The Romanian Orthodox Youth in the Americas (ROYA) Camp took place at St. Demetrius Monastery in New York State, bringing together dozens of young people under the theme “The Saints of the Prisons.”
In the context of the Commemorative Year dedicated to Romanian Orthodox spiritual fathers and confessors of the 20th century, forty Orthodox youth aged 16 to 29 from various parts of North America participated in the camp from May 24 to 26.
The event opened on Friday evening, May 24, with the Vespers service. Participants also had the opportunity to learn about Romanian traditions and customs in an interactive and spiritual setting.
A Journey of Faith and Discovery
Each day began with the Divine Liturgy, followed by activities that deepened both cultural and spiritual understanding. On Saturday, the youth went on a trip to Manhattan, visiting iconic locations such as Times Square, Central Park, and the rebuilt Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas at the World Trade Center site.
The afternoon featured a talk on “The Saints of the Prisons,” delivered by Hieromonk Iacob Manga from St. Demetrius Monastery. He recounted the sufferings of martyrs imprisoned under communism, focusing on figures such as Saints Sofian of Antim and Elijah Lăcătușu.
On Monday, the final day of the camp, participants visited St. Tikhon’s Monastery in Pennsylvania—the oldest Orthodox monastery in North America—where they venerated the Wonderworking Iveron Icon of Hawaii.
Photo: mitropolia.us
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