His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia delivered an address on the occasion of the celebration of Orthodox Youth Day.

Dear brothers and sisters!

I cordially congratulate you all on the great twelfth feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the Day of Orthodox Youth.

Now we give praise to the Lord and Creator of the law, Who, fulfilling the order of the law (the canon of the holiday), was brought by the Blessed Virgin to the Jerusalem temple for consecration to God, was met by the righteous Simeon and Anna the Prophetess.

The memory of this event is undoubtedly significant for the entire Church. The topic of meeting with Christ is of particular relevance for young people, because it is at a young age, when a person has not yet gained life experience, that he is most susceptible to external influence (not always good and useful) and sometimes deprived of moral guidelines.

Surely everyone remembers an important moment in their lives, when the Lord first touched the heart, when the joy that we are loved by Him begins to guide all our actions, when we want to go to church more often and participate in the Sacraments of the Church, when the desire to constantly communicate with God moves us to prayer and reading of the Holy Scriptures. Our duty is never to weaken in this diligence and spiritual growth.

A pure pious life requires mental and physical efforts: in a certain sense, this is a feat, and any feat is easier to accomplish together. Today in our Church there are many youth associations where young men and women pray together at divine services and begin the Sacraments, participate in interesting projects, engage in charitable activities and social service, communicate and help each other.

Wishing everyone good health and spiritual vigor, peace and joy in the Lord, I invoke His blessing upon you.

+KYRILL, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUS’