Young members of the Nepsis movement from France, Switzerland, and Canada gathered in Paris for their annual congress themed “The Presence of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives.”
The event was held over Pentecost weekend and began with a warm welcome at the Cathedral of the Holy Archangels in Paris. The congress opened with the Divine Liturgy, during which the youth provided the liturgical responses. The program continued with workshops and icebreaker games to foster community spirit.
Participants then met with Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe and his Assistant Bishop Marc of Neamț.
“Young people asked profound questions and shared openly, in an atmosphere of freedom, goodwill, and attentive listening, where everyone was encouraged to speak with trust and honesty,” recounted Nikolas Tirrier, one of the participants.
On the feast of Pentecost, the youth attended the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Three Hierarchs Parish in Courneuve. The liturgical celebration was followed by a spring ball, strengthening bonds through joyful fellowship.
The congress concluded with a prayer service at Saint Paraskeva Church in central Paris. “In this church at the heart of Paris, we entrusted to God, with gratitude, the fruits of these blessed days: prayer, peace, shared blessings, and hopeful glances marked the end of this congress,” Nikolas added.
About Nepsis:
Nepsis is the umbrella name for youth groups within the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe. The term comes from the Greek word nēpsis, meaning “watchfulness” or “to be awake.”
Its mission is to connect young people from Romanian Orthodox parishes in the diaspora, helping strengthen their faith, foster friendships, and preserve Romanian traditions.
Photo: Nepsis France
