In English
THE ORTHODOX YOUTH ASSOCIATION OF FINLAND (ONL)
The Orthodox Youth Association of Finland is a central organization of youth, working within the Finnish Orthodox Church. We are a member movement of Syndesmos.
Contact information
Address: ONL, Rantakatu 25, 80100 Joensuu, Finland
Phone: + 358 0206 100 370
Fax: + 358 0206 100 371
Email: onl (at) ort.fi
President: Fr. Teemu Toivonen
Executive Director: Mr. Kimmo Kallinen (kimmo.kallinen (at) ort.fi, +358 0206 100 373)
History
The Orthodox Youth Association of Finland (In Finnish Ortodoksisten Nuorten Liitto - ONL) was founded during the second world war, on 25.3.1943. It's aims were and still are: to strenghten the Orthodox Church of Finland, to help the youth to become living and active members of the Church, to raise and strenghten among the Orthodox youth the Orthodox spirit and Orthodox way of life and love towards their own church, to guide the Orthodox youth to study Orthodoxy.
We can consider the founding of ONL as life-saving for the Orthodox Church of Finland on those difficult days during and after the war. ONL really gathered young orthodox to witness their faith in the most Lutheran country in the world.
ONL has come to a mature age; it celebrated its 50th anniversary on 1993. The feast was also a regional festival of Syndesmos. There were some 30 people coming from around the world and about 1000 people from Finland to attend the feast. ONL has been and still is a remarkable part of the work of the Orthodox Church of Finland. We look forward to the future quite positively; the orthodox population has been increasing for several years now. This growth is a sign of hope and recovering for the Orthodox Church of Finland, a small but energetic Church among the Vineyard of the Lord.
Activities of ONL
Activities of the ONL have little by little developed their present form and now ONL is a central organization of youth, covering i.a. the following tasks:
* clubs
* camps
* camp counselor training
* international work
* publishing
* other activities
Clubs
During the early years of ONL the religion-teaching was not well organized in schools. In many cases the Orthodox children and youth didn't get at all teaching in their own faith at school. That's why the main activity of the early days of ONL was to arrange study circles, certain kind of clubs for youth aged in those days mostly 15-25. There were and still are clubs also for small children. Both in the childrens' clubs and in the youth clubs actual religion teaching played a very significant role. ONL published a program for every meeting and material to be used in the meetings. Nowadays the age of the club members is lower, about 3-12 years. In the clubs the children can learn of their Orthodox faith in a very simple way, with drawing and playing. ONL organizes training courses for club-counselors. This is the most important activity of ONL conserning clubs. There are normally two training courses annually for the club-counselors. Every now and then there is a weekend for the club-counselors just to meet each other and to change ideas. Produsing material for the clubs is as well very important way to support the clubs.
Camps
From the year 1947 ONL has organized camps for children and youth. In the beginning they were very big, up to almost 1000 campers, but later they were spilt into many smaller camps. Summer camps proved to be very successfull. They were and still are the most effective method of operation. Till the year 1957 the camps were organized on the area of the Konevitsa monastery. In 1958 ONL bought a camp site of its own, Puroniemi, which is located in central Finland. There ONL organizes most of its camps. At present, there are about 30-40 orthodox camps a year altogether in Finland. Most of the parishes arrange camps of their own. If the parishes which, they can get one camp-counselor from ONL to work at their camps.
Different camps
Orthodoxy camp for the 15-year-olds is maybe the most important camp. It is a special ten-days period, during which the youth learn things of Orthodoxy. Especially important is the principal learning by doing. There is very practical learning about the faith and life of the Orthodox Church during that camp. The youth takes part in the church services as readers, singers and helpers in the altar with the priest. This is important for them, because by being active in the church services they learn to see the services as their own. Then it is easier for them to attend the services also after the camp, in their parishes.
The children's camps are very important for many children, especially for those who live in the cities. On these camps they get to live near nature and to learn of their own faith. Of course teaching does not play as important role as on the orthodoxy camp. Teaching is hidden in the games, in the services and other activities on the camp.The most important thing is to create a positive experience. Then they might come back to the camp next year and participate in the life of the Church also when they grow up.
The Work camps are meant for youth from 15-16 up to 20. On the camp they repair the camp site, chop wood etc. and of course have daily services.
Camp counselor training
ONL organizes two camp-counselor training courses every spring. This is a very great help also for the youth camps held by the parishes. The participants are divided into two groups according to their age and experience. The training takes two weekends. Besides this ONL organizes one weekend every autum for the camp-counselors. This is just to get to meet each other and to unwrap the camps of the summer.
International work
ONL has been in a way a pioneer of the Orthodox Church of Finland concerning international activity. Delegates of ONL were i.a. founding Syndesmos in France in 1953. Even before the birth of Syndesmos ONL had some international contacts. Since the founding of Syndesmos the finnish orthodox youth have been actively involved in the work of Syndesmos. The headquarters of Syndesmos were in Finland for 13 years and there have been three Finnish secretary-generals. ONL has close connections and lot of co-operation with many Orthodox youth groups, forexamble with the fellowship of Orthodox youth in Poland and in Estonia. ONL also organizes pilgrimages for youth (mostly to Russia and Greece).
Publishing
From the early years of ONL there has been publishing on orthodox themes. Booklets for children and youth have been very important i.a. for the clubs. They are also used in schools as extra material. ONL publishes a magazine for children and youth, Tuohustuli (Candle light), from the year 1953. There are 6 issues a year. It is meant for children and youth aged from about 5 up to 18 years. The magazine contains articles on the ONL activities. There is also teaching on the Church and Her teaching on different themes. There is now quite a big selection of materials published by ONL: There are booklets for examble on the following themes: Sermon on the Mount, Icon - a different Picture, Saints - our holy foreprayers, Orthodox Clipart for childrens’ clubs, Sacraments, A guide for club counsellors, My prayer book, The great feasts, Orthodox chants, A guide for icon-painters, A general Handbook of Orthodoxy etc. Plus this ONL has published stickers, cards, games.
Other activities
Once a year ONL organices festival, which is the biggest event of our organization. It gathers together about 400 Orthodox children, youth and adults all around Finland, it is usually during Easter time, and every year it takes place in different parish. Being such a small minority as we Orthodox are here in Finland it is important to have such a big gathering at least once a year. Another bigger event is our retreat which is held at New Valamo monastery every autum with about 100 participants. During the year there are several other weekend meetings for youth in different parts of Finland.