Address of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' on the occasion of the celebration of Orthodox Youth Day

Dear brothers and sisters!

I heartily congratulate all of you on the great twelfth feast of the Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as on the traditionally celebrated Day of Orthodox Youth.

According to the law of Moses, on the fortieth day after birth, for consecration to God, the Infant Jesus was brought by His Blessed Mother to the Temple in Jerusalem, where the event that we now remember took place. And so, according to the words of St. Theophan the Recluse, “Simeon sings a song, Anna prophesies, the Mother of God and Joseph reverently worship, where God visits, there is a paradise of sweetness. The soul that has met the Lord and has been met by Him, tastes transcendental bliss (the Word on the Presentation of the Lord).

And today, every believing Christian is called to rejoice that the Lord once visited us and gave our soul the opportunity to meet with Him. We especially rejoice when we see young people who have met the Lord and are trying to keep in their hearts a living faith that works by love (The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Galatians, chapter 5, verse 6), are zealous for the fulfillment of the commandments.

Let us remember that without God, even the young can become decrepit and meager, not having, according to the Savior, life in abundance (Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 10). Meeting with the Lord spiritually transforms, heals and strengthens the soul with the ever-living gospel message. Every believing person in Christ becomes a child of God, young for eternity.

On this day, I wish you all unfailing strength and longevity, peace of mind and God's help on the path of Christian life.

I pray that Christ will sanctify all of you and deign to be accepted into the arms of your hearts, as once into the arms of the righteous Simeon (St. Theophan the Recluse. Sermon on the Meeting of the Lord).

+ Kirill,
Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'