The Summer Youth Program exposes our Orthodox boys to the rich spiritual heritage of ROCOR

The Summer Youth Program at Holy Trinity Monastery was established to expose our young Orthodox boys to the rich spiritual heritage and legacy of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and to life at Holy Trinity Monastery in particular. Its objectives are to nurture the development of these young adolescent men in the areas of spiritual discipline, steadfastness, and sobriety through a structured program of participation in the monastic community.

Participants “unplug” from computer and internet use, cell phone use, and in general from all electronic devices. If a film or video is featured in the program, it is for all participants together.

The number of participants has grown. The age range for participants is now split into two groups, in two separate sessions. Boys in the younger group are 14 to 15 years old, and these boys were here for just about one week from Saturday, June 27 to Friday, July 3. The boys in the older group ranged from 16 to 18 years of age, and they were here for just under two weeks, from Sunday, July 5 to Saturday, July 18.

The attendees attend 6:00am daily Liturgies, serve in the Altar and sing/read on kliros during Feast Days and weekends, participate in various work related obediences and general clean up in and around the monastery, attend spiritual lectures and discussion groups led by Bishop Luke as well as various invited speakers from both inside and outside the monastery/seminary community, watch select movies, attend catechism and evening prayers, and still have time to enjoy various leisure time and outdoor activities that the monastery campus and the beautiful surroundings of upstate NY have to offer. These include swimming, boating, canoeing, soccer, and hiking, as well as ping pong just to name a few.

We strongly encourage you to consider sending your Orthodox son or grandson (14-18 years of age) to this wonderful program next summer, in June-July of 2027. In the end, you - and they - will be very glad that you chose to involve them in this truly formational experience. Many of our seminary graduates, including some who went on to be ordained as deacons, priests, and even consecrated as hierarchs of the Church, experienced being a ‘Jordanville Monastery Summer Boy’ as an early and pivotal part of their journey on the path to serve the Holy Orthodox Church!