H.H. Pope Tawadros II attended Saturday evening the closing ceremony of the Fifth LOGOS Coptic Youth Forum for Coptic Orthodox youth from around the world. The week-long event was held at the Logos Center within the Papal Residence at the Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi El-Natroun, with the participation of 250 young people from dioceses of the Coptic Orthodox Church in 44 countries across the six continents, along with the forum’s service team.
The closing ceremony was attended by several metropolitans, bishops, priests, and public figures.
The program included a documentary highlighting the activities of the Fifth Forum. This was followed by the reading of the “Pledge” by the youth participants, led by Hegumen Yonan Samir, the Forum Leader. The pledge contained their commitment to uphold all the values they had learned during the forum, to preserve and live according to the faith of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and to be ambassadors for the Church in their respective countries through their actions and speech.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros then presented commemorative certificates to the participating youth, in an atmosphere filled with mixed emotions—both the sadness of concluding the forum and the joy of the enriching experiences they had shared.
Three participants from Australia, Indonesia, and the United States spoke about their personal experiences and reflections on the forum. Their heartfelt words testified to the strength of the forum’s message and its profound impact on them. They expressed their deep appreciation for the richness, vitality, and heritage of their Coptic Orthodox Church, which they had tangibly experienced during the gathering. They also emphasized the value of the altar, the Divine Liturgy, and the other sacraments, as well as the fatherly love they had personally witnessed from Pope Tawadros. These sentiments were echoed by many other participants in interviews presented during the ceremony.
The LOGOS Coptic Youth Forums for attendees from around the world consistently bear the motto “Back to the Roots”, while this year’s forum is held under the theme “Connected”. This theme affirms that our Coptic Orthodox Church is grounded in a continuous connection between its fathers and children, whereby the sound faith is passed down from generation to generation. The forum coincides with the Church’s celebration of the 17th centennial of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. The theme “Connected” also reflects our connection to one another, to our communities, and to the tools and mechanisms of our present age—with openness rooted in our faith—fulfilling the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world”(Matthew 5:13–14).
In his closing address, His Holiness expressed his great joy at the forum, noting that the experiences the youth had gained during the week were treasures that must be invested in their lives. He emphasized that the forum had given them three main gifts:
An outstanding model of service – which they witnessed and enjoyed, and from which they can benefit in the future, as it had been carefully prepared for months in advance.
A taste of the beauty of the Church, which is:
-a home where we live
-a mother who embraces and teaches us
-a harbor of salvation, offering refuge and protection
His Holiness thanked everyone who had supported the forum—whether through thought, service, financial contribution, or organization.
He urged the youth, upon returning to their home countries, to share with everyone they meet—in their families, churches, and communities—the details of what they saw, heard, and lived during the forum.
Although the ceremony concluded, the youth’s interaction with its spirit continued, as they gathered around His Holiness, expressing love and gratitude. The bishops and priests mingled with the participants and the youth were keen to take photographs with them. Their words and smiles reflected the joy and deep appreciation they felt for their mother Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church.
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