Youth Day  Service at the Monastery-- 16 June 2006    

On the 16th June 1976 many school children were walking in a procession in Dube in Soweto in a peaceful protest against the use of Afrikaans as the official language for instruction at schools
In Orlando  in Soweto the police fired shots in the air to disperse the protesting children who started throwing stones at the police who then started firing at the children and 4 children were killed

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated with a special requiem service at the Monastery in memory of those who died in Soweto on 16th June 1976 . 

There were 3 choirs singing in English Greek and Northern Sotho giving our  service a multi ethnic flavour.
Maria Gerondouthis lead an English choir comprising of the Students of the Seminary who are being trained to become tomorrows priests,
Fr. Dn. Stephen Hayes led the Mamelodi Choir who sang in Northers Sotho , The ladies from the St Nectarios old age home formed the Greek Choir

The Mnimosino or Requiem Service followed the Divine Liturgy in memory of those who died for the freedom of our Country

Fr Athinodoros welcomed Advocate George Bizos, the famous human rights lawyer,  and thanked him for  taking the time from his busy schedule to be our guest speaker
Advocate Bizos spoke about the essence of the struggle of the youth on the 16th June 1976  he also spoke abut the Church and about Bishop Desmond Tutu's  visit to Greece

 When the Service ended we all gathered in the Monasteries Dining room and ate lunch there .

The Youth event commenced after the lunch where  Fr Pantelejmon and Fr Athinodoros addressed the youth
In the invitation there were 3 questions for the youth to ponder  and these questions were discussed
and had discussions