In Lutsk, the 15th anniversary of the Center for Christian Education of Children and Youth, operating at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Lutsk, was solemnly celebrated. The celebrations began with the service of the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Transfiguration Church (the lower church of the cathedral), led by the Center's director, Protoiyerey Bohdan Vozniak. After the Divine Service and the thanksgiving moleben, the celebration continued in the regional puppet theater. The solemn part consisted of greeting speeches by His Grace Bishop Mykhail of Lutsk and Volyn, the head of the Volyn branch of the Union of Ukrainian Women Liubov Hanyichuk, and other dignitaries. On the occasion of the anniversary, the vladyka awarded many teachers and students of the Center with blessed certificates. As always, a special decoration of the celebration was the choir under the direction of Tetiana Tolochko – a large ensemble that impresses with numerous modifications, dividing into various age groups and compositions, and with cohesion and inspiration in the performance of spiritual works. On the same day, the students of the Center's theater studio (director – Honored Artist of Ukraine Larysa Zelinova) presented to the audience their first work – the play by Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohiienko) "Native Language." The wonderful premiere made an unforgettable impression on those present. Reference The Center for Christian Education of Children and Youth (formerly – the children's and youth Sunday school) has been functioning in Lutsk since 1990. Among similar institutions today, it is a rather large community: 11 teachers with theological and pedagogical education and about 500 students. There are also branches at churches, orphanages, and secondary schools in the city of Lutsk. The purpose of the institution is to educate and teach children according to the foundations of the Orthodox faith, Christian piety, and patriotism, as well as – methodological work on the organization and functioning of Sunday schools. Various departments operate in the Center. The most important – the Law of God, where biblical history, the foundations of the Orthodox faith and rituals, the lives of the saints, and the history of the Church are studied. The Center's choir – a well-known children's creative ensemble in Volyn, numbering over 120 singers. Four groups cover ages from 4 to 18. The repertoire includes over 100 works of Ukrainian and world spiritual music, patriotic and folk-ritual songs of the Christmas and Easter periods, works honoring Saints Nicholas and Andrew the First-Called, Taras Shevchenko and Lesya Ukrainka, and others. For creative successes and merits before the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, the permanent director Tetiana Tolochko was awarded the Order of Saint Great Martyr Barbara in March 2005, becoming the first Volyn woman whom Patriarch Filaret honored with such a high award. Recently opened: a theater studio (director – Honored Artist of Ukraine Larysa Zelinova), a choreographic group, a music studio, and a children's and youth library. These departments are associated with the future successes of the Center, in which children should have the opportunity not only to study or sing, but also to spend time interestingly on excursions, trips, pilgrimages, summer camps, which makes the educational process practical and interesting. The fruitful work of the institution – is largely due to the dean of the Lutsk district, Protoiyerey Bohdan Vozniak, who is the director of the Center, as well as priest Andrii Rotchenkov, matushka Nataliia Rotchenkova, and many others who sacrificially took care of the quality organization of the work of this unique collective. Education is financed exclusively by donors and sponsors. After completing their studies, students receive certificates and the right to conduct Sunday schools at parishes. Many graduates enter the theological seminary and other educational institutions.