VI Meeting of Orthodox Youth

For the sixth consecutive year, SYNDESMOS Belgium sponsored a weekend for young people with the blessing His Eminence, Metropolitan Panteleimon, Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg [Ecumenical Patriarchate]. The meeting took place February 11-13, 2000 at La Ramée Abbey here, to which the nuns welcomed us warmly.
Friday evening was devoted to making contacts, especially important for those who attended for the first time. After a light breakfast, we were invited to assist Matins.
At 10.00 the following morning, the official opening took place as I, in my position as head of SYNDESMOS-Belgium, welcomed the participants and introduced the two lecturers, His Grace, Bishop Cassian of the Diocese of the Lower Danube [Patriarchate of Romania] and Father D'Huyvetter, rector of the parish of Saints Silouan of Athos and Martin of Tours. I also had the pleasure to welcome Mr. Hildo Bos, one of three SYNDESMOS Vice-Presidents and President of SYNDESMOS-Holland. Mr .Bos informed us about the international programmes SYNDESMOS is organising for the year 2000. He also thanked participants from all over Belgium (Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, Limbourg, Binche, Namur, and others) and foreign participants from Holland, France, England and Germany. Mr. Bos concluded the session by offering a presentation titled "Orthodox Youth East and West on the Threshold of the
Third Millennium."
In my presentation I emphasised the important role youth must play in the new millennium. Truly, young people should serve and support our Church according to their capacities and talents. Within our Church there are numerous areas in which we can propose our help, and we need to become more conscious of what universal priesthood means. We all
have our share in the mission of the Church.
Bishop Cassian shared his insights in a presentation filled with moral depth and spirituality, after which he invited the participants to ask questions.
After lunch, Father D'Huyvetter offered his presentation titled "How Can Orthodox Young People Became Witnesses of the Risen Christ in Our Times and in This World." He emphasised the importance of prayer, preparation for the reception of Holy Com-munion,
and witnessing to Christ in this world.
Three workshops were conducted by Archimandrite Athenagoras Peckstadt, Mr. Christos Filiotis, and Bishop Cassian. The workshops gave participants an opportunity to exchange ideas regarding the meeting's theme. The Vigil service which followed was celebrated in several languages, including French, Dutch, English, Slavonic, Greek and Romanian. Fellowship followed the service.
The weekend ended with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy by Bishop Cassian and Father D'Huyvetter. Many of Father D'Huyvetter's parishioners joined us for the Liturgy, as did some of the monastery's nuns. The nuns noted that they had been particularly touched by the peace and beauty they experienced at the Liturgy.
After the Liturgy Bishop Cassian addressed the gathering and thanked the nuns for their hospitality, while Mr. Bos spoke about SYNDESMOS' future activities. Bishop Cassian took the floor a second time and thanked everyone for their participation in the weekend, after which everyone departed for their homes.
We hope that the next Orthodox youth weekend will be as successful as this year's event, and we hope that more young people from other parishes of our country will participate.