A Pastoral approach – messages of love and hope to contemporary youth
Office for Heresies
and Cults of the (Official Church) Metropolis of Piraeus
September 21, 2026
Youth violence constitutes one of
the most disturbing manifestations of contemporary social reality. It appears
in schools, among groups of friends, within families, at sports grounds, and
also in the digital world, where verbal abuse, cyberbullying, and public
humiliation deeply wound the human person and often give rise to human
tragedies.
Particularly alarming is the
phenomenon of school bullying and intense aggression within the school
environment, where the school, instead of being a place of encounter and social
development, degenerates into a place for the externalization and expression of
fierce inner aggressive impulses. And whereas immature young souls ought to be
filled with purity, companionship, and goodness, they instead express hatred
and violence, which is often unprovoked or arises from childish causes. Most
tragic of all is that these violent attacks often have devastating
consequences, such as serious injuries and even, in some cases, death.
This contemporary and deeply
troubling phenomenon should concern all of us—parents, educators, scientists,
and pastors of the Church. We must seek its real causes, recognizing that
