Annual Gathering of the Orthodox Youth of the Benelux in Bruges.“Rest in a Demanding World”.

Under the auspices of His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, over one hundred young Orthodox believers from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg gathered this past weekend for the annual autumn retreat in Brugge, Belgium. From Friday 17th to Sunday 19th October 2025, participants of diverse nationalities and different Orthodox parishes came together to explore their faith and traditions in a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Merkenveld scouting grounds near the city of Bruges.

On Saturday, archpriest Spyridon Tsimouris of the Holy Metropolis of Piraeus delivered a thought-provoking lecture on the theme “The act of loving God and our neighbour as true spiritual rest.” His talk was followed by an engaging Question & Answer session, offering participants the opportunity to interact directly with the speaker. Later that day, the youth took part in nine practical workshops, introducing them to various liturgical arts and expressions of Orthodox life.

The spiritual highlight of the weekend came on Sunday, with the  Divine Liturgy presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium. The essence of his homily may be summarised as follows: Christ meets us in our pain and weariness with compassion, as He met the widow of Nain and raised her son to life. True rest in a demanding world does not come from control or success, but from finding our centre in Christ — in His peace, presence, and love. The Church is called to be a place of that same compassion and resurrection, where people feel seen, loved, and renewed.

The final lecture was given by the Sisters Theosemni and  Theochariti of the Holy Convent of Chrysopigi (Crete), who offered both spiritual and practical insights on the theme “Rest in the midst of a demanding world,” inspired by the teachings of Saint Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia. After the closing prayers and final blessing, the young participants returned to their homes and parishes, filled with Christian joy and spiritually renewed.

This weekend stood as a true testament to the vitality of today’s Orthodox youth—committed to their faith and tradition, united in love for God, for one another, and for the world.

The Orthodox Youth of the Benelux

The Orthodox Youth in Belgium (now the Orthodox Youth of the Benelux) originated in the late 1970s through the initiative of Christian Maertens (†) and Dominique Verbeke (now Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne), who gathered young people for reflection and faith formation. Under the spiritual guidance of Metropolitan Panteleimon of Belgium, the movement grew into a national organization, affiliated with the worldwide Orthodox youth fellowship Syndesmos, and inspired many vocations to priesthood and monastic life.

In the 2000s, new generations continued this mission, emphasizing collaboration, youth camps, and spiritual encounters. Since 2013, under the leadership of Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, youth ministry has gained new dynamism across the Benelux, with annual gatherings and a renewed focus on faith, community, and the identity of Orthodox youth today.