ROCOR urges the elderly not to scare youth away from Church

30 September 2008, 17:53

Moscow, September 30, Interfax – A leader of scout movement in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Archpriest Yaroslav Belikov recommends elderly parishioners who insult young people coming to the Church to think over spiritual education of their own grandchildren.

“When I see an old women reproaching youngsters, I always want to question them: why do you educate others’ children and grandchildren who have come to the Church? Where are your own grandchildren? Why didn’t they come to the church?” a cleric of the Church of Icon of Joy of All Who Sorrow in San Francisco and spiritual leader of the Kiev scout team Fr. Yaroslav told an Interfax-Religion correspondent.

According to the priest, new parishioners are lucky if they manage pass the candle shop and escape a remark about short sleeves, woman in trousers or a sign of cross improperly made. Fr. Yaroslav suggests treating these remarks philosophically: “There are little old ladies and there are small nettle.”

“If there are children playing, I always glad to see them. It means the Church has future,” the priest is convinced.

He suggested that the way to solve traditional conflict between “angry old ladies” and first comers is to make young people do something in the Church.

“Young parishioners should be sent to church vestibule to welcome people coming,” the scouts’ spiritual leader offers. Fr. Yaroslav believes that young doorkeepers can bridge priests and new people in church, who are embarrassed to come up to a priest and ask him their questions.

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