Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, issued a greeting address on International Youth Day, celebrated annually on August 12.
“Youth is usually associated with strength, the energy of the young, which can be directed anywhere: toward both good and bad. It is difficult to limit it to exact dates, to a specific age at which someone is part of youth, and after which they cease to be considered as such,” the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine wrote on Facebook.
He noted that those referred to as a young person combine the traits of a child – strength, inexhaustible energy, passion, and inspiration for active action – and an adult – responsibility for their actions, moderation, and consciousness.
“This is not a clearly defined stage of life, but a deep inner state that does not depend on the dates in IDs. Therefore, on International Youth Day, I greet not only students and recent graduates, but also everyone who feels young, whose heart is open like a child’s, and whose mind is restrained and humble.”
The Metropolitan of Kyiv and all of Ukraine urged to remember the instructions of Apostle Paul: “Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.” (1 Cor. 14:20).
“Take responsibility for your actions and your life, act consciously, but reject everything evil and unworthy. Do not be jealous, hypocritical, arrogant, and ambitious, because it destroys everything from within. But have an inner sense of justice and goodness inherent in the Creator. In this we must be like children in order to know the Kingdom of God, and not reject wisdom and experience that come with age – because only by accepting the lessons of life, through trials and knowledge of the world do we grow spiritually and are able to draw ourselves closer to God,” said Metropolitan Epifaniy.
“May the Lord be with you on your life’s journeys, and may the decisions you make be worthy and fair. Happy Youth Day!” the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine wrote.
The first International Youth Day was celebrated on August 12, 2000, while the idea of its establishment was put forward in 1991 by a group of youths who gathered in Vienna for the first session of the UN World Youth Forum.
According to UN statistics, today there are 1.2 billion young people on Earth, which is 16% of the world’s population.
