The most significant events of the parish youth department. Organization of youth work in the Russian Orthodox Church

“The main missionary field of the parishthere should be a temple through which a large number of unchurched, and often unbelievers, pass... I believe that voluntary or even professional missionaries should gradually appear in parishes along with a teacher, social worker, and youth leader. Their duties would include being on duty in churches, both during services and outside. These workers could answer the questions of visitors, conduct excursions around the temple during out-of-service hours, establish an acquaintance with them, and facilitate the subsequent churching of people who entered the temple. ”

“Today it is urgently neededclubs of communication and dialogue, all kinds of meetings and evenings,joint participation in Internet forums,free conversations with answers to questions of concern to young and not yet churched people... Of particular interest for young people is the possibility of informal communication both with their already church-going peers and with well-known and interesting people of Orthodox convictions.

For lively, sincere, trusting contact is especially important for young people... This is the main thing for young people, especially in our time of lack of meaningful and positive communication.And then, as experience shows, everything is formed and built based on a specific situation.Somewhere a sports section appears, somewhere an icon painting school is born, somewhere a church choir from former pupils and pupils of the Sunday school gathers. "

“When working with children and youth, special emphasis should be placed on volunteer projects,involve young people in social work, to accustom them to routine, everyday, everyday goodness. "

“ Youth initiatives in parishes should be encouraged in every possible way. Children, adolescents, and young men should feel like they are part of the ward, endowed with the trust of the abbot, accountable to their church, united by common interests, concerns, and aspirations.Under such conditions, the question of which direction of church and social activity the youth in the parish will be engaged in will depend only on the specific interests of the youth themselves and local opportunities. "

“In addition to involving young people in the worship, educational or social work of the parish, experience has shown that it is very usefulorganizing hobby groups, playing sports, participating in parish pilgrimages.”

“We need to more actively involve in parish lifeOrthodox families. Invite them to participate in the ward: make a website, arrange a stand, hold a master class, fix something. Remember that youra request to participate in the life of the temple is also a form of showing attention to a person.”

“There are also problems with the work of our parishes on the Internet. Today it is not just a matter of creating a parish website. It is necessary that the opportunities that the Internet gives us can be used for educational and catechetical activities.The parish website should become functional, that is, contain the maximum amount of useful information about the life of the parish, about divine services, about clergy, about social and educational activities, about work with children and youth, about organized pilgrimages and holidays, about the history of the parish, and so on ”.Note. you can use a free website builder to create a websiteThis does not require any special knowledge; it is enough to have a computer skills at the user level.

“ Creation of groups of Orthodox users in social networks of the Internetallows you to form horizontal ties between parishioners of different churches, to consolidate co-religionists, to build a special kind of contacts between believers and clergy. One can observe how a website or a group on a social network becomes an important element of parish life, helping to turn casual “visitors” into faithful parishioners. ”Approx. According to a poll conducted by the Afisha newspaper, 90% of Moscow school graduates are registered on Vkontakte, 38% on Facebook, 11% on Twitter, 10% on LiveJournal and 8% on Odnoklassniki. Example of a Vkontakte group: "Orthodox youth of the Ramensky district"http://vkontakte.ru/ram_mol

“To be an important aid to the rector and clergy in organizing and building up parish life is the main goal for which parish Internet sites should be created today. Their other goal is a mission among non-believers and unchurched netizens who often visit the sites of our churches in search of the necessary information, answers to their questions, and even spiritual and pastoral support. "

“Summer parish events, camps, hikes are in great demand among young people, always with the participation of a priest, and preferably in areas adjacent to a temple or monastery.”

“Pilgrimage trips are very effective in the direction of church youth work.Pilgrimages can be done as a form of youth catechesisand teaching life by faith, especially if they include an element of youth communication and some cultural and recreational component, as well as work for the good of the Church ”.

“It would be worth taking careorganization of volunteer groups and detachments to help restore rural churchescombining this work with the summer vacations of youth and students. Also organize pilgrimage trips for young people, involve them in participation in religious processions ... It should be recognized as an axiom thatit is impossible to separate the issues of catechism and social activity and work with youth, everything is interconnected here”.

“It's important to avoid populism. Yes, we need major actions addressed to young people and designed to show them the Church, about which many young people know only at the level of secular stereotypes. But such stocks should only be the tip of the iceberg. They are ineffective without painstaking daily work in the parishes. ”

"Very important involve youth in educational work... This path of Orthodox witness opens up new opportunities:a young believer can teach by example... A young man or girl involved in youth ministry should help people move towards God, regardless of whether they themselves have reached the heights of spiritual perfection or not. "

“It is necessary in every possible wayencourage young members to come together to read and discuss the scriptures... A personal attitude towards the Word of God, expressed in a circle of people who can be trusted and on whose spiritual support you can rely, helps a young person to comprehend faith and church life. And if the priest himself is not able to hold such meetings, he is obliged to help in this work the one who feels spiritual strength in himself and is rooted in the church tradition. "

How You Can Involve Youth in Parish Life?

1. Regular communication of youth is necessarywith the clergy and with each other outside of worship. It is very important for young Orthodox people to understand that they are not alone in the modern world. Study of the Holy Scriptures (especially if all participants are involved in the discussion of the text. see V. Strelov "Gospel readings as a form of work with student youth" (www.infomissia.ruSection "Mission in the youth environment")), confidential conversations on topics important for young people (relationships with the opposite sex, family / monasticism, work, education), Cinema club (followed by a discussion of the film from an Orthodox point of view).

“ In order to take the first step, it is enough to simply invite the parish youth to read the Gospel, talk and have tea together. Even if you only talk with two young parishioners, not even a year will pass - there will be many times more listeners. " (Fr. Alexander Serbsky)

1. Social service(visiting the sick, orphans, old people, collecting children's things for those in need)

“ The purpose and meaning of any parish youth organization should be to help others, and not just entertainment and leisure. The creation of charity groups, groups of volunteers should be a priority in youth affairs.”(Fr. Alexander Serbsky)

1. Invite to help the parish.Any help can be: make a website or a group in social. networks, arrange a stand, hold a master class, fix something. The main thing is for the young man to feel that his participation is really needed.

For example, you can instruct to print and display a wall newspaper prepared by the Orthodoxy and Peace portal with the support of the Synodal Information Department on a weekly basis.www.pravmir.ru/gazetaPatriarch Kirill recommended “to pay attention to this successful project and make more active use of its opportunities in the parish ministry.”

