SOKAD Youth European Gathering 2024
So far, the spiritual highlight of my year!
A large number of young Syriac Orthodox believers from Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, and Luxemburg (plus two Indian seminarians currently studying at St. Ignatios Seminary in Södertälje, Sweden) gathered at Dayro d'Mor Jakob in Warburg, Germany, from March 29 to April 1, 2024, at the invitation of His Eminence Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis, the Patriarchal Vicar of the German archdiocese. An older Syriac Orthodox believer, German by birth but living in the United States, was invited to be there, too: ME!
I had planned a last-minute trip to Denmark for a couple of days to see my 85-year-old aunt, who lives alone in Nykøbing, Falster. I was then going to spend 12 days in Germany. My time in Germany just happened to coincide with the 2024 SOKAD (Syrisch-Orthodoxe Kirche von Antiochien in Deutschland) European Youth Gathering at our Mor Jakob Monastery in Warburg, Germany. As soon as I mentioned this, I received an invitation to come to the monastery. I will be honest: I did not think that was possible, and I was beyond excited when asked whether I would like to come. I had visited there three times before, but I had never stayed overnight. It wasn’t long before I made my way up to the monastery in Warburg, a little over a 1 1/2 hour drive from my hometown in Germany.
Dayro d’Mor Jakob from the front and the back. It was a Dominican monastery in its past and has now become the pristine seat of our archdiocese and the home of our Archbishop, His Eminence Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis.
I arrived a day early to try to help with preparations. After being greeted by Elisabeth Aydin, who was busy getting everything organized, I made the beds in the room I would share with another woman, helped in the kitchen a bit, and helped to set up the meeting room. Everything was just about ready to go. The group from the UK had already arrived under the leadership of Abouna Aphram Ozan. Evening prayers started at 4 pm, and we all made our way to the chapel. At the end of prayers, His Eminence Mor George Kourie, Patriarchal Vicar of Belgium, France and Luxembourg, arrived and was greeted warmly by His Eminence Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis, Abouna Aphram, and all the monastery students.
After prayers, dinner was ready, and we all enjoyed a wonderful fasting meal prepared by Dayrayto Maryam, the resident nun, and all the sweet ladies there to help feed the hordes to arrive. Some of the most memorable moments were the dinners: lots of beautiful singing of Syriac hymns. 🥰 I met Abouna Amanuel Dag, who was recently ordained, and Abouna Charbel Mghemez, whom I had met before on a research visit. At 10 pm, some of us headed back up to the chapel for night prayers. Raban Semun, the resident monk, gave a wonderful reflection on the Bible text read. I went back to my room (still without my roommate, who would arrive the next day) and fell asleep to the sounds of a slowly quietening monastery.
Friday:
After a walk around the monastery grounds, visiting the memorial to His Holiness Moran Mor Zakka I Iwas, who died ten years ago in Germany, I headed to morning prayers in the chapel. Breakfast isn’t eaten in the monastery during the Great Lent Fast mid-week, but it was offered to the visitors, should they want some. I watched in the kitchen as the dough for the Burshaneh or bread offering was being prepared with the accompanying prayers.
After mid-day prayers in the chapel, lunch was served after prayers by His Eminence Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis and the singing of Abun d’Bashmayo (the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic). I cannot say enough good things about the food that had been lovingly prepared by a number of women from various parishes. It was so delicious!
After lunch clean-up (everyone helped, and boy, you should see the dishwasher work overtime!), the dough was ready to form the loaves for the Holy Qurobo (liturgy) the next day. It is a fascinating and highly structured process. All glory to God for the hands that have learned to prepare these bread offerings lovingly.
The afternoon was spent helping in the kitchen to prepare food for the following days, greeting arrivals and handing out keys to the rooms, and a stroll with the UK group to the front of the monastery. I was blessed to see how Abouna Aphram not only leads these young people but also how they think about how they can share their faith. May the Lord ever increase their passion for Him!
At 4 p.m., instead of evening prayers, our newest priest in Germany, Abouna Raphael Gök, celebrated the Holy Quorobo in the chapel. It was only his second liturgy since being ordained, but you would never know. It was the most beautiful time of worship and receiving the holy Eucharist. His Eminence Mor Philoxenus would say at dinner that this was the most beautiful liturgy he remembered being celebrated in the chapel. I would have to agree. It was powerful to hear the chanted prayers of our young people and to see a priest celebrate the liturgy whom God so recently welcomed to serve at His altar. Two other of our new priests, Abouna Philippus Kör and Abouna Amanuel Dag assisted him in distributing communion.
Back in the dining room, Abouna Aphram shared with the non-Turoyo-speaking participants what His Eminence Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis had shared as a homily during the Holy Qurobo. Language was tricky, as some participants spoke English and Arabic, others German or French and Turoyo, etc. Translations were offered for some of the speeches. I am glad Abouna Aphram took the time to share what His Eminence had spoken.
After another wonderful dinner, the participants headed into the conference room for the official greeting by His Eminence Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis and an initial get-to-know-each-other game. This created a lot of laughs as participants paired off to introduce each other to everyone in the room. I was paired with a 17-year-old new friend from Switzerland, who insisted that I should share that he was a “really nice guy.” I would have to agree! In the middle of the initial remarks, His Eminence Mor Polycarpus Augin Ayin, the Metropolitan and Patriarchal Vicar for the Archdiocese of the Netherlands of the Syriac Orthodox Church, arrived and was warmly greeted.
All of our archbishops and several priests spoke, rounding out the evening. It was a great start to the 2024 SOKAD Youth European Gathering.
Note:
This post discussed Thursday, March 28, and Friday, March 29.
The remaining days will be in the next post.