Sacred Encampment

Each year in the summer months in the United Kingdom, some Orthodox young people gather to live together for a time. They live, work, eat, play, worship and sing together, in a community that mimics a small village or even a monastery. For many, this may be their first exposure to some of the Church services, to the rhythms of prayer and hymnography. It may be the first time they have heard these prayers and hymns in a language they understand. Organisers understand that teaching young people about the faith as a lived reality is a vital part of helping young people who may not see other Orthodox people in their daily lives outside the home. In this paper, I reflect on interviews with attendees and organisers of some of the Orthodox youth camps in the UK, past and present. I will consider the importance of a shared musical tradition amongst young people and seek to identify lessons for the wider engagement of young people through music.