1. In large parishes, you can offer parish youthorganize missionary, information and educational actions... For example, handing out leaflets to “visitors” on big holidays (Easter, Christmas, Epiphany), congratulating people on the streets on Orthodox holidays (Day of Myrrh-Bearing Wives, Day of Family, Love and Fidelity). Distribution of anti-abortion materials (ready-made anti-abortion leaflets can be ordered at the Orthodox Center "Life"http://za-zhizn.ru/)
2. Mugs ... It is worth providing premises for the work of circles and master classes (folk art, handicrafts, historical clubs, journalism). By attending such circles on the territory of the parish, people themselves will slowly begin to take an interest in Orthodoxy. A very good experience of creating sandboxes for playgrounds near the temples, which makes it easier for family people to visit the temple. There is also a positive experience of creating gyms at temples.
3. Sporting activities(bike rides in the churches of the deanery and diocese, processions of the cross, youth camps, trips to the countryside to help with the repair of churches and outdoor recreation)
4. Interaction with secularyouth clubs, organizations, movements. "The experience and practice of interaction with municipal bodies on the implementation of youth policy allows you to easily do this so that in secular youth events the priest becomes not a wedding general, but a missionary and preacher.. " (Fr. Alexander Serbsky)
5. Organization of conferences, festivals, exhibitions (paintings, photography), literary competitions.

Recently, changes have taken place in the youth group "Rassvet" - the leadership has changed, a spiritual father has appeared. In this regard, our correspondent asked a few questions to the Deacon's assistant for youth work, Deacon Alexei Shamanin.

- When and how the active Orthodox youth movement was formed in the Zakamsky Deanery and in the youth group "Rassvet"?

- The active group of the Orthodox youth group "Rassvet" was formed in the early 2000s, and over the years of the group's existence it has changed several times. Youth movements in other churches were formed later and until recently did not really communicate with each other, providing assistance only in their churches and engaging in activities in different directions. The joint youth movement of the Zakamsky Deanery does not exist as such. Because the Youth Department is not concerned with uniting young people from different parishes into one group, but organizing joint events with the goal of communicating among young people. After all, every young person, being part of the community of one separate parish, pursues a common goal with the youth of other churches. So it turns out that the asset of the Zakamye youth movement is an asset of the youth groups of all churches of the deanery.

- Has the leader changed recently in the Rassvet group and a spiritual father has appeared?

- Yes. During the existence of "Rassvet" its participants and the former leader have done many deeds of mercy, actively helped the parish, churched youth and gave a helping hand to the socially vulnerable strata of society. They got stronger and ... matured. It's time for a younger generation. Deacon Vitaly Semyonov, who had been the leader of the group for a long time, was released from this obedience, having received gratitude for his labors. But both the former members and Father Vitaly did not leave Rassvet for good: they will share their experience with the young guys, helping them to continue the good deeds of the group.

And the confessor is a new link in the Youth Department, which has been expected for a long time. Every deed of Orthodox youth, in whatever direction it is directed, must be permeated with prayer and have Christian goals. Father Alexander Voroshilov will be engaged in spiritual guidance of youth to Christ. he has already taken the initiative to conduct youth Liturgies and called on the youth to pray regularly.

- How do the guys from the group differ from ordinary young people?

- Regardless of age, Orthodox young people know why they come to a youth group and what they expect from life. But the main difference is the joy of life. Whatever work they do, they always get satisfaction from it and are ready to work again for the glory of God. But Orthodox youth are ordinary people, they heal not only the soul, but also the body by playing sports; they dance, sing and paint; they relax in nature and travel to other cities. But no matter what they do, they always do it prayerfully, asking for God's blessing.

- What do Orthodox youth do in parishes and in the city?

- Each parish conducts its own individual work with youth. For example, the Christmas parish teaches young people to play the guitar, teaches solfeggio and English, and develops musical skills. The Oryol Church prepares young missionaries, they study the Holy Scriptures, the Church Slavonic language and communicate with sectarians. In the Borovets Church, children go in for sports, study the history of the region and engage in social activities. But they all help other departments in the ward by distributing missionary leaflets, helping disadvantaged communities, teaching newcomers to the faith, and helping the temple. They are united by the same activities, but outside the church: concerts at the Perekrestok rehabilitation center, city holidays, anti-abortion campaigns, youth camps, and more.

- How do you involve young people in your business?

- Attracting young people is the most difficult process, because every single person is, first of all, a person. Each needs a separate approach. Some guys come with joy to all events, one has only to offer, some have to be persuaded, and the methods of attraction are completely different. After all, someone is interested in sitting over a cup of tea and having a conversation, someone seeks to benefit through work, someone wants to use your talents, and someone just wants to relax. Therefore, the activities of the Youth Department are diverse, because the initiative of the events comes from the young people themselves, and we try to implement all ideas if they are beneficial for the soul and body.

- How can you get into an Orthodox youth group?

- It's easy to get into the group. It is enough to come to the next meeting or event and anyone who comes will be welcomed with open arms, because every person is important to us. And you can find out about the events either on the site "", or in the group "

"Youth ministry

at the parish "

prepared

Youth department

Spassky Deanery

Peace to all!

If we look into the churches of our metropolitanate at one of the church services, then in many of them we will see young girls and boys. Orthodoxy for such children is not just an external manifestation of their beliefs, but a part of life. Young people, by the providence of God, find themselves in the Church, where they try to find true freedom - freedom from sin. In connection with their characteristic energy, on the path of their churching, it is important to provide them with the opportunity to actively express themselves in the life of the parish. Work with youth in a parish can be carried out in a wide variety of forms, and each of them has its own characteristics.

In the Holy Avramievskaya Church of the Spassky Deanery of the Chistopol Diocese, youth ministry is one of the priority areas. And now, for three years now, the parish youth department has been operating. During its existence, the structure of the department has been formed, work has been established in the main directions and new ones have been mastered. This publication presents experience in the most important and interesting forms of work. We sincerely hope that it will provide practical advice in carrying out youth ministry.

Responsible for youth work in the Spassky Deanery -

Alexander Pavlov,

assistant responsible for youth work –

Olga Knyazeva.

Department structure

The structure of the department is important in order to organize a clear and well-coordinated work. Head of the department supervisor. He manages and oversees the work of the department, and also holds regular meetings and appointments. A kind of control lever in the department is advice, consisting of the most active participants. Council members participate in all activities of the department, setting an example of activity, discussing pressing issues, preparing for events. Per ordinary participants a certain field of activity is fixed, based on their interests. For example, one participant is responsible for the Gospel readings, another for social activities or missionary activities, the third for organizing a youth camp, the fourth for a youth page in the parish newspaper, and so on. When preparing events, the person in charge interacts with the parish departments, involves the rest of the youth in certain activities.

