Washington, DC – On Sunday, March 8, 2026, youth from the Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Syriac, and Malankara-Syriac Churches gathered at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church for the inaugural meeting of their regional chapter of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Youth Associations (SCOOYA). After joining the priest of the parish – V. Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan – for Matins and Liturgy (as well a delicious Lenten meal), the assembled youth met under the leadership of Rev. Archdeacon Gebre Kristos Nicholas Siniari – the Secretary of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh) – to discuss their charter and elect a preliminary slate of officers.
The impetus for the formation of the chapter came after youth from the various Sister Churches encountered one another at the first Maryland Regional SCOOCh Liturgy, hosted by His Grace Bishop Sinoda of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church Diocese of North America on September 7, 2025. The youth intend to return to Medhane Alem for another liturgy and spiritual day in the coming weeks, sometime after the Feast of the Resurrection.
SCOOYA is the official youth organization of SCOOCh, and serves as a means of gathering the youth of the various Sister Churches for ecumenical activities designed to foster unity among the young people of our communities. The Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches prays for the success of the chapter.