well as to cooperate for the smooth running of their youth center, since these crafts are sold to the faithful at a symbolic price.
They make various crafts such as: komboskini, icons and decoration of icons, Easter and Christmas candles, crosses, etc. With the income that they gain from these works, the youth groups cover some of the expenses of their activities. The craft of these young people has aroused interest not only among the faithful, but also in other people outside the Church.
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Activities for a cleaner environment.
The aim of these activities is to make the young people aware of the problems and the issues of pollution related to the environment nowadays.
For the first time, this activity was organized in one of the most attractive parks of the country which is Llogara Park. Such activities have been organized also in other places during the years.
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Paying visits to people in need.
One of the priorities for the youth groups has been the support of the people in need. The young people together with the orthodox women groups and the clergy pay visits to several social institutions such as orphanages, hospitals, prisons, home for the elders and to the people with disabilities.
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Blood donation.
This effort has already become part of the tradition of the orthodox youth who want to help the people in need by remembering the love and sacrifice of Christ. Blood donation has been a lively witness of love and a significant indicator of their generosity.
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The spartakiads and the Olympic games.
Another activity which has been frequently attended by the youth have been the Olympic games and the spartakiads. These are traditional sports events in Albania which have been performed through generations. Such activities were first organized in 2001 with the contribution of the sports professionals, people who love the church and the youth groups.
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Publications.
Kambanat Magazine started to be published in 2002 by the youth group of Tirana and the Central Youth Office. This magazine contains several spiritual, social and cultural articles. The youth themselves prepare the articles and are responsible for their publication. The Central Youth Office publishes the annual youth calendar at the beginning of each year. It highlights all the activities that are nationally organized. This office has also published prayer and song books.
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Activities abroad.
The Orthodox youth of Albania is a member of Syndesmos, the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth and BOYA (Balkan Orthodox Youth Association). The orthodox youth group from Albania participates each year through its representatives in the activities organized with the other Orthodox youth from different countries of the world.
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Meetings and conferences with the youth of other Christian religions.
These conferences are organized once a year and they started back in 2006. Their aim is to strengthen the interreligious harmony and the collaboration between the youth from diverse Christian communities.
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All the above activities have given a valuable contribution to the spiritual growth of young people, the increase of the educational and cultural level, as well as their integration in the social life. Also, these activities have contributed in the solution of social problems that exist in the present Albanian society.