Deeds of mercy

Today, many parishes are actively involved in social activities. Part of the work of helping those in need can be taken over by the youth department. There are two options for the social service of youth.

Option 1. The responsible person regularly inquires from the head of the social service about the upcoming campaigns and offers assistance in organizing and conducting them.

* Technical assistance in holding promotions.

You can give out gifts at Christmas and Easter children's services, volunteer while you are in the temple of shrines, and so on.

Option 2. Independent organization of charity events.

* Care of the elderly parishioners.

Congratulations at home Merry Christmas, Easter. A list of congratulations is drawn up in advance, a congratulatory speech. Thus, the younger generation not only does a good deed, but also in the process of communication receives spiritual instructions, lessons from the prayer experience of the older generation.

* Care of disabled children.

To do this, you need to find out in the parish department of charity or in the social service the list of disabled people, their addresses, and establish a contact. It is important to decide on the frequency of meetings, because those under guardianship are usually attached to new friends in the person of Orthodox youth, and are looking forward to a new meeting. You can give them your warmth and love in the process of mastering useful skills, acquiring spiritual knowledge. Meetings can take place in the form of communication (walking), creative workshops (making thematic crafts for Orthodox holidays and important dates, acting out a performance), spiritual conversation (reading Orthodox works, solving an Orthodox crossword puzzle).

* Care of young military personnel - parishioners of the church.

You can write letters, congratulate you on Orthodox holidays, Angel Day, Defender of the Fatherland Day, send parcels. This attention will allow the children who serve away from their homes and temples to feel like a part of the church family, and after returning to join the youth department.

Youth camp

Another important form of youth ministry is the organization of camps. The Orthodox camp has a unique opportunity - the creation of a constant spiritual atmosphere, friendliness and mutual support against the backdrop of a relaxed holiday.

With the help of a youth camp,

the following goals have been achieved:

1) Thanks to a youth-oriented program that reveals the spiritual beauty of Orthodoxy, young people will see that being a member of the Church is both salutary and interesting.

2) Young people from different parishes will share real experiences of youth ministry.

3) Through the discussion of common problems, there will be a joint search for their solutions, the search for new forms of activity.

4) Young people will get in touch with the natural world and break away from an unnatural way of life (computer, TV).

5) Through informal communication, a better understanding of each other and the making of friends is achieved.

Stages of preparation and conduct of the camp:

* Familiarity with similar experiences.

Participants of the youth department can get acquainted with the experience of holding youth camps on Internet resources, gain experience through participation in youth camps of other deaneries.

* Definition of the theme of the camp.

Often the date and place of the camp depends on the theme of the camp. For example, the first camp, held by the youth department of St. Abraham's Church, was associated with the beginning of the construction of a temple in one of the deanery villages. This event gave rise to a camp near this village, and, accordingly, determined the program for its change.

* Determination of the date, place of the shift, participants.

The best time for a shift is July - a period when it is still warm and you can swim. In summer, it is better to spend a youth camp in the bosom of nature, near settlements to provide the camp with drinking water.

Camp participants can be:

- members of the youth department;

- unchurched youth, with whom joint events and conversations were held. A seed of faith has already sunk in the souls of these people, and the camp will be the next stage of spiritual growth for them;

- students of the senior group of Sunday school aged 16 and over. Often, teenagers begin to get bored in Sunday school classes, and there comes a period of cooling off to class. The camp will give them the opportunity to practice the Orthodox way of life. The number of camp participants depends on the available base. There should be more members of the youth department than unchurched youth in order for the camp to have not just a formal name, but, in fact, to be Orthodox.

* Seeking funds for the shift.

The parish camp is organized at the expense of parish funds. When organizing a dean or diocesan camp, with the blessing of the ruling bishop, it is possible to organize fundraising from parishes that are not involved in youth ministry. Thus, they will do their bit by funding the camp.

* Establishing contact and agreements with administrative resources.

Having decided on the place of change, you must inform the local administration about your intentions, provide a program for the upcoming shift.

* Drawing up a camp program .

For the recreation of young people, it is also important to take into account their activity, to draw up a program so that it combines the spiritual and sports components. The program can include three types of activities: spiritual, labor and leisure.

Spiritual activity:

- communication on spiritual topics;

- worship and the performance of Confessions, Baptism in the open air;

- communication with the priest in the form of "question - answer".

Labor activity (depending on the topic of the shift):

–Work to cleanse and restore the temple;

- attraction of local residents to the upcoming events organized by the parish in the territory of the settlement.

Leisure activities:

- singing songs by the fire with a guitar;

- swimming and sports games;

- entertaining games.

Mission

This is a very important and large area of ​​activity that can be used to develop youth ministry.

Option 1. Participation in missionary concerts (notifying people, performing songs, staging festive scenes, conducting a concert program, providing technical assistance).

Appendix No. 1 (scenario for Christmas, Easter sketches).

Option 2. Organization of missionary actions (notifying people, developing the material used for the action, agreements with organizations with which the action takes place). As a rule, actions allow attracting unchurched youth, for whom they are a kind of spiritual impetus. Appendix No. 2 (possible options for promotions, leaflets).

Option 3. Missionary talks and meetings. Members of the youth department can participate as missionaries in conversations organized by the missionary department in various organizations in the locality. For example, conversations in the hospital “Sickness and Salvation of the Soul”, conversations on Orthodox Book Day with schoolchildren on the topic “Internet Book of Our Time” and so on.

Option 4. Organization of special services, round tables and Orthodox games for non-churched youth. For a start, you can invite young people to a prayer service, and then conduct a separate youth service with Confession and Communion. At round tables one can discuss such questions: how is your spiritual life going? what prevents you from coming to the temple? what do you as young people expect from the Church? What forms of church work are you interested in participating in?

Recently, the game "Night Watch" has become popular among young people (it contains elements of the games "Zarnitsa", "What? Where? When?" And "Fort Bayard"). The game can be remade in an Orthodox way. It consists of sequential passage of levels, search for codes in the territory of the settlement by answering various questions. Appendix # 6 (Game rules and question options).

Gospel readings

When organizing actions and events, it is important not to miss the spiritual development and formation of youth. Gospel readings and conversations will help to form spiritual and moral guidelines.

