On Tuesday, June 25, the 14th All-Diaspora Russian Orthodox Youth Conference began its work in the suburbs of Stuttgart, Germany. In attendance were 130 young men and women from different continents: a third of the participants were from the host country of Germany, with large delegations from the U.S. and Australia, which are always active in youth events, as well as young people from Canada, Austria, and others ‒ a total of 11 countries.

The conference is traditionally attended by bishops of the Russian Church Abroad: this year, it was attended by Their Graces Irenei, Bishop of London & Western Europe, and Job, Bishop of Stuttgart, as well as clergy from Germany, the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

On the first day of the conference, Deacon Patrick Hinds (cleric of St. Elizabeth the New-Martyr Church in Rocky Hill, NJ) gave a talk on the spiritual values behind Orthodox identity. He specifically spoke on St. John of Shanghai & San Francsico’s teaching on what ROCOR’s purpose was in the Diaspora. 

"The task of the Church Abroad is to prevent the dispersion of the children of the Orthodox Russian Church and to preserve the spiritual values they brought with them from the Motherland, as well as the spreading of Orthodoxy in the countries where they live," Fr. Patrick quoted St. John as saying.

The second half of the lecture was primarily on his own conversion to Orthodoxy and his experiences in ROCOR. After his lecture, Fr. Patrick received many questions and spoke to the youth one-on-one about various topics.

Later that day, participants had a Zoom meeting with Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

On Thursday, June 27, 2024, conference participants visited cities of the federal state of Hesse – Wiesbaden and Darmstadt, home to two churches built be members of the Russian Imperial Court – St. Elizabeth’s Church in Wiesbaden and St. Mary Magdalene Church in Darmstadt. During visits to these churches, a combined youth choir prayerfully sang spiritual hymns. Taking part in the choir were young men and women from the Eastern American Diocese, who likewise take an active in their home parishes.

On Saturday, June 29, everyone prayed at the All-Night Vigil in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Stuttgart, and on June 30, at Divine Liturgy in Holy New Martyrs & Confessors Cathedral in Munich. Bishop Job officiated the divine service.

The conference concluded with a farewell bonfire, during which the youth enjoyed fellowship and singing songs, followed by a thanksgiving moleben on July 1. Having thanked the organizers for a wonderful and well-run conference, conference participants, who made many new friends here, returned to their homes.