3rd LOGOS Coptic Youth Forum
Back to the Roots - August 2022
The third LOGOS Coptic Youth Forum was held between August 20th to 27th, 2022, under the care and in the presence of H.H. Pope Tawadros II. The forum’s theme was “Back to the Roots.” It was hosted in LOGOS Papal Residence in St Bishoy’s Monastery; Wadi EI- Natroun, Egypt.
The preparations for this forum began one year before its opening. The first practical step was taken by the reverend metropolitans and bishops of the dioceses, in choosing the youth participants of the forum. This was in November 2021.
Following this selection, there was communication with the chosen youth to prepare for this forum.
Throughout all the days of the forum, the metropolitans and bishops participated with His Holiness in presenting the authentic, loving Church to her children. They took part in the events of the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as all the activities in between, through their presence, interactions with the youth and hosting them in their monastic trips, as we will read later on.
There were around 200 participants in this year’s forum: male and female youth from over 35 dioceses outside Egypt. For the first time, there were participants representing Fiji, Greece, Brazil, Philippines and Spain.
LOGOS forums began in 2018 and present a different vision and service for youth who live in and outside Egypt,
LYF aims:
1- The return of these youth to their Egyptian roots and the Church, the renewal of their affiliation and communication with these roots, and the presentation of Egypt and the Mother Church as something more than simply places to visit with the family.
2- Each forum has a theme. In 2018, the theme was joy. This year, the forum delivered a powerful message about love. There was a thorough study about love, including studying the five languages of love.
3- Listening to the youth and discovering their dreams and ambitions for their Coptic Orthodox Church.
4- The exchange of experiences between youth from all the dioceses.
5- Delving deep into the youth’s minds, answering their questions, and listening to their opinions, to enter their world and present living examples of success to them.
These aims were achieved through numerous activities, including:
The Liturgy:
– The youth participated in the prayers of the liturgy of St Mary’s feast with H.H. Pope Tawadros II, bishops and priests. The liturgy was in all languages and heaven was filled with praises from every place and tongue.
– Midnight Praise in St Mary’s Monastery, Dronka: The youth praised in a variety of languages, and were led by H.G. Bishop Yoannes, Bishop of Asyut.
– Weekday Liturgies, Praises, Vespers and Hymns: The youth prayed these in different languages, to enjoy their one mother which is the Church, no matter the cultural and language differences between them.
Journey of Love in the Holy Bible:
– This was in the form of the operetta titled “Love Land” It was based on Biblical stories, performed by the Central Theatrical Team of Alexandria. It narrated the story of love in the Holy Bible, from the beginning of Adam’s creation, Abraham, God’s work with the people of Israel, the incarnation and the wonderful story of salvation.
– There was also a show about the Church’s prayers in different countries around the world, with the participation of the orchestra and singers.
– There was a daily Bible study with a focus on the five languages of love in Biblical events. The epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon was studied, as one of the five languages of love and its application in our lives; likewise the love languages of gifts, touch, service and time.
– There were discussions about love in the world and love in the Holy Bible, and the extent of our ability as youth to obey the commandment. This was through short movies and phrases used in explaining love, according to science and the Church Fathers.
– Workshops for creative handcrafts about love, and the Holy Family’s visit to Egypt were held, to be used as ideas for service after the youth’s return.
– The different gifts distributed were also under the same theme of love. A few examples include pictures of Biblical events about the five languages of love, bags, t-shirts (used for service day), and an Egyptian pillar with “Egypt” written in 70 languages.
Visits:
– Many historic places in Egypt were visited such as Abdeen Palace, where the youth were given a private tour of its rooms.
– There was also a visit to New Alamein City and a meeting between the Prime Minister Dr Mostafa MadbouIy and some of the participants.
– The youth visited some of the Coptic Church’s monasteries, most important of which include:
– St. Mary Al-Muharraq Monastery: the youth prayed in it and took the blessings of the monastery and H.G. Bishop Bigol (monastery’s abbot’s)
– St. Mary Dronka Monastery: the youth prayed the Midnight Praises there with H.G. Bishop Yoannes, (bishop of Asyuit and monastery’s abbot)
– St. Mina the Wonder Worker’s Monastery in Borg El-Arab: the youth took the blessing of St Mina and Pope Kirollos, and visited the monastery’s historic places. They took the blessing of Bishop Kirollos (the monastery’s abbot).