Gospel readings can take place once a month. Before the reading of the Holy Scriptures, one can read a passage from the Gospel, which sounded that day at the service, as well as the prayer of St. John Chrysostom (Appendix No. 3).

The gospel can be studied in chronology and used for this interpretation B. I. Gladkova, Archbishop. Averkiya Tausheva, Archbishop Theophilactus of Bulgaria and others. A week before the reading, the person in charge informs the chapter with which they will meet, appoints the readers. The readers at home read the topic they have inherited and the interpretation to it, and at the meeting itself, they first read the Gospel, then express the interpreter's opinion on issues that, in the reader's opinion, are important and interesting in the topic touched upon. After that, the young people already express their point of view on what they have read, talk about what they have learned and how the words of Scripture can be applied in their lives. When holding meetings, you can use visual materials: videos, illustrations on the topic of the event being studied. If there is disagreement, or difficulties in understanding the Gospel, the members of the department can write down the questions and invite a priest to the next readings for joint discussion. Following the example of the Gospel readings, you can organize an acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament. In order to consolidate the passed material, you can hold a quiz. (Appendix № 4, "Bible quiz", quiz "Gospel parables").

Another form of youth education is spiritual and moral conversations.

Option 1 . Conversation for the activists of the youth department and unchurched youth.

* The active youth department makes a list of topics of interest to the youth environment.

* A week before the meeting, another topic is announced, the youth department, unchurched youth are notified.

* The active youth department prepares the material for the conversation, using biblical events, interpretations on them, the creations of the holy fathers. The conversation takes place on the territory of the church. Participants discuss the topic and express their opinions.

* You can make the meeting more interesting by inviting a person who has the relevant knowledge and spiritual experience. For example, if we are talking about family values, then an Orthodox family is invited, if about sins and the fight against them, then a priest, if about music, then a layman or a church minister with musical talent, if about mercy, then a church leader of one of the social services cities, and so on.

Theme options:

What is love? How is love different from falling in love?

What is family?

What was man born for?

Relationships between people and how to learn to live according to conscience?

What is the ministry of a man and a woman?

What should be the appearance of an Orthodox Christian?

Orthodox youth and music.

Eight passions and eight opposite virtues.

Option 2. Conversation for unchurched youth.

* You must choose a place for the conversation. It can be a city library, school, technical school, lyceum.

* It is necessary to determine the topic of the conversation. You shouldn't talk to young people about difficult spiritual things. It is enough to touch upon a topic that is close to any young person and reveal it from the perspective of Orthodoxy. The conversation can be timed to coincide with one of the upcoming events - to the Victory Day to hold a conversation on the topic “The sacrificial feat of Russian soldiers during the years of the struggle against fascism. What feat can a young man accomplish today? "

* Notification of youth must be done through an advertisement in a newspaper, posters, the Internet.

* When preparing material, details, you can use video films, if possible, then musical accompaniment (guitar), a game form of conversation. After the conversation, distribute to the youth the parish newspaper with a youth page and the schedule of meetings of the youth department for the near future.

Prayer

An important work inherent in the life of any Orthodox person is prayer. We try to start and end each meeting of the youth department with a prayer commemorating the names of the department members. In each temple, a certain prayer activity is performed, whether it be singing in the kliros or reading akathists. In our church, for example, young people read the canons and "Follow-up to Holy Communion" and thanksgiving prayers for those who do not have the opportunity to pray at home before the Communion before the festive services. Children who do not have the musical ability to sing on the kliros can learn temple reading.

Informational space

It is impossible to imagine a modern young man without the media. The parish can use this fact in order to convey Orthodox values ​​and information to the youth through modern means of communication.

Option 1. To do this, you can maintain a youth page, or an appendix in the parish newspaper. Regularly publish articles on the topics of spiritual and moral conversations, articles on the activities of the youth department. This is a kind of preaching about Christ, because by reading a newspaper or an Internet site, young people learn that in the church not only old people and church life are not boring, as is commonly believed, but full of interesting events.

Option 2. Coverage the activities of the youth department on the parish and diocesan website, Vkontakte. On them, young people will be able to find out the schedule of events, share impressions and discuss various topics.

Sporting activities

Joint sports activities will help to rally young people and invite new participants.

* Interview youth department members about sports interests.

* Make an appointment with your local sports facility for a visit schedule.

* Provide both churched and non-churched youth with the schedule of sporting events. Use the summer period for joint outdoor recreation, winter for sledding, skiing, ice skating. After class, conduct a conversation on the topic "Orthodoxy and Sports", tea drinking.

Sunday School Children and Youth Department

In order for the students of the senior group of the Sunday school to not leave the bosom of the Church after graduation, they need to be given the opportunity to apply their talents within the walls of the church even during the period of study. Involve the youth department in the activities.

* From the elders "will be resurrected" form a junior youth department headed by one of the teachers, or a senior member of the youth department.

* Decide on the time and frequency of meetings. Activities can be conducted in the form of “Christian evenings”.

* Conduct activities similar to those held in the youth department, involve resurrected people in the activities of the youth department.

Appendix # 1.

Script for the Christmas scene "What is Christmas for you?"

1.6 young people,

3.Archangel Gabriel,

4. Virgin Mary

5. The owner of the hotel,

7.2 shepherd,

11.2 sages.

Act 1 (young people sit at the edge of the stage)

- Christmas ... Every year people celebrate Christmas as another holiday, without even understanding what it means to them.

- How can you celebrate this day, like all other holidays? This is a very special day!

- I have a dream - to visit the city where Jesus was born, to walk along the streets where He walked.

- And I would like to be in the place of a sage, to bring gifts to Jesus: incense, myrrh, jewelry ...

- It would be even better to be transported to that time, to see little Jesus, to watch how He grows, because He lived here on earth like an ordinary person.

- Well, just a club of some dreamers! Crowds of people followed Jesus, you still would not see anything, and stop dreaming, you need to come up with something to help people treat the holiday of Christmas differently, with reverence, with favor, with prayer and glorification.

- But for this it is necessary that Jesus was born first in the hearts of people.

- That's right, you need to tell them about it.

Archangel Gabriel: Rejoice, Blessed One! Mary, you will give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus.

The Virgin Mary: But how can this be? I don’t have a husband !?

Archangel Gabriel: The Holy Spirit will descend on You.

The Virgin Mary: Let it be as you said.

The Reader's Voice: "In those days, there was a command to make a census all over the earth. And all went to enroll, each to his own city. And Joseph also went to a city called Bethlehem, to enroll together with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was pregnant." So they were looking for a place to sleep. "

Hotel owner: Yes Yes! What do you need?

