"Following Christ" at the annual meeting of the Benelux Orthodox Youthtranslated

In October 2026, the Benelux Orthodox Youth held their annual three-day meeting at the Merkenveld hospitality center, located in a green environment near Bruges, Belgium. About 130 young men and women from Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, of various nationalities and from different Orthodox parishes, gathered for a weekend of meetings, prayer, spiritual reflection and fraternal fellowship. In the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the Merkenveld, in a beautiful natural environment, they had the opportunity to deepen their faith, share their experiences and create new friendships. This year the theme of the meeting was "Following Christ. Bearing Witness through Our Lives" (Following Christ. Bearing Witness through Our Lives). The main speaker was the hieromonk Theofilos Pantokratorinos from Mount Athos.

In his speeches, Father Theophilos focused especially on how young Christians can follow Christ in their daily lives and testify to their faith in an authentic way in the world where God has placed them. He particularly emphasized the importance of personal relationship with…