On August 3rd, 2022, the exchange experience between the young adults of ASCOR Iași and ROYA ended. This pilgrimage was organized with the aim of strengthening the relationship between the two youth organizations, which although separated by 9000 kilometers of land and water, desire to be united in thought and experience.
The pilgrimage began on July 27, 2022, at Oașa Monastery, where the young adults from Iași met ROYA members gathered at the International Camp, organized around the feast day celebration to the patron saint of Saint Panteleimon. Here, the youth participated in the feast day, helping in their obediences given at the beginning of the camp. Later in the evening, youth got together at a campfire and made introductions with the members from ASCOR Iasi.
The next day, the group started the pilgrimage to Moldova. They left Oașa for Sibiu, where they stopped to visit the city. They enjoyed the old town, where they visited the Bruckenthal National Museum and the Metropolitan Cathedral. They had lunch at the headquarters of the Deanery, then headed to Brașov, where they stopped in the old center. After a brief stay in Brașov, they continued to Suzana monastery, which they reached in the evening. Tired after the long journey, they enjoyed a hot meal in the evening offered with love by the nuns from the monastery.
The following day, the group left for Iasi. Arriving in Iași, in the evening they had dinner at a local restaurant, where they met many other members from ASCOR. It was a pleasant atmosphere and very comfortable, a chance to meet Romanian youth.
In the morning the group went to Bucium Monastery, where they met Father Abbot Archim. Nicodemus Peter. Father spoke to them about his experience in ASCOR and in monastic life, sharing from his rich life experience. He invited the group to stay for lunch, they dined together, and he gave them an icon of the Mother of God Prodromița, a copy of the famous original that had been painted at Bucium Monastery. Father also showed the group around the grounds of the monastery, as well as the project of the educational center he wants to build it at Bucium Monastery.
Afterward, the group toured the Palace of Culture in the city center. They did a tour of the ethnographic museum, seeing how people lived in the villages of Moldova, Bessarabia, and Bucovina in the time of their grandfathers. They spent some more time around the palace, admiring the rich architecture unique to each room. Then some of the youth went to give an interview on the podcast Youth to Youth. At the end, they all met at the Metropolitan Cathedral from Iași, where they venerated Saint Parascheva and her relics, and visited Copou Park, to Eminescu's lime tree. Throughout all this time spent together, talking with the members from ASCOR, it was clear that they were facing similar problems as well as similar joys, and in this way the relationships were beautifully cemented together.
On Sunday morning, the youth gave the responses to the Divine Liturgy together with other young adults from Iași, who were preparing to go on a pilgrimage by foot, "In the footsteps of the Neamț Saints". Then the group continued to Petru Vodă Monastery, where they met Father Abbot Hariton, who stayed with them, and spoke to them about Father Iustin Pârvu, recounting concrete events that showed the advanced spiritual state of the Father. Father Hariton blessed them, and gave them a prayer book, emphasizing the importance of prayer in our lives, especially when life sends temptations and trials. Afterward, the youth went to Sihastria Monastery, venerated in the church, and started the trek through the mountains to Sihla. It was a fruitful hike, giving the group a chance to pray, sing and laugh together. Although the road was arduous at various stages, the sentiment of togetherness was very strong. Arriving at the top, at Saint Teodora’s cave, they prayed and sang the Troparion and other hymns, then headed down to Sihla Monastery, where they were welcomed by the monks of the monastery.
In the morning, the group attended the Divine Liturgy and, thanking the monks, left Sihla for Neamț Monastery. Then they stopped by Neamț Citadel, participating in a tour of the citadel and thus, learning from the rich heritage of our people's history. Voroneț Monastery followed, then they continued to Putna, the last stop. After a meeting with Father Abbot Melchisedec, who blessed them, they had a discussion with Father Protosinghel Dosoftei, who gave them a guided tour of the monastery, highlighting the essential characteristics of Saint Stephen the Great. In addition to the geopolitical context of the time and the history of Moldova, Father Dosoftei drew attention to the discernment of Saint Stephen, especially in the battle of Războieni, but also on the love and humility that he had.
On the last day of the pilgrimage, the group went to Salaș Hermitage in the morning, where they celebrated the feast day of St. Elijah, on the old calendar. They attended the Divine Liturgy, listening to Father Hrisostom's sermon about Elijah's zeal and obedience to God. The youth then had lunch with other young students from Bucovina. The schedule continued with a discussion with Father Hrisostom, who spoke about the biggest problem young people face in the diaspora, loneliness. The group then received a blessing and a gift from the Father Abbot, then a bonfire followed. On the Bucovina mountains, at sunset, there was an extraordinary atmosphere. They sang together, warmed by the fire, and then came the closing part. All participants, from ASCOR and ROYA, shared their thoughts. The ROYA participants were given a gift, a picture of the group from the past week, a Bucovina bag, and a book published by ASCOR Iasi about their last 30 years of ministry. From ROYA, the ASCOR youth received a carved, wooden plaque with a message of thank you, and with the signature and name of each ROYA participant.
This exchange experience is unique to ROYA. It is the first time we’ve collaborated so closely with a youth organization from overseas. The hope was to provide a space for participants to get to know each other and develop beautiful relationships. We thank God for this pilgrimage. Thank you to everyone who was at our side, Father Archimandrite Nicodim Petre, Father Abbot Melchisedec Velnic, Father Hrisostom, Father Archimandrite Hariton Negrea, Father Seraphim from Sihla and all those who dedicated time to us, spoke to us, and encouraged us in the spiritual struggle.
Pompiliu Gîrlonța
Iulian Tomeac
