On 6 August 2001, the local deanery of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church opened its five-day youth festival, “The School of the Jesus Prayer,” near the town of Zbarazh, Ternopil region. One hundred and twenty active young Christians were invited to take part.
Through catechism, prayer and in other ways, the festival’s organizers are trying to prepare young leaders who will become models of Christian living for youth. (N.B. The Jesus Prayer is a traditional prayer of the Churches of the Byzantine tradition with the words: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”)