The education of young people is a sacred mission

and a social co-responsibility*

At the beginning of the academic year 2024-2025, we address a message of blessing to all students and teachers in university and postgraduate education, wishing them much help from God in the activity of studying, researching and deepening spiritual and scientific values.

The Church and the University are called to rediscover the joy of the dialogue between theology and science, not only to overcome the artificial or apparent divergence between them, but above all to cooperate in the formation of a social ethic, which will contribute to the preservation and promotion of authentic and perennial educational values.

These two representative institutions of Romanian society can deepen cooperation to train young people, so that they, in turn, cultivate the values ​​of faith and Christian culture: love for people and nature - God's creation, Christian solidarity, friendship, respect towards the Family, the Church, the School and the people, as well as the dialogue with other peoples. Therefore, it is necessary that the spiritual and educational work of guiding and supporting young people be enlightened by the conviction that all young people are a blessing from God for the Family, Church and Society.

At the beginning of each academic year, the Lord Jesus Christ reveals to us through the Parable of the Sower that there is power in the seed He sows and in the soil in which it is sown: "For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head." (Mark 4, 26-28). Likewise, there is a power in the depths of man's soul that lights up and grows through the seed of God's word. That is why teachers are called to shape, to cultivate the soul of students, to grow intellectually and spiritually, professionally and socially.

The objective of Christian education is the spiritual growth of young people, according to the model of the Lord Jesus Christ: "And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." (Luke 2, 40).

The Romanian Patriarchate, through the projects addressed to young people (The Encounters of young Orthodox people from all over the world, the activities of the Association of Romanian Christian-Orthodox Students - A.S.C.O.R., the National Catechetical Program "Christ shared with children", the educational project "Choose the School!", youth camps, pilgrimages for highschoolers and students, social-philanthropic and cultural-educational projects), proposes and supports the restoration of the connection of young people with a living, confessing and praying community, in challenging times, both for the soul and for the body.

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church declared the year 2024 the Homage Year dedicated for pastoral care of the sick, wanting to highlight the importance of health, as a gift from God, in the perspective of valuing and sanctifying life. The assuming one's own identity, the founding and defense of the Christian family, the birth and upbringing of children in the love of imperishable values, the education of young people in the spirit of the Christian faith, of the union of freedom with responsibility, are permanent priorities.

These aspects highlight the importance of achieving an integrative education of young people, in the perspective of their spiritual and practical training, as young people who participate and contribute to the life of the Church and Romanian society.

On the new academic year 2024-2025, we pray to the Merciful God, the Source of life and wisdom, to bless all students, teachers and parents, with many fruitful years!

With much appreciation and paternal blessings,

† DANIEL

Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church

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* Message of His Beatitude DANIEL, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, on the occasion of the new academic year 2024-2025