Joseph: I beg your pardon, sir .. We came from afar and we need a place to sleep.

Hotel owner: All my rooms are occupied.

The Virgin Mary: O! Is there really not a single free one ?!

Hotel owner: There is a small barn nearby. How about him, huh?

Joseph: Of course we agree.

Hotel owner: Come with me, I'll show you.

1 shepherd: Oh-oh-honushki-ho-ho! How boring!

2 shepherd: Yeah! Nothing interesting.

1 shepherd: Hey, what is this ?!

The reader's voice: "Do not be afraid, I proclaim to you a great joy that will be to all people: for now a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born in the city of David; and here is a sign for you: you will find a Baby in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."

2 shepherd: Hey, let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has announced to us.

All shepherds: Yes, let's go, let's go.

Servant: Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Have you heard the news?

Herod: And what's the news?

Servant: The king is born!

Misha: What!? Who told you this!?

Servant: Some kings that came from the east to worship Him.

Tsar: Worship Him ?! Worship Him ?! Worship Him ?!

Servant: Guests, Your Majesty!

Tsar: You must be very tired? Tell me about your journey. What brings you to Jerusalem?

1 sorcerer: We came to find one born King of the Jews.

2 magi: We saw His star in the east and now we have come to worship Him.

Herod: How lovely! And when you find Him, please let me know. I also want to worship Him.

1 sorcerer: Certainly, Your Majesty!

Act 8. (Young people appear on stage)

- The most important gift was made for all of us. This is the birth of Jesus!

- After all, God loved His creation so much that He did not want humanity to perish in evil. And to earth, in the form of a little child, he sent His Son, who was to become the Savior of the world.

- Listen, was Jesus born in your heart?

- Well, you asked that! I know Him from the cradle, I pray, I read the Bible, I go to Sunday services, and you think I don't know Him?

- You need a personal meeting with the Lord, learn to honor Him as a Savior and love as a Friend.

- Well, there are dreams again. How can I meet Him in person?

- And you need Jesus to live in your heart, just invite Him.

- But how to invite?

- Just ask Him for forgiveness for all your sins, and ask to come into your heart.

- Lord, forgive me. Come into my heart, let it be Your home.

- How wonderful it is, now the Lord has one more hearty house!

The script for the Easter scene "God is closer than you think "

Wife: Honey, come with me to church today.

Husband: Again, yes !? For the hundredth time I say to you: what have I forgotten there? Watch how you pray to God, who, by the way, has not helped us in any way.

Wife: But dear ...

Husband: What? What else? You know, if I happened to meet this God of yours, I would ask Him a couple of questions ... (mockingly). However, I'll go and see if He is there (gesturing with his hand) or there.

The husband leaves. The wife kneels down.

Wife: Forgive him, Lord, for his unbelief, give him a chance to get to know You. (Stands up) Okay, I'll go, put things in order, soon to the meeting.

Husband: This God, forever this God. After all, what did He do for the people? What has He done for me? Why should I believe in Him when I have never seen Him?

The light comes on. The husband is lying on the floor. A companion in a raincoat with a fishing rod and a bucket is sitting nearby.

Husband: What happened to me? People, is anyone here? Oh my God! Anyone!

Satellite: What are you shouting? I'm here.

Husband: Who are you? What happened to me?

Sputnik: You were hit by a car, and I am a fisherman (points to his raincoat, fishing rod and bucket).

Sputnik: Here, take it (holds out bread).

Husband: Bread! Today is a holiday, you need to eat chicken there, salads ... (breaks off bread, chews). However, I am full. And now I can walk myself (jumps up). I do not have much time! Need more…

Sputnik: Wait, I'll go with you.

Husband: Well, no, I myself! Thank you, of course, for feeding, but I don't need a companion. Just think ... (falls) Oh! Slippery (falls again)! Oh help! Anyone!

Satellite (approaches, picks up): Well, what are you shouting? Get up, come on.

Husband: Thank you. Well, I went.

Sputnik: Wait, I'm with you.

Husband: No, I know where to go (walks and rests against a post). Oh, what is this? So there is nothing here (feeling around). Here too ... (confidently). I went. Oh, what is this? Hey fisherman!

Sputnik: Why are you shouting all the time? I'm here.

Husband: Well okay, I admit you know where to go. Lead.

Companion (takes her husband away from the post): Tell me, why did you even embark on this journey and where are you in a hurry?

Husband: I need to find someone who can die for me.

Sputnik: Die for you? (thoughtfully) What a strange assignment. And where are you going to look for such a person? It seems to me that here you will not approach the first person you meet (stops a passer-by). Would you like to die for this person?

Passer-by: What is the question? No, of course, why should I want it?

Sputnik: Well, I don't know, out of a sense of mercy, maybe.

Passer-by: The best mercy is mercy towards yourself. Everyone is responsible for himself (leaves, muttering to himself), to die for someone - what a strange idea.

Husband: But I'm not going to ask people on the street for this, but many love me, there are friends ...

Sputnik: Are you sure they will help you?

Husband: No, of course I'm not sure. I tried to do good to people, but, nevertheless, hardly anyone would give their life for this ... No, I cannot ask for that.

Sputnik: What are you going to do?

Husband: I will go, say goodbye to my wife and accept my punishment myself.

Satellite (confidently): Now I am convinced that you really do not need a satellite. At home you will find what you are looking for. By the way, God is closer to you than you think (goes into the hall).

Husband: Closer than I think ...

Wife: Honey, are you back?

Husband: Yes. I have something important to say.

Wife: But I'm already late for church, and today is the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Husband: Nothing, let's go together. Wait, what's so special about this Jesus?

Wife: Well, how? He died for the sins of the whole world. I agreed to die for each of us.

Husband: To die for each of us ... So this is what that strange man had in mind !!!

Wife: What other person?

Husband: Well, the one with whom I came here. The voice still seemed familiar to me ... Wait, it was he who defended me at the trial ...

Wife: What kind of court? Dear, you left there an hour ago! And here ... you came alone.

Husband: You know, dear, one way or another, I understood a lot today. I think God is much closer to us than many people think. Much closer.

