From 6 -12 August 2013, the 18th meeting of the Dialogue of the youth of the Romanian Orthodox Church with those of Evangelical Church of Germany (Junger Dialog BOR – EKD) is taking place at the Social Pastoral Centre of the “Holy Cross” of Caraiman Monastery.
Tuesday, on the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ, the two delegations received the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. The session began yesterday, under the chairmanship of His Grace Varalaam Ploiesteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch.
The theme that the 12 theologians will debate through essays and discussions, as well as through the practical examples of the involvement of the Church in the life of the community, of social – philanthropic, and medical mission starts from the Revelation text 21:4: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death…”and is named: “the Christian Attitude towards sorrow and death”, as “Lumina” newspaper informs.
“Our message within this meeting is to make known the work of the Church designed to alleviate sufferance both through the common prayer, and through the “extra muros” work, through the philanthropic and medical work”, affirmed deacon lecturer dr Catalin Vatamanu, coordinator of the Romanian delegation on behalf of the Romanian Patriarchate.
“These days we are going to have a dialogue on how the two Churches are involved in the mission designed to heal man, in body and soul. We enjoyed having His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul present when we opened the meeting”, Mariuc Ciulu, co-organiser emphasised. “At the present dialogue we try to find a common language concerning the theme of pastoral service, so that our contribution to the dialogue between Churches should be relevant”, vicar Forian Krönke affirmed. “We wish to have a week of intensive discussions and captivating lectures, within the wonderful scenery of Caraiman Monastery and Romanian hospitality”, Matthias Ceisler, co-organiser of the EKD affirmed.
The dialogue of the young theologians of the ROC and EKD has been held since 1994, in order to facilitate better knowledge of theology, as well as of the theological, liturgical, pastoral, and missionary life of the two Churches.
