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Youth Coordinator of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain
An article dedicated to the young people of our Archdiocese in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic.
The unprecedented global impact of the COVID-19 Virus has interrupted
the regular pace and rhythm of our lives. We have all been working to
make adjustments and sacrifices, some small and some big, for the safety
and well-being of ourselves, our families, our local communities and,
ultimately, all of humankind. Through these efforts, we are finding new
and creative ways to continue living our lives under these challenging
conditions. Of course, the Church has also been working very hard—all
around the world—to continue to minister and provide for the faithful in
a variety of ways. One aspect of our Church’s ministry is a particular
care for the youth. As some of you may be aware, before the outbreak of
this pandemic our Archdiocese was in the process of renewing and
strengthening our youth ministry network. Undoubtedly, our desire to
reach out to and work with the parishes, schools and other institutions
of our Archdiocese has encountered certain obstacles, as a result of the
threat of the Coronavirus. Nevertheless, the loving embrace of the
Church is prepared to overcome any challenge to meet the needs of, and
faithfully serve, Her young flock. Our Archdiocese, therefore, with the
aid of available technology, has continued to develop and introduce new
and creative initiatives, especially for our young people.
Before we introduce these new initiatives, allow us to briefly
elaborate on what the term ‘Church’ really means to us. As Orthodox
Christians we believe that the Church is not simply a building where we
go to worship, but rather is constituted of people—people who are images
and children of God. The Church is you, our clergy, and all the
faithful in communion together with one another in Christ. In the New
Testament, after His death and Resurrection, Christ called the faithful
to ‘go and make disciples of all nations’ (Matt 28:19). Since that day,
His Church’s structure is comprised of a Christian community in each
city or region, which is governed by its own bishop, with presbyters
(priests) and deacons assisting him. For this reason, Saint Ignatius of
Antioch (35-140 AD) placed special emphasis upon two things: the role of
the Bishop, who, as Saint Ignatius writes, presides in the place of
Christ, as well as the celebration of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion.
So, we see that the Church is organized in a hierarchy, with a
particular structure headed by the Bishop, and it is sacramental; the
unity of the Church is realised in the celebration of and participation
in Holy Communion. The Divine Liturgy is at the centre of Christian
life. Christ’s body, however, is not only in the Common Cup, we
ourselves become members of His body through Communion. Communion and
the other sacraments reveal the vital charismatic nature of the Church
to us. Fifty days after Pascha, we celebrate Pentecost (this year on the
the 7th June) the inauguration of the Church on earth, when the Holy
Spirit came to dwell and remain with us as members of Christ’s Church.
Let us not forget then that the Holy Spirit dwells and remains with us
as members of Christ’s Church, having received the ‘seal of the Holy
Spirit’ (Eph 1:13-14) in the sacrament of Chrismation, and are thus
called to ‘walk by the Spirit’ (Gal 5:16) and share in His fruits. (Gal
5:22-24)
This means beloved friends that, although we are not able for this
short period of time to receive Christ in Holy Communion at Church, we
are still full members of His body, praying, along with our Archbishop
and Shephard, our families, friends and loved ones at home or through
the internet, as we act out Christ’s sacrificial love in word and in
deed. The Church remains wholly intact, vividly present, and praying
continuously ‘for the peace of the world,’ that God may dwell amongst
us, healing and transforming our entire being in order that we may give
‘our whole lives to Christ our God.’ So, you are each still vital
members of the body of Christ and it is the Church’s responsibility to
care and minister to you. The Church reassures us that—through patience
and reflection on the opportunities for greater emphasis on family and
communal unity, through offering care and concern without discrimination
to those at risk, and by increasing our desire to grow in faith—we will
come out of this crisis stronger and more united.
The Church never ceases to act, to produce, to care for the world,
and to exist for all of humankind. At the online opening of our
Archdiocesan Sunday School, we highlighted to the children taking part,
from their homes across the country, that there is one fact and truth
that should remain with us all the days of our lives: that Christ will
remain with us forever. Through His Resurrection ‘the light of
forgiveness has risen from the tomb,’ (Saint John Chrysostom’s Paschal
Homily) and eternal joy and love prevail. The Church ceaselessly invites
you to live out this reality, by continually being renewed in Christ (2
Cor 5:17), no matter the circumstances. Saint Porphyrios, a
contemporary saint who lived in Athens, Greece, writes, ‘turn your mind
towards Him continually. Learn to love prayer, converse with the Lord.
In order not to live in darkness, turn on the switch of prayer so that
divine light may flood your soul. Christ will appear in the depth of
your being,’ for ‘the Kingdom of God is within you.’ (Lk 17:21) This
personal relationship with ‘Our Father in Heaven’ presupposes a communal
relationship within the life of the Church. ‘You cannot have God as
your Father if you do not have the Church as your Mother…God is one and
Christ is one, and His Church is one; one is the faith, and one is the
people cemented together by harmony into the strong unity of a body … in
the peace of Christ’ (St Cyprian of Carthage).
It is in our dedication to you as the young people of this
Archdiocese, that we provide ‘weekly meditations,’ (thoughts to start
our week) catechetical talks and videos, online material and resources
for families, and new online Sunday school classes on Zoom for ages 6-10
and 12-15, all so that we can offer our children and young families
opportunities and encouragement to grow in the Christian faith, to
interact with one another and to experience the Church as the ark of our
salvation. Although you were confined in your own homes during this
year’s Holy Week, we had an online talk from a professor of Pastoral
Theology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Fr Athanasius
Gkikas, who spoke on the topic of ‘Holy Week from home and the teachings
of Elder Aimilianos of Mount Athos.’ The talk was informative and
spiritually nurturing—a summary can be found on our Facebook page.
Furthermore, we are in the process of organising an Online Youth
meeting, not only consisting of short talks to discuss contemporary
issues, but primarily to give the opportunity for you to ask questions,
as well as to share your ideas and concerns.
Finally, dear friends, we have much to look forward to when this
trying period comes to a close and we are able to finally meet again in
person (Matt 18:20): We will organise, by God’s grace, a celebratory
dinner and ball, for the whole Archdiocese at a hotel in London, as well
as a Youth Forum with representatives from each community across our
eparchy participating, a day dedicated to our young altar servers,
further catechetical lessons, spiritual talks and materials, pilgrimages
and other social events. We are in the process of creating new Orthodox
Christian Student societies (and expanding our existing ones) in the
main academic institutions of our cities, and are further developing
relationships with our schools and yearly Archdiocesan youth camp. The
new youth office of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain is
truly here for you, to serve your needs and, primarily, to remind you
that the Church, that Christ, as ‘the light of the world’ (Jn 8:12)
invites you and all of us, in repentance and communion, never to perish,
but to live eternally with Him (Jn 3:36).
