To the youth of the Diocese of Pittsburgh,
My most beloved Children in the Lord,

In the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to see and to meet many young people here in the United States. In all the cities I have visited, I have experienced the enthusiasm with which the youth of this glorious nation have received their Patriarch. I felt the joy that was written upon the faces of America’s youth and I saw their hands reaching out with desire to touch a dream; a dream that takes flesh and bone in front of their worshipful eyes. I am very impressed with their commitment to Christ and to Orthodoxy.
The 75 years that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has spent building the Church in America have been very fruitful. You, the youth of this Holy Archdiocese and all the vibrant young Orthodox Christians of many ethnic backgrounds are the fruits of your ancestors many sacrifices and struggles. You have stretched out your hands to me, presenting your hearts in hope and anticipation. You have shown that your journey is in Christ, and that you seek to find meaning to life and existence in the risen Lord.
Now, we are poised on the cusp of the next millenium. You, my beloved sons and daughters, are the inheritors of the future. Your memories of the past, of our traditions, of our Orthodox faith are the treasures that have been entrusted to you. They are our hopes for your future. The meaning of life for which you yearn rests in the heart of the Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate. We preach the risen, living Christ, “for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him” (Romans 10:12).
From the shores of the United States to the green hills of New Zealand, from Finland and Estonia to Greece, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been the champion of the truth of Christ’s living presence in the world. Under the cover of its protective and secure wings, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has offered to all the promise of love, joy, and hope. These are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and you my children are the recipients of God’s rich harvest, for “no one who believes in Him will be put to shame” (Romans 10:11).
All of you who are here, who find the time to gather together at the sacred Eucharist, have made a commitment to Christ. What I want to tell you is this: your commitment is something that goes beyond what is seen, what is known, what is visible. I want you to remember how important it is to be committed in your hearts. I want you to understand the power that you have as young people to change the world for the better. I want you to feel that commitment that you have to Christ in your hearts, every minute, every hour, every day. His love and power, and the presence of the Holy Spirit, will sustain you and guide you and give you the strength to face the trials that the world will put you through.
I know that it must seem at times that the world does not care for your faith. It is well known that the secular world often regards faith with some disdain, even amusement. Often, it is embarrassing to be a believer. Imagine if you will, how the early saints must have felt when they were laughed at, when they were scorned by the society around them, and even persecuted.
Today, you live in the most free and open society in the world. That means that you may be a believer and still succeed and grow and prosper in the secular world. However, I ask you never to forget that you manifest the living presence of Jesus Christ in the world. You, your lives, your actions as Orthodox Christians are an icon to all those you meet. Live in Christ as He lives in you, and you will prosper in your spiritual lives. You will feel His blessings in your heart and soul.
My most beloved children, be champions for Jesus Christ. I will be your champion. I love each and every one of you. I pray for you all. And I exhort you to pray for one another, for your parents, your families, your priests and communities. Talk to your parents, priests and to each other. Keep Christ’s great commandment to love one another. Be bold in your love for Christ and He will be your rock and your shield. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Believe in yourselves and in Christ’s message of salvation, just as I believe in you. You can and will change the world for the better. As I have said to the youth of America throughout our journey: our faith is alive, our message is strong and our truth is universal. The new millenium is yours! You will, with God’s help, make it a golden age for Orthodox Christianity.
May the Holy Trinity bless you all, now and always.