Appendix "No. 2

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Appendix No. 3

Prayer before and after reading the Gospel

Prayer before reading: “Lord, Jesus Christ, open my heart ears to hear Your word, and understand and do Your will, as I am a stranger on earth: do not hide from me Your commandments, but open my eyes, so that I understand miracles from Your law; tell me your unknown and secret wisdom. I trust in You, my God, so that I enlighten my mind and meaning with the light of Your mind, not only written honor, but also create, so that I will not read the holy lives and words in my sin, but in renewal, and enlightenment, and in holy things, and in salvation of the soul, and the inheritance of eternal life. For Thou art enlightening those lying in darkness, and from Thee is every good gift and every gift is perfect. Amen!"

Prayer after reading: “Lord, Jesus Christ, my God, with the words of Your Divine Gospel, pour out Your grace on the hearts of these Thy servants (names) to destroy their passions and sins, and grant them the power to correct in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

Appendix No. 4

Bible Quiz

Participants are divided into two teams. In turn, each team is read out a question, for the correct answer the teams receive one point, the team that does not know the answer yields the question to the other team. The team with the most points wins.

List of sample questions:

1) A person who steadfastly obeys the commandments of God?

2) Who was Jacob Zebedee before he became a disciple of Christ?

3) Sin against the first commandment of the law of God.

4) Who died an unusual death, which did not die before him, and will not die after him?

5) On Holy Thursday, when Christ prayed in Gethsemane, the apostles fell asleep. All but one. Who is this?

6) How many people did the Lord save after the flood?

7) Name three Roman officers who believed in Christ.

8) What did Jesus Christ preach?

9) Nickname of Jesus Christ?

10) What Church Sacrament can a layman perform?

11) What is the name of the last week before Lent?

12) What was the original sin of Adam and Eve?

13) The name Jesus means the salvation of God, and what does Christ mean?

14) Faith is ...?

15) How many commandments are there in the Bible?

16) Who was the first to go to heaven after the fall?

17) The name of Joseph's father, Mary's betrothed?

18) Before what feast in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos is the multi-day fast established?

19) What day of the week is dedicated to the glorification of the Mother of God?

20) Which of the Ten Commandments forbids gossip?

21) What was the name of the tree that Jesus cursed, not finding fruit on it?

23) How many wings does an angel have?

24) Which of the Old Testament heroes did not eat food after fasting forty days?

25) How to express in one word the entire content of the law?

26) What commandment of Moses reveals the secret of longevity?

27) What does the sixth of the ten commandments sound like?

28) How do the Old Testament commandments differ from the New Testament commandments?

29) Who was Jonah?

30) The first Russian Christian prince?

31) What is the longest church holiday?

32) What is the name day?

Quiz "Gospel Parables"

Several words or sentences from the Gospel parables are read to those present. From them, the participants should find out which parable is being discussed. The one who raised his hand answers and briefly tells the meaning and interpretation of the parable. At the end of the quiz, all participants are given a book "Once upon a time there was a man ... 101 parables."

1. "... And other fell between the thorns, and the thorns grew and drowned it out" (About the sower).

2. “... so that when you choose the tares, you do not pluck out the wheat with them, let both grow together until the harvest; and during the harvest I will say to the reapers: first gather the tares and bind them in sheaves to burn them, but take the wheat into my barn "(On the tares).

3. “... the woman took it and put it in three measures of flour, until everything was leavened (About leaven).

4. “... The Kingdom of Heaven is also like a treasure hidden in the field, which, having found, a man hid, and out of joy about it goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field” (O treasure hidden in the field).

5. "... The Kingdom of Heaven is also like a merchant seeking good pearls, who, having found one precious pearl, went and sold everything that he had and bought it" (About a precious pearl).

6. “... The foolish ones took their lamps, but did not take oil with them. But the wise, together with their lamps, took oil in their vessels ”(About ten virgins).

7. “... Having yet another son, dear to him, at last he sent him to them, saying: They will be ashamed of my son. But the tenants said to one another: This is the heir; let us go, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours ”(On the Evil Vineyards).

8. "... The lord of those slaves comes and demands an account of them." (About ten talents).

9. “... So the last will be the first, and the first will be the last, for many are called, but few are chosen” (About workers who received equal pay).

10. “A certain man was rich, dressed in purple and fine linen, and feasted brilliantly every day” (About the rich man and Lazarus).

11. “... my son! you are always with me, and all mine is yours, but about that it was necessary to rejoice and rejoice, that your brother was dead and came to life, was lost and is found ”(About the prodigal son).

12. “... On occasion a priest walked that way and, seeing him, passed by” (On the Good Samaritan).

13. “... And I will tell you: ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and they will open it to you ”(On the persistent request).

14. “... That slave, coming out, found one of his companions, who owed him a hundred denarii, and, seizing him, strangled him, saying: give me what you owe” (On the merciless debtor).

15. “... If anyone had a hundred sheep, and one of them got lost, would he not leave ninety-nine in the mountains and go to look for the lost one” (About the lost sheep).

16. “... If that servant, being angry, says in his heart: my lord will not come soon, and begin to beat his companions and eat and drink with drunkards, then the lord of that servant will come on the day on which he does not expect, and at the hour at which he does not think. " (About slaves awaiting the return of their master).

17. "... And when it is sown, it springs up and becomes larger than all the grains, and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can hide under its shade" (On a mustard seed).

18. "... For I tell you that none of those who are invited will taste my supper, for many are invited, but few are chosen" (Concerning those who are invited to the feast).

19. “... Then the King will say to those on His right side: Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and you gave Me food; thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me ”(On the Last Judgment).

20. “… The faithful in the little things is faithful in many respects, but the unfaithful in the little things is also wrong in many things. So if you have not been faithful in unrighteous riches, who will believe you with the true? " (About the unfaithful steward).

Appendix No. 5

Spiritual and moral conversation "Orthodoxy and Sport"

"Fizra" - this is how young people in everyday life call the concept of "physical culture", often not understanding what it includes. What is it - physical education? Is sports useful for Orthodox people? What is the purpose of physical education? Today, very often in church topics, the question of the attitude of Orthodox people to physical culture is raised. Some believe that sport helps to be healthy both in body and soul, is not a sinful occupation for a Christian. The opinion of others boils down to the fact that a healthy lifestyle is not important for the salvation of the soul and prevents a person from achieving the main goal of his being. To understand where the truth is, help the words of the Apostle Paul: "... glorify the Lord both in your bodies and in your souls" (1 Cor. 6:20). God created our bodies, united both the spiritual and the physical in the human person. We know from the Gospel that Christ more than once raised the dead and healed the human body, which he lovingly created for eternal life. This means that not only the soul is important for God, but also the body that is called to serve Him. Therefore, it would be more correct to talk not about whether the body interferes with a person's salvation, but about how the body can help him.

