« Cleric of Sourozh Diocese participates in Suprasl International Orthodox Youth Gathering »
28-07-2025 
From 21st - 24th July 2025, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Archpriest Stephen Platt, head of the diocesan department of youth work, participated in Suprasl 2025, a world gathering of Orthodox youth organised at the Suprasl Lavra of the Annunciation (Suprasl, Poland), with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and all Poland (Polish Orthodox Church). The theme of the gathering was ‘Living the Creed: from words to action’ - a theme relating to the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea (AD325), from which originated the Symbol of Faith.
Participants in the gathering came from Orthodox youth movements in many countries including Poland, Lithuania, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria and Lebanon, together with Orthodox youth from North America and Western Europe.
Father Stephen was one of the keynote speakers, and lectured on the theme of ‘The Creed: believing and belonging in Liturgy and life’. In addition, he met with participants in seminars and small group conversations.
In addition to formal lectures, the programme also included daily prayers in the main monastery church of the Annunciation, time for socialising and informal conversation, as well as practical workshops on a range of topics.
In keeping with tradition, the participants of Suprasl 2025 visited the Monastery of Saints Mary and Martha on the Holy Mountain of Grabarka, where they planted a cross among the thousands left by pilgrims since the 1700s.
During their pilgrimage, the students also explored several historic churches in the region and learned about the renowned iconography school in Bielsk Podlaski.