This year two annual events of Youth Association of Belarusian Orthodox Church – Orthodox youth meeting which was supposed to be held on the June 24-26th in Akolica hosted by military parish dedicated to John the Warrior, as well as Cross procession around Minsk-city which was to be held on the July 15-24th – were cancelled. What was the reason – the crisis of the organization, organizational carelessness of the responsible for the event people, relationships with church hierarchy or the position of state authorities?

The meeting was cancelled because on the military base where the youth event was to be held military trainings were to be held at the same time. In such case Orthodox youth had a chance to be animated dartboards or inhabitants. The question rises: what was the motivation of organizers to chose the place for the meeting? Exaltations with military themes evident for Orthodox in connection with 60th anniversary of II World War victory? Or “military and patriotic” romanticism so typical for “right” orthodoxy? Or maybe exclusively because of organizational intentions: military discipline could help with the organization more efficiently? Or may be just occasionally? More so John the Warrior parish, connected with the scandal because of colonel Paulichenka (accused with disappearing and death of oppositional politicians) got Belarusian Orthodox Church official award for support in the building of the parish, is govern by young active priest Pavel Siardziuk, who is quite active in Orthodox youth movement? Still unclear if the meeting will be reschedule or the main annual youth event will be cancelled at all.

As regards the Religious Procession, its path was crossed by another Religious Procession, organized by the newspaper “Rus’ Derzhavnaya” - “Moscow-Minsk-Kiev”, about which we have written already. Thus it was decided that two religious processions of that scale are too much for Belarus, and the Youth one (Procession) was cancelled, though two processions were completely different both in conception and their routes. In Russia such processions are quite usual, but for Belarus these are the extraordinary events. In this situation the Belarussian orthodox young people are victim of another event. The probable explanation is that in Russia the Religious Procession was supported by the authorities (one of the organizers is полпред (Empowered Representative) in the Central federal district of The President of Russian Federation. As regards the Belarussian Authorities, the Religious Procession “Rus’ Derzhavnaya” completely corresponds to the so called Belarussian State Ideology, while the youth orthodox event had more Christian and missionary character.

While Youth Association of BOC is in obvious crisis, the youth movement in Belarus grows, more and more actions are arranged by individual brotherhoods (both in Minsk and in regions). Youth department of Viciebsk diocese is quite active. It is autonomic from YABOC and held Orthodox youth events on high official level in straight colloboration with Russian and pan-Slavic organizations. Generally to mention Vitebsk department is working in the channel of 'slavic unity', 'military-pathriotic upbringing' and 'close collaboration with the ruling government’.