BELGIUM

Brussels - Several hundred faithful from all over Belgium took part, 4 March 2001, in the traditional Celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy in the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Archangels in Brussels. Led by Metropolitan Panteleimon of Belgium (Ecumenical Patriarchate), accompanied by Archbishop Simon of Brussels and Belgium (Moscow Patriarchate), Bishops Luka (Patriarchate of Serbia - Paris), Emmanuel of Rhegion (auxiliary to Metropolitan Panteleimon and Director of the Orthodox Desk at the European Union), and Athanasius of Achaia (representative of the Greek Church at the European Union), thirteen priets and four deacons, the liturgy was chanted in Greek, Slavonic, French, Dutch and Romanian.

In his homily, entitled 'Come and see', Archimandrite Athenagoras Peckstadt (Ecumenical Patriarchate) explored the question "what is the Orthodox Church" on this day of the 'triumph of the true faith".

At the end of the service, Metropolitan Panteleimon congratulated the participants and expressed the wish that "good collaboration between all the Orthodox in Belgium may become an example for all of Europe."
Around its five bishops, the Orthodox Church in Belgium brings together some forty priests and ten deacons, and over sixty thousand faithful. Forty-two parishes (Greek, Russian, Romanian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, but also French-speaking and Dutch-speaking) are spread throughout the country. The Orthodox Church was recognized by the Belgian State in 1985, enjoying since then equal status with the other official religions (Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, Jewish and Moslem.

7th Belgian Orthodox youth meeting

La Ramee - For the seventh year running, the Syndesmos-Belgium association of Orthodox youth (Associated members of SYNDESMOS), held a resource week-end 16 - 18 February, on the theme, "We have seen the true light". The meeting took place with the blessing of Metropolitan Panteleimon of Belgium (Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Benelux), in the Abbey of La Ramee (near Namur). More than seventy participants were warmly welcomed there by the community of sisters.

The official inauguration of the meeting began with an opening address by Bernard Peckstadt, President of the Belgian SYNDESMOS member movement, welcoming the two guest speakers - Archimandrite Ioachim Tsopanoglou (Marseilles) and Lydia Obolensky (Paris), SYNDESMOS Western Europe Regional Representative. He also
welcomed Hildo Bos, acting President of SYNDESMOS, and President of Syndesmos-Netherlands, as well as the forty young people who had traveled from all parts of Belgium. He further
welcomed the delegations from abroad - Amsterdam (Syndesmos-Netherlands), Strasbourg and Paris ('Nepsis' Association, ACER-MJO), as well as three British and one German participant. He finally welcomed SYNDESMOS Secretary-General Rebecca Hookway, who chanced to be in Brussels for the week-end.

Recalling the theme of the meeting, "We have seen the true light", Bernard went on to remind participants of our calling, as young people, to make the Light of Christ shine for all those whom He places along our path. This light shines within us through our participation in the Divine Liturgy and the sacraments, which are the starting point for every Orthodox Christian. He finally expressed the hope that, on the occasion of this meeting, and nourished by our 'Syndesmos spirit', participants may be able to receive within them a little of His Light. Syndesmos is a Greek word that means 'link'. We young people need this 'link' to support one another in the spiritual life as true brothers and sisters in Christ.

Archimandrite Ioachim Tsopanoglou then spoke on, 'Good news in a Godless world', followed by Lydia Obolensky,on "What good is the Church today?"

Her purpose was to air questions frequently asked by young Orthodox in Western Europe, on order to raise questions in the minds of her audience, to serve as material for the workshops to follow. The variety of workshop groups gave young people the opportunity to exchange opinions in a spirit of enrichment. It was very striking how such small groups provoked open and spontaneous expression from participants.

The Vigil was held in the superb chapel of the abbey, celebrated by Archimandrite Athenagoras Peckstadt (Bruges), assisted by Deacon Georges Perris (Limbourg). The chapel had been equipped for the occasion, mainly by the important addition of icons. No fewer than four choirs shared between them the task of singing, conducted respectively by Carlo Snauwaert (Dutch), Hildo Bos (French and Slavonic), Christos D'Aloisio (Byzantine chant both in French and in Greek), and Fr Pompiliu Nacu (Romanian). In view of the highly international scope of the week-end, a large number of languages were used, namely French, Dutch, English, Slavonic, Greek and Romanian.

The evening ended in an enjoyable get together, made all the more lively by dancing and singing. The crowning moment of the week-end came of course with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, served by Frs Guy (Hamme-Mille) and Pompiliu (Romania, currently studying in London). The same pan-Orthodox spirit was present as had been there at the Vigil on Saturday evening. The final afternoon saw a presentation by Hildo Bos of the SYNDESMOS Calendar of events 2001, followed by a short evaluation session, giving participants the chance to share their impressions of the week-ends proceedings. All too soon, it was time to say goodbyes and to head for home, each enriched by their personal experience.

Bernard Peckstadt
(President of Syndesmos-Belgium)