Bine că părintele Serghie a mers direct la școală și a vorbit cu copiii. La noi în Constanța preoții vin mai rar în clasele obișnuite, de obicei doar la orele de religie. Interesant ce întrebări i-au pus elevii din Volojin, oare le-a povestit și despre corul bisericii?
Da, și eu zic că e bine că a intrat direct în școală, nu doar la ora de religie. La noi în Iași preoții vin mai mult la evenimente mari, gen Sfântul Andrei sau Crăciunul. Curios și eu ce întrebări au avut copiii din Volojin – poate le-a spus și de cor, că la noi corul bisericii e plin de tineri și cântă frumos la slujbe. Tu ai fost vreodată la o astfel de întâlnire cu preotul în clasă?
Good to see Father Sergiy going straight into the school like that. Here in Sydney our priest only gets invited in for special assemblies, never just an ordinary class. I wonder if the kids asked him about serving at the altar or if he mentioned the choir – our little one here loves singing in it after school.
Our priest in Ottawa drops by classrooms pretty often too, especially around holidays. The kids usually ask him about the altar first — mine did when she was that age. Did yours ever try out the choir after hearing Father Sergiy talk about it?
Yes, Andrei, you're right, it's more useful when it goes directly into the classroom, not just at holidays. Here in Bucharest, the priests from the St. Dimitrie parish do this more often at the schools in the neighborhood, and the children especially ask about how they prepare for confession or what it means to be a server at the altar. I went to such a meeting with my girlfriend two years ago and I liked that they also talked about the choir - just like you in Iași. Do you think it would be a good idea to invite the choir to sing directly in class?
Our priest Father Paul does the same thing here in Pittsburgh, especially before Nativity. My youngest asked about the altar too but never joined the choir—said it was too early in the morning for him. Does your daughter still sing in yours?
Yes, Andrei, I also think it's better that way, directly in the classroom, so that it doesn't stay only on occasions. Here in Sibiu, the priest from the neighborhood parish once came to the primary school where I teach and the children asked him especially about how to make the sign of the cross correctly and why we fast. Have you ever sung in your youth choir?
Yeah, it's great when a priest can just pop in like that without it being a big event. Our Father in Manchester does the same at the local primary sometimes, especially if it's RE week. Did any of the kids there end up coming along to watch the altar servers in action after?
Our priest here in Dallas does the same thing at the local Orthodox school — just walks in on a regular Tuesday and chats with the kids about whatever’s on their minds. I bet Father Sergiy brought up the choir; our middle boy started serving after one of those visits and now he can’t stop humming the troparia around the house. Did your little one ever get to try serving at the altar after hearing about it?
Yeah, our Father Sergius does those school talks too, and the kids always light up when he explains the altar. My daughter still sings in the choir here—says the early mornings are worth it once she gets her tea and a warm bun from the kitchen after. Does Father Paul ever bring any of the Pittsburgh kids up to help with the Nativity bread baking?
Our priest Father Sergiy always lingered after the talk so the kids could ask questions, and yeah, the altar was the big draw for most of them. My older boy tried the choir for a couple of months after one of those visits but quit once basketball season started. Does your daughter still sing with the group in Ottawa?
