SOYO (Society of Orthodox Youth Organizations)

Sign Up Your Kids for Summer Camp!

Calling all parents! June is not far away, and for schoolchildren, the long awaited season of summer is around the corner. Throughout the Antiochian Archdiocese, the counselors, cooks, and clergy of the regional church camps are preparing for another busy season. You are urged to sign up your child now since some of the camps fill up quickly. If sending a child off to camp is new to you, refer to these Resources for Parents from Antiochian Village's website. More details are also available from the Department of Camping.

2012 Eastern Dioceses Fellowship of St. John the Divine Scholarship

The Fellowship of St. John the Divine in the Eastern Dioceses of Charleston and New York is offering college tuition scholarships for Antiochian students.

Download application form (PDF)

All information must be accurately completed and returned by June 1, 2012.

One (1) scholarship (each) of $1,500.00 and $1,000.00 will be awarded, along with four (4) scholarships of $500.00 each. The awards will be presented at the Annual Eastern Dioceses Parish Life Conference.

All scholarships are made possible by endowments created by concerned individuals from the parishes of our Eastern Dioceses and fund-raising programs held by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine.

We wish you all God’s blessings and look forward to submitting your application to the evaluation committee. If you have any questions, please call Maria Abdalah at: 412-916-4772, or email her at laxg25@aol.com.

Nomination Forms Available for Upcoming SOYO Elections

Each year SOYO elects new officers for each of its diocesan SOYO Youth Movements. Those wishing to run for Diocesan SOYO office must be present at their Diocesan Parish Life Conference Teen SOYO Meeting, as well as have properly filled out and have signed by themselves, their pastor and one of their parents the SOYO Nomination form. Teens do not need to be nominated by others, they simply need to make known their intent to run and have properly filled out a SOYO Nomination form and to have turned in their nomination form to the Diocesan Spiritual Advisor prior to the Teen SOYO meeting at the Parish Life Conference.

Teens wishing to run for Office are encouraged to do so and are encouraged to make their intention known to the Diocesan Spiritual Advisor as early as possible. Please see the list of Spiritual Advisors below. Please carefully read the nomination form to see that you are willing to meet the requirements for running for office.

Bishop John Hosts Youth Day Event

Bishop John hosts Youth Day kids and teensBy Caitlin Rose

On March 3, 2012, many young people from the Diocese Of Worcester and New England (self-proclaimed DOWNE) gathered for a Youth Day celebration at His Grace Bishop John's house. Those who attended sat with His Grace to learn the purpose of Orthodoxy, including the three points that make us Orthodox Christians: We partake of the same Communion, we all believe the words of the Nicene Creed, and we all submit to a bishop.

His Grace also informed the youth that his job is to keep his diocese united and to keep it Orthodox. By submitting to him, the members of the Diocese of Worcester are united to one another, and the Diocese is connected to others in the Archdiocese through Metropolitan Philip, to whom all Antiochian Orthodox bishops in America have submitted. His Grace then emphasized the importance of reaching out to American Orthodox Churches outside the Antiochian Archdiocese. The Greeks, the Russians, and all others hold the exact same beliefs as we do. We can commune in their churches as they can in ours. In today's society, it is important that we remain united with our sister churches and do not allow cultural differences to hold us back from mingling. If we visit other churches and socialize outside the Antiochian Archdiocese, we will strengthen the bonds between the Orthodox Churches in America and throughout the world.

Lenten Retreat with Bishop John Inspires SOYO Youth

By Nadia Oleinik

My name is Nadia, and I am a thirteen year old Orthodox Christian. I have attended the St. George Norwood parish ever since I remember. This is my first year in Teen SOYO and the first year I traveled to New Hampshire for the annual Lenten Retreat. It was one of the most enlightening experiences I have had as an Orthodox Christian.

The retreat is an event that occurs each year during the Lenten season. Teens from parishes all over New England come together to bond with each other, listen to the speaker, reflect upon their faith, and strengthen themselves through worship and communion. This year we had the honor of having His Grace Bishop John amongst us throughout the weekend to guide us and answer our questions. This year’s speaker was Katrina Bitar, past SOYO member and director of the YES program speaking on the theme of “Heroes of the Old Testament.”