The health of our body is an invaluable gift from God. A person who is irresponsible about his health and suffers from disease neglects this gift. Such people often do not have the strength for spiritual exercises. Christians, deliberately not strengthening their health through exercise, forget that if we are sick, we cannot help not only others, but our loved ones also have to look after us. We must remember that with our good health we serve our neighbors: we give birth and raise children, we have the opportunity to work and support our family, and help others. Saint Theophan the Recluse wrote in a letter to his spiritual child: “Health must be protected. Health is a horse. If you drive it, there will be nothing to drive ”. He recommended every day, at least an hour, to walk in the fresh air, give up a sedentary lifestyle and, if possible, engage in intense physical work.

Why should a person go in for sports? Achieving bodily health is certainly not a goal for a Christian. Sport kills the soul and leads away from God if it pursues the wrong goals. For example, a person takes care of good physical shape in order to serve vanity and sin, in order to take pride in his athletic achievements. An Orthodox person needs to keep his body in good shape in order to serve God and others with full dedication. St. John Chrysostom noted that in an emaciated and relaxed body, the feelings are "not in a healthy state, but weak and lifeless." To pray, observe fasting, perform virtues and glorify the Lord in them, work on the salvation of the soul - for this, physical education is necessary. The famous teacher of the Church, St. Clement of Alexandria, wrote: “Young men need to have bodily exercise. There will be no harm if they exercise their bodies in what is good for health, so long as such activities do not distract them from the best. " It is known that the Holy Monk Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth went in for sports, swam, played tennis, and, often congratulating her loved ones on church holidays, wished them, in addition to spiritual salvation, also good health, which is necessary, as she wrote: strength to pray. "

Today, young people prefer to sit at a computer and TV over playing sports. This has a detrimental effect on the physical and spiritual condition of a person. Everything in the world deteriorates from inaction. Standing water rots, and iron lying in the air rusts without use. So a person who still spends time at the computer, without doing any exercises, stands in the place of his spiritual development, and the body leads to a fading state.

Members of the parish youth department are committed to healthy living, which in turn leads to spiritual vigilance. The guys regularly hold sports events. In winter, for example, we went skiing and skating, and went to the gym. In the summer, we went out into the countryside on bicycles. It is planned to open a sports club in the building of the new sports complex "Olympus".

Appendix No. 6

Game "Night Watch"

Stage 1. Preparation for the game.

A week before the game, notify the city youth and members of the youth department.

Select team coordinators, one per team.

For the coordinators, compose tasks for the game of several types: excerpts from the Gospel (chapter, verse), in which the location of the next task is hidden, riddles, the answers to which are a clue to the location of the next task.

On the day of the game, the coordinators hide the tasks at the selected objects.

Stage 2. Before the start.

Explain the rules of the game to the participants.

Divide the youth into teams - five people per team.

Choose the captain in the teams.

To hand over the Gospel to the captains (we used a modern translation of the New Testament from the ancient Greek “Good News”).

Stage 3. Let's go…

Vehicle teams start from the same point after receiving the first assignment. After the teams guess where the code is hidden, they go to the object and look for it. After they find the code, the team captain finds a chapter and a verse in the Gospel, explains its content, and sends an SMS message to the coordinator with the found code. The coordinator sends a word to the team instead of the received code. After passing all the stages, the team must use the received words to make a sentence that will be the key to victory. If the code is not found, the captain sends a message to the coordinator that the team needs a hint. For receiving 1 hint, the team receives 5 penalty minutes. The winner is the team that finds all the codes the fastest, draws up a proposal and arrives at the starting point.

Stage 4. The aftereffect.

After the game, the participants are presented with gifts. Over tea, the participants share their impressions of the game. The game allows you to unite churched and non-churched youth, to get acquainted with the Gospel in a playful way, to work in a team.

Team # 1

Team # 2

Team # 3

The need and importance of church work with young people is based on the teaching of Holy Scripture about the diversity of forms and methods of the apostolic ministry of the Church, which addresses the preaching of the Gospel to all people without exception. This general missionary principle was formulated by St. Apostle Paul: “To the Jews I was like a Jew, in order to win the Jews; for those under the law was as under the law, in order to get those under the law; for those who are alien to the law - as alien to the law, - not being alien to the law before God, but subject to the law of Christ, - in order to acquire alien to the law; to the weak I was as weak, that I might gain the weak. I became all things to all, that I might save at least some ”(1 Cor. 9:22). The Church in her missionary and pastoral ministry must always seek and find those forms of preaching that would be relevant and understandable for people of different ages, nationalities and professions. Today, the Russian Orthodox Church is facing the question of the churching of young people, whose spiritual and moral condition is of decisive importance for the future of our Church and society.

Thanks to the missionary efforts of the Orthodox Church, the young generation should hear from pastors and faithful peers living and convincing answers to their searches and questions, to find in the Church genuine values ​​and reliable life guidelines, to receive the necessary conditions for the disclosure of their inner spiritual and moral potential.

2.

Church youth work includes both the organization of young members of parish communities and a mission among urban and rural youth, students, schoolchildren, members of public youth associations.

Church youth work is coordinated within the following structure.

Church-wide level

At the church-wide level, work with youth is headed by the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate (hereinafter referred to as the Synodal Department). The Synodal Department is the coordinating body in relation to similar institutions operating in the Self-Governing Churches, Exarchates, Metropolitan Districts and Dioceses, and as such has the right to address, within its competence, the diocesan bishops and leaders of other canonical divisions, send them their normative documents and request the appropriate information (Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church, chapter VI, item 9).

The tasks of the Synodal Department include:

1. coordination and development of systematic church-wide youth work;
2. development, coordination and implementation of large church-wide and international youth programs and projects;
3. coordination and development of the education system and advanced training for clergy, laity, specialists in the field of church work with youth, together with the Study Committee, the Synodal Department of Religious Education and Catechesis, church and secular educational institutions and institutions (including the development and introduction of the curriculum of Orthodox educational institutions of the course on the organization of youth work);
4. coordination and development of a short-term training system for full-time youth workers and Orthodox youth leaders in parishes, deaneries and dioceses;
5. methodological support of church youth work, preparation and distribution of teaching materials in all areas of youth work;
6. assistance in the activities of Orthodox youth associations;
7. preparation of draft youth work-related agreements with government authorities and corresponding model agreements for use in dioceses;
8. methodological support in cooperation with the Synodal Department of Religious Education and Catechism of Continuity in the work of parish Sunday schools for children and youth parish associations;
9. in coordination with the Department for External Church Relations and the Office of the Moscow Patriarchate for Institutions Abroad - exchange of experience with foreign youth organizations;
10. in coordination with the Publishing Council and the Synodal Information Department - coverage of the youth work of the Church through publishing and information activities;
11. organization and holding of youth congresses, forums, camps and gatherings;
12. organizing and coordinating the participation of Orthodox youth in church, public and state holidays and events related to memorable dates;
13. conducting church-wide targeted monetary collections;
14. in coordination with the Synodal Department for Relations between Church and Society - interaction with state and public structures in improving legislation, bylaws and practices related to the life of young people, as well as the participation of the Church in youth work.

