Home page News
Patriarch Kirill: For the youth it is importa…

Patriarch Kirill: For the youth it is important that Christianity is a religion of freedom, not a religion of bans

Speaking at the Bishops’ Council on the peculiarities of church preaching, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill reminded the meeting that St. Paul every time considered the peculiarities of his audience, seeking to become all things to all people so that at least some may be saved (cf. 1 Cor. 9:22). In particular, the apostle taught that each age needs a special approach: ‘Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity’ (1 Tim. 5:1-2).

In this connection, the Patriarch pointed to the fact that among the younger generation are representatives of various social groups with various interests, including representatives of particular sub-cultures, students and schoolchildren, scientists and workers, etc. ‘Different groups have their own authorities and guidelines, for this reason the methods of mission among the youth can hardly be unified’, the Primate stressed.

‘For the past years, much has been done. In many dioceses, diocesan youth councils have been organized and numerous youth events have been held. The youth volunteer movement is developing. In comparison with what we saw only a few years ago, it can be stated that serious positive changes have been made in church-wide, diocesan and parish work with the youth. But we should take a sober view of the situation. The result of the work carried out is only a small part of what has to be done.

‘Our word reaches in the first place those who themselves come to churches. For a lot of young men and women the Church remains something unknown lying beyond their life and experience’, His Holiness stated, ‘Meanwhile, the youth is not indifferent, searching for the truth, seeking to perceive the truth. At the same time, characteristic of young minds is protest generated by the desire to make sense of their life on their own, to evaluate what they took for granted earlier when they heard it from their elders. It is for this reason that the apostle writes to Bishop Timothy that he should admonish younger ones as brothers, not look down on them.

‘Church youth organizations, youth actions should not turn into something stereotyped, officious, moralizing and boring. Convincing preaching, especially when it is addressed to the youth, should be supported by deeds, should point to the eternal novelty of the gospel of Christ, demonstrate that a true protest lies in following Christ, rejecting stereotyped behavior imposed by the secular world’, the Patriarch said.

According to His Holiness, ‘For the youth, more than for any other age group, the idea is important that Christianity is a religion of freedom, not a religion of bans, except for the prohibition of sin, and that particular self-restrains proposed to a Christian are needed only because they help us to find the fullness of live and realize that there is true love that does not end with the end of physical life but passes on to eternity.

‘Taking care of the youth, we should also remember those who have been in the Church since their childhood. Many young people have grown up in the families of parents who have taken an active part in church life and experienced since early age the ascetical practice of strict fasting and long divine services, devotional and pilgrims’ feats. Have the children of church parents become Orthodox youth? Have the parishes helped such children and teenagers to find their place in the Church? A person whose religious choice was made by his parents will sooner or later become adult. He will face the need to embrace a world outlook on his own. And we should find the right words to address such young men and women’.

Bishops’ Council information service

Share:
Congratulations of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the President of Turkey on his 70th birthday

26.02.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill's condolences in connection with the murder of the monks of the Ziquala Abo Monastery in Ethiopia

24.02.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the XII Christmas Parliamentary Meetings at the Federation Council of the Russian Federation

23.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: Patriarch of Constantinople is not a free man

07.01.2024

Christmas Message from Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Rus’

06.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill had phone conversation with Metropolitan Ioann of Belgorod and Stary Oskol

02.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expresses condolences over deadly earthquake in northwest China

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates Mr Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on his re-election as President of Egypt

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill welcomes the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the decoration of the Church of St Sava in Belgrade

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presides over jubilee meeting of Inter-Religious Council of Russia

07.12.2023

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at jubilee meeting of Inter-Religious Council of Russia

07.12.2023

Patriarchal greetings on the occasion of 60th anniversary of the Diocese of Vienna and Austria

26.11.2023

Primate of Russian Church presents historic miracle-working Kazan Icon of the Mother of God to the faithful and celebrates Liturgy in the Kremlin Dormition Cathedral

04.11.2023

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ to the participants of the World Conference of Compatriots Living Abroad

01.11.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill met with the Primate of the Assyrian Church of the East

31.10.2023

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب