1st LOGOS Coptic Youth Forum

It was held from August 25th to September 1st, 2018, under the leadership and presence of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, under the motto “Back to the Roots”,  at LOGOS Papal Center – the papal residence – at St. Bishoy’s Monastery in Wadi El Natroun. 

LYF objectives: 
1- to return these youth to their Egyptian and ecclesiastical roots, and renew their  affiliation and connection with these roots. 
2- One of the goals of this forum was “JOY” 
Jesus Christ is the source of joy = Jesus = J 
The Coptic Church is a source of joy = Coptic = O 
Egypt is our country, the source of joy = Egypt = Y 

1) Listening to young people, their dreams and aspirations for their Coptic  Orthodox Church. 
2) Exchanging experiences between young people from all parishes.   

These goals were achieved through these activities:  

First: a spiritual program:  

– Liturgies – Agpia Prayers – Daily Biblical Reading (Philippines) – Bible Study (Jacob) – Hymns – Daily Spiritual Retreat – Daily Praise. 
– Spiritual Topics:
Joy in Christ – Fr. Boules George  
Joy in Bible and Evangelism – Fr. David Lamei 
Joy in Change – Dr. Walaa Mourad 
Attending the Pope’s weekly meeting on Wednesday and listening to a wonderful lecture on joy in which His Holiness read excerpts from a sermon by H.G. Bishop Epiphanius, he prepared it specifically for this world youth week. 
Tasting the evening experience of praise and liturgy in monasteries:
– Males in St. Mina Monastery with monks
– Females in St. Theodor Monastery with Mother Adrusis and nuns  

Second: Church Visits:  

– St. Mark Cathedral in Abbasia, Cairo, and His Holiness explained the renovations to them in preparation for the opening in November 2018.
– St. Mark’s Shrine and St. Athanasius’s Shrine 
– St. Peter and Paul Church 
– The Hanging Church of the Virgin St. Mary 
– St. Mercurius Monastery for Nuns (Coptic Cairo) 
– St. Mina Monastery for
Monks (King Mariout) 
– St. Theodor Monastery for Nuns (Wadi El Natrun) 

Third: Official meetings with statesmen: 

– President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi 
– Vice Admiral Mohab Mamish 
– Minister Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Tourism 
– Minister Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth 
– Minister Khaled Al-Anani, Minister of Antiquities 
– Minister Nabila Makram, Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs (Through a recorded video)

Fourth: Egyptian Visits:  

Pyramids – Opera House – Cairo Tower – Suez Canal – Royal Jewellery Palace – Alexandria Bibliotheca

Fifth: Meetings with successful Egyptian personalities: 

Eng. Naguib Sawiris • Eng. Hani Azar • Dr. Nasser Fouad – Dr. Riad Armanious –  Mama Maggie – Mother Anastasia – Dr. Mina Samaan

Sixth: The Seminar:  

It was a wonderful opportunity to hear the youth by dividing into five groups  and in deep discussion and discussion sessions, and the seminar ended with a general  session for all young people in the presence of His Holiness the Pope, and after  completing the presentation of groups, dialogue and discussion. 
The seminar ended with a paper with a set of recommendations presented by the  youth with all submissiveness and intent to their fathers, members of the Holy Synod,  to discuss them in the next seminar for them in November 2018, and the five topics were:
1. Church and 21st Century Challenges
2. Church and Identity 
3. Church and youth service
4. Church and ecumenical work
5. Church and Communication Technology
Examples of recommendations emerging from the youth seminar include:  making a Coptic Orthodox encyclopaedia containing the Church’s theological education,  references approved by the church, sayings of the fathers, etc. 

Seventh: Other activities:  

– Crafts presented by the ship center in St. Mary Church, Smouha, Alexandria
– Talents Show  
– Open Discussion with Pope Tawadros II  

Eighth: Opening and closing ceremonies:  

In the presence of a group of bishops, the House of Representatives members and a group of public figures.  

In conclusion, we thank our good God, who is the most beautiful of all human beings, who  magnified the Maker with us so we were happy,  
We thank His Holiness Pope Tawadros II who had the idea, and who blessed the  gathering with his presence and his patriarchal love that all young people felt, so all the  participating youth called him “Papa”. 
We thank all the officials in the Egyptian state, starting with President Abdel Fattah  El-Sisi and the ministers and officials for their cooperation with us. 
We thank the sponsors who took an interest in this conference.  
A special thanks to the Priest Fathers, Central Committee and the servants, who made  a great effort in preparing and organizing this forum. 
We thank the participating youth who provided a wonderful picture of the Coptic Orthodox youth. 
The Lord uses this work for the glory of His holy name