His Eminence Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland met with young people in Zalău, Romania, on Tuesday for a dialogue titled “How can we find God in a world that constantly distracts us?”
The event took place at the Young People’s Archontariki (Guesthouse), a recently inaugurated youth centre in Zalău.
The Challenges Facing Contemporary Humanity
During his address, Archbishop Atanasie highlighted one of the great challenges of modern society.
“Contemporary people are constantly connected to events, images, opinions and messages that occupy both their time and their thoughts. Yet this very abundance of stimuli can make it difficult to encounter one’s own soul and God.”
Drawing on his pastoral experience among Romanian young people in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, His Eminence explained that God always remains close to humanity, but that the noise of modern life often prevents people from perceiving His presence.
“God does not hide Himself from us; rather, it is we who often lose the capacity to hear Him. In the Orthodox tradition, our encounter with God begins by rediscovering inner stillness, through prayer, participation in the liturgical life of the Church and the cultivation of an authentic relationship with our neighbour,” he said.
Young People Seek Meaning
The hierarch also reflected on the deeper aspirations of today’s young people.
“Young people seek meaning, authenticity and lasting points of reference. The Church is called to respond to this search not only through words but also through the witness of a life lived in Christ. In a culture marked by fragmentation and the rapid consumption of information, the Gospel remains a call to depth, communion and the discovery of true inner freedom.”
Following the lecture, participants asked questions about faith, identity, the relationship between the Church and contemporary society, the challenges of the digital environment and the role of young people in the life of Christian communities.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Archbishop Atanasie thanked the organisers for their invitation and for their ongoing commitment to the spiritual formation of young people, emphasising the importance of such encounters in bringing new generations closer to the life of the Church and the values of the Gospel.
Photo: roarch.org.uk