Diocesan level

The general management of diocesan divisions operating in the field of youth work is carried out by the ruling bishops. To organize youth work in the diocese, there is a diocesan department for youth affairs, which in its work is guided by general church regulations, the instructions of the ruling bishop, and the recommendations of the Synodal department for youth affairs. The salaries of the staff, organizational expenses, programs and activities of the Diocesan Youth Department are paid from the diocesan budget and funds raised.

The tasks of the diocesan youth affairs departments include:

1. coordination of all church youth work in the diocese, coordination of the activities of staff responsible for working with youth in deaneries and parishes, as well as Orthodox youth associations;
2. development and implementation of annual plans for youth work in the diocese;
3. development and implementation of general diocesan youth programs and projects, involving young people in their implementation.
4. implementation of the following priority forms and directions of youth work:

• classes for young people on the study of Holy Scripture, the doctrine of the Church, liturgical tradition, comprehension of the meaning of worship and the foundations of Christian life;
• missionary youth activities and trips;
• young family clubs
• youth social volunteer projects;
• a diocesan festival that includes various types of youth creativity;
• sports games with the participation of youth teams of deaneries and parishes;
• summer youth camps;
• participation of Orthodox youth in church, public and state holidays and events related to memorable dates;
• congresses of Orthodox youth and forums with their participation;

In accordance with clause 18 of the Definition of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church (February 2-4, 2011) "On issues of the internal life and external activities of the Russian Orthodox Church", a collegium of the diocesan department for youth affairs is created in the dioceses. The Collegium is an advisory body under the Diocese's Youth Affairs Department. The Collegium is formed and carries out its activities in accordance with the standard Regulations adopted by the Holy Synod.

Deanery level

At the level of the deanery, the general organization, coordination and control of work with youth are carried out under the direction of the dean. The direct implementation of this work should be entrusted to the full-time youth work officer in the deanery. The person responsible for youth work in the deanery is appointed and dismissed by the diocesan bishop on the proposal of the chairman of the department for youth affairs of the diocese, in agreement with the dean. The person responsible for youth work in the deanery is assigned to the staff of one of the parishes of the deanery with a salary according to the staffing table. The person responsible for youth work in the deanery is subordinate to the dean and coordinates his activities with the chairman of the youth affairs department of the diocese. The dean is in charge of raising funds for youth programs and activities in the deanery.

The duties of the full-time youth work officer in the deanery include:

1. support and assistance in the development of youth work in the parishes of the deanery;
2. coordination of the activities of those responsible for youth work in the parishes of the deanery;
3. drawing up an annual plan of youth work for the deanery, agreeing it with the diocesan department for youth affairs and submitting it to the dean for approval;
4. ensuring the implementation of diocesan youth programs and projects in the deanery;
5. ensuring the participation of youth activists from parishes in church-wide youth programs;
6. participation in the work of the diocesan board of the department for youth affairs;
7. control of reports and implementation of work plans of those responsible for youth work in the parishes of the deanery;
8. providing information support for youth work in the deanery, including video and photographing of ongoing projects, creating an archive of youth work in the deanery; reflection of this work on the Deanery website, social networks and blogs;
9. preparation of an annual report on the youth work done to the dean and to the youth affairs department of the diocese.

An important criterion for assessing the activities of the staff responsible for youth work of the deanery is the increase in the number of young parishioners, their participation in youth programs and projects.

Parish level

At the parish level, the general organization, coordination and supervision of youth work is within the competence of the prior. The direct implementation of this work should be entrusted to the staff member responsible for youth work, in those parishes where it is possible to create such a staff unit. The decision on the possibility or impossibility is made by the parish council, headed by the rector, in agreement with the dean and diocesan department for youth affairs.

The person responsible for youth work in the parish is appointed and dismissed by the rector. The person in charge of youth work in the ward is assigned to the ward staff with a salary according to the staffing table. The person responsible for youth work is subordinate to the rector and coordinates his activities with the chairman of the diocesan department for youth affairs and with the person responsible for youth work in the deanery. Parish youth programs and activities are funded from the parish funds and borrowed funds. Orthodox youth associations can be created in the parish.

Parish youth work can take many forms, in particular:

• conversations and meetings with the clergy and specially invited guests;
• doctrinal (catechetical) studies;
• Scripture Study Groups;
• missionary activities and trips;
• social projects;
• youth camps;
• internet projects;
• film clubs;
• hobby groups;
• addiction prevention projects;
• sport sections;
• military-patriotic clubs;
• clubs of a young family.

The responsibilities of the ward youth worker include:

1. development of youth work in the parish;
2. selection of active helpers from among the young parishioners, taking care of their corresponding training; formation of parish youth activists;
3. development and implementation of parish youth projects;
4. implementation of joint projects with other parishes;
5. maintaining contact with educational and social institutions existing on the territory of the parish, where young Orthodox Christians could show their activity;
6. attracting secular specialists professionally employed in the field of youth work to interact with the parish;
7. drawing up an annual plan for parish youth work, agreeing it with the person responsible for youth work in the deanery and submitting it to the rector for approval;
8. providing information support for youth work in the parish, including video and photographing of ongoing projects, creating an archive of youth work; reflecting this work on the ward website (if available), social media, and blogs;
9. implementation, in agreement with the rector of the parish, of interaction with state, municipal and public organizations and institutions operating in the territory of the parish, on issues related to youth work;
10. attracting volunteers to participate in youth projects and programs;
11. ensuring the participation of youth activists of the parish in church-wide, diocesan and deanery programs;
12. preparation of an annual report to the parish rector, which is also sent to the person responsible for youth work in the deanery and to the diocese youth affairs department.

An important criterion for assessing the activities of the person responsible for youth work in the parish is the increase in the number of young parishioners, their participation in youth programs and projects.