International Youth Festival, Evia

The end of the 20th century has been marked by huge changes in all aspects of life. The end of ideologies, military conflicts, irreparable damage to our natural environment, unbelievable progress in the field of technology, as well as new difficulties in the area of human relations, have been the cause of a real disorientation in the lives of many young people.
At the beginning of the new millennium, the Orthodox Church has attempted to encourage people to move forward without forgetting the past. Christ, as the Head of the body, is the aim and the essence of the Church; as Brother Aidan Hart, a monk from England, said as he of-fered the keynote speech at the international Orthodox youth festival here 10-16 July 2000, "The theme of this camp is 'Youth: The Future of the Church. 'The subject I have chosen to speak on is 'Christ the Bridegroom: The
Future of the Youth.' I chose this subject becausee if you, the youth of today, are the future of the Church, it is because you are in love with God and desire to be united with Him. In the end, nothing else matters other than this union with God...."
Brother Aidan's speech was one of the three that 180 young people from 26 countries worldwide heard during the festival, which was organised by the Orthodox Church of Greece in celebration of the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. The festival took place at the new campsite of the Diocese of Chalkis, by the sea in the northern part of Euboia island, two-and-one-half hours from Athens. The island is well known because it contains the incorrupt relics of Saint John the Russian. Originally from Asia Minor, Saint John is famous for the miracles that many believers have experienced. The help we derive from the saints is something real, and the participants had the chance to feel this, not only in the Church of Saint John the Russian, but also in the monasteries they visited.
These visits helped participants to realise that n o matterhow difficult life can be in today's society, we re not alone.
Of course, we live in modern societies with real problemswhich we must understand and face. Father Joan Sauca, a Romanian priest who lives and works in Geneva, Switzerland, offered the second Keynote speech, "Orthodox Youth and the Death of Ideologies."
"From the very beginning, Christianity was seen as a way of life, an immediate experience, rather than a system or collection of ideas about things that might become reality in the future," Father Joan said. "It is important to become aware with great humility of the treasury that we have, to be transparent icons of the living Christ in you.... Do not despise, but show love to everybody.... Be living witnesses in all situations."
Father Adamandios Avgoustides, a Greek priest, theologian and psychiatrist, gave the third keynote speech, "To be Faithful or to be Religious?" Father Adamandios tried to stimulate the participants to search within them-selves for answers to their questions. He presented the life of his grandmother as an example.
"My grandmother was a true believer, but not what some people would call a religious person," Father Adamandios said. "She was just a member of the Church, with all her body and soul."
Fruitful discussions followed the keynote speeches. Participants were also given the opportunity to share their experiences during the discussion groups, organised and led by experienced youth leaders. Group discussion themes included globalization, the Orthodox Church and inter-Christian dialogue, teaching theology in a secular school, psychological support and spiritual guidance, and organizing youth activities.
The program also featured a number of workshops on a variety of practical themes, including Byzantine music, fresco painting, fasting recipes and prosphora prepa-ration, traditional athletic activities, Greek folk dances, theatre, and diakonia.
By the end of the week, the 180 participants felt as if they were one family - the family of the Church. The unity of the Church had become a reality for them, a reality that they especially experienced during the All Night Vigil which closed the festival and through their participation in Holy Communion, as members of the same Body.