VITEBSK, 1 August (BelTA) – The Hodigitria Orthodox Youth Festival opened in Vitebsk on 31 July, BelTA learned from the event coordinator priest Alexander Kovalev. Partaking in the festival are about 200 young people from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and Serbia. The festival includes various sports tournaments, games, creativity competitions, excursions, river cruises, spiritual talks, an orthodox ball, and workshops on bell ringing, belt plaiting, clay modeling. A confession and the Divine Liturgy will be held after the gala performance at the cultural and historical complex The Golden Ring of Vitebsk “Dvina” on 1 August. The best artists will take part in the gala performance on 3 August. The results of all projects will be drawn on 4 August. The festival will end with a traditional five-day sacred procession to Smolensk which will be the venue for the celebrations in honor of the Icon of Mother of God Hodigitria. The procession will start from Vitebsk on 5 August. The Hodigitria Orthodox Youth Festival serves as a powerful tool to strengthen spiritual unity and friendship between young people. The festival promotes creative endeavor of young people.

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