Young Orthodox Christians Lead Bible Study Boom in Lebanon, Romania

10:15 PM ETDeveloping

Faith Desk

In Short: A small Bible study group in Lebanon has grown into the largest such initiative in the Middle East, with thousands of participants from various religious backgrounds.

Last year, three young Lebanese men started a Bible study group in their parish hall, which has since expanded to over 3,000 attendees, making it the largest Bible study initiative in the Middle East. The organizers are now training leaders to spread the initiative across Lebanon and beyond. Participants engage in interactive segments, including games and discussions on Christian faith. The Procession of Lights in Romania, part of an international Orthodox youth meeting, further highlights the growing influence of young Orthodox Christians in religious and cultural events.

‘The young Orthodox Christian is a blessing to his family, a model for other young people and a missionary in the life of the Church,’ said a priest. Attendees at the Procession of Lights in Romania came from 40 countries, underscoring the global impact of these young leaders in Orthodox communities.

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To that end, the organizers are training people to lead similar gatherings in other parts of Lebanon while their long-term vision extends beyond the country’s borders.
According to Chaaya, Christians from various churches and denominations — including Orthodox Christians and Protestants — have joined the gatherings, alongside people from other religious backgrounds, including Muslims.
Participants then move on to an interactive segment featuring games and questions about the Bible or other topics related to the Christian faith, such as Marian apparitions.
This story was originally published by the Catholic Standard and distributed through a partnership with OSV News.
He referred to the beatitudes as a “self-portrait of Jesus,” allowing Christians to see what Jesus values: peace, meekness, mercy, faithfulness in the face of persecution, and purity of heart.
“The church is a young people’s place where they can find refuge and solace,” Paula Pantea, a 24-year-old attendee, told The Associated Press.
Adrian Agachi, a priest and press office coordinator for the Romanian Patriarchy, said that attendees — who he said came from 40 countries — will join Orthodox believers from all over Romania on Thursday for a holy liturgy at the National Cathedral.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Thousands of young Orthodox Christians gathered in Romania’s capital for a candlelit procession that illuminated a trail from the giant National Cathedral to Patriarchate Hill, a historic site considered sacred to Romanian Orthodoxy.

Sources

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