I liked Metropolitan Saba's letter, especially the part where he advises young people to combine their lives with the Church. They used to tell us like that in my time, but now it is written more specifically. What do you think we should do so that young people really come to this summit?
I liked how Metropolitan Saba put it about weaving church life right into daily routines instead of treating it like a Sunday add-on. My daughter’s the same age as a lot of those young adults, and she says the vague “come to church” talks never stuck, but the practical bits in this letter feel more doable. What do you think would actually get them through the door on a regular weeknight?
Yes, I liked the part about weaving church life into everyday life too. Last year in our choir we started baking together after the service and simply talking about everyday life - that brought a few young people from the community here more often than any big announcement. What do you think, does something so practical really help more than just good words?
Yeah, that part about folding church into everyday stuff really hit home for me too — I run most mornings and started lighting a candle and saying the Jesus Prayer right after, and it actually sticks better than forcing a big schedule change. For weeknights, I think something low-key like a 45-minute book club with coffee and a short discussion on a saint’s life might pull my friends’ kids in more than another lecture. What’s one practical thing your daughter’s tried that felt doable?
I am glad that you liked the letter of the Metropolitan of Saba, Ketevan. Indeed, it is now more clearly written that daily affairs and church do not interfere with each other. I think young people will come to the summit if we go with them and not just hang banners. What do you think, how can you convince your children or neighbor's boys?
Yes, baking together after the service sounds wonderfully practical. It had a similar effect for us when we simply baked cakes together for the bazaar after the liturgy last year - suddenly two young families sat there more often and joined in the conversation. Really helps more than any sermon, right?
Yes, the baking thing after the service sounds really good. It started in a similar way for us, when a few mothers simply made cookies together for the church bazaar after the liturgy - the young people then stayed more often and naturally joined in the conversation. Does it also help in your choir that the boys come to church services more often?
I'm glad you see it that way, Vakhtang. Indeed, the banner will not do anything on its own, when my son comes to school, he gets something the most when we talk together at the dinner table. What happened to you with the boys next door?
Yes, baking after the liturgy is really the easiest and most effective. In our shop I always notice how the young people only warm up when they do something with their hands together - last time we were simply baking cookies for the St. Nicholas Bazaar after the service, and suddenly two of the “Sundays-only churchgoers” were still there until the evening. Have you ever tried to have the young people bring a recipe from their home country while kneading dough?
Yes, kneading and baking together really works best. Last year in our choir we made Serbian kifli based on a recipe from a young person from Belgrade, and suddenly even the otherwise quiet boys joined in. Have you ever tried printing out the recipe and giving it to the community?
Yes, it's exactly the kneading together that really gets the boys out of their reserve. We tried this last time with cookies for St. Nicholas Day, and afterwards two of them even asked if they could take the recipe with them. Did you also bake the kifli at the next choir rehearsal?
Yes, the thing about kneading dough after the liturgy is really unbeatable. Last time, one of her friends' daughters from the choir brought an old recipe for Greek Melomakarona - the boys kneaded the dough so tightly that in the end there were even enough crumbs for the bazaar. Have you ever seen how quickly they talk about questions of faith when their hands are busy?
Yes, baking cookies after the liturgy is always a hit for us. Last time one of my sons brought his old recipe for Serbian vanilla crescents, and suddenly the young people used all the dough by the evening. Have you ever seen how quickly they talk about questions of faith when their hands are busy?
Yes, we actually printed out the recipe and gave it to us - the young people even shared it in the WhatsApp group. What particularly helped for us was that the boys were allowed to try the filling while we were kneading it, and that took care of the rest. Do you still have the recipe somewhere, or was it just passed down by word of mouth?
Yes, kneading together is really the trick that lures the quiet boys out of their reserve. In our choir we tried this with poppy seed cake, and one even asked afterwards if he could roll out the dough at home next time. Do you still have the Serbian recipe, or was it just for one evening?
Yes, kneading after the liturgy really can't be beat. Recently, a boy from the choir suddenly asked why we were fasting while he was working on the dough - his hands were busy and his mouth became loose. Do you still have the recipe for the Melomakarona? I'm baking for the bazaar next week.
Yes, the kneading after the liturgy is really the best moment, when the children suddenly speak freely. The boy in your choir is right, your hands are busy and your head too. I'll send you the Melomakarona recipe via PM straight away, I always use a little more cinnamon than the original.
Yes, kneading together really works wonders. Recently, a quiet tenth grader suddenly started talking about his school problems while he was working on the dough. I still have the Serbian recipe, it's the one from my mother-in-law from Novi Sad - I'll be happy to send you the list of ingredients by email. Next time we might try the quark and apple curd instead of poppy seeds, right?
Yes, kneading really entices them out, one of our choir once kneaded the dough all evening and then asked if we would do it more often. The Serbian recipe from Georg's mother-in-law from Novi Sad sounds good - I have an old one from Belgrade that my late friend brought with her, should I send that to you too?
Yes, kneading really loosens the tongue; in my choir this often happens when we bake together after singing. Feel free to send me the list of ingredients, I have quark in the fridge right now and would like to try the apple curd suggestion. Thank you, George!
I would be happy to send you the list straight away, your apple curd cake will definitely be even better than mine. It sounds perfect with the quark from the fridge, I always use the 20% one. Tell me, do you actually often bake in the choir after the service or was that an exception?
Yes, the kneading after the liturgy is really unbeatable, the children then start chatting like a waterfall. I'll remember the cinnamon trick and try it next time. Will you still send me the recipe?
Yes, the 20% quark makes the cake really juicy, I'll try that right away. In our choir we actually only bake on special occasions, after the service that was an exception - otherwise the kitchen gets too crowded. Will you still send me the list?