– Prior to the opening ceremony, the youth visited the monasteries of Wadi El-Natroun and were blessed by their saints.
– Visiting St Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo: The youth were greeted by H.H. Pope Tawadros II and the fathers the metropolitans and bishops. They visited the shrines of St Mark the Apostle and St Athanasius and El- Botroseya Church. This was followed by an official dinner with the ambassadors of the countries they live in. The dinner was attended by more than 17 ambassadors who sat on the tables with the youth according to their country of residence. The youth were honoured to get to know their country’s ambassadors in Egypt. In this event, the youth presented many of their impressions of Egypt and their emotions when they returned to it after many years, as many were visiting it for the first time since their parents’ immigration.
LOGOS Fair
in the Presence of Her Excellency Soha El-Gendy (Minister of Immigration)
There were 20 national and church sectors represented by a number of delegates. The youth were familiarized with the Egyptian bodies and institutes and the services they offer to the Coptic Youth. These included the Ministry of Immigration, Ministry of Environment, Tourism Promotion Authority, the Holy Synod, Anba Abraam Ministry, Tyrannus Seminary and many others.
Bible Night
The youth participated in a journey across the history of the apostles’ ministry across the world; from India, to Iran, Greece and Rome. This was presented through models of these countries, their most famous landmarks and the history of the apostles’ ministry in them. A prayer meeting concluded the event, for the spread of the ministry throughout the world.
Meetings with Successful Individuals
– The most prominent names were Dr Sir Magdy Yacoub and Dr Magdy Ishak in a seminar entitled “Success”.
– There was also Mr. Michael Cassis, CEO of the Egyptian company; Mintra which has now reached the world stage.
– Mrs. Mary Boktor (an international lawyer) presented her life’s journey of successes and failures, and how God’s hand was with her in her steps.
Discussion Workshops with H.H. Pope Tawadros II
During the days of the forum, the participants became close with the person of H.H. Pope Tawadros II as a loving father to them. These were through separate group meetings with the youth from every continent: America, Australia, Europe, Africa and Asia.
It ended with Wednesday’s sermon which revolved around the virtue of love and concluded with an open discussion between the youth from all over the world, His Holiness and the bishops present.
The Youth Seminar:
The youth also expressed their views and opinions on some personal issues which affect their lives, and the challenges they currently face. There were through serious and fruitful discussions in the seminar’s workshops, from a Coptic Orthodox point of view on five issues of concern to them:
1) The Youth & Family issues.
2) Modern Medical sciences.
3) Christianity’s view on homosexuality.
4) Relationships between the two sexes.
5) Atheism and its levels.
A document was issued expressing the views of the Coptic youth on these issues, in line with the views of the Holy Bible, the Church and the Church Fathers. It will be presented to the Holy Synod in November 2022.
Service Day:
As an application of the five languages of love, a spiritual service day was held for 200 Sudanese refugee children residing in Egypt. The youth participated in leisure activities with the children and presented them with gifts.
The events of the forum ended in the presence of His Holiness and a number of bishops. His Holiness concluded with a speech addressed to the youth, the distribution of certificates and taking photos with all the participating dioceses.
The Church is God’s Dwelling with Mankind
Young people remain the secret of the Church’s strength. They are its speaking present and its coming future. Annually, the Church holds this forum to increase her bond with her youth, and to know their views and opinions, headed by H.H. Pope Tawadros II.
In conclusion, we thank our good God, who is “fairer than the sons of men”, and “who has done great things for us, and we are glad.” We thank His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, who came up with the idea and blessed the forum with his presence and fatherly love. His love was felt by all the youth, so much so that they refer to him as “Baba.”
A special thanks to all the bishops for their great attention in choosing participants from their children. They cared to attend most of the forum’s events and portrayed to the youth their Church’s love for them everywhere in the world.
We thank all the officials in the Egyptian state, beginning with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, and the ministers and officials for their cooperation with us.
We thank the participants who presented a wonderful image of the Coptic Orthodox youth.
May the Lord use this work for the glory of His holy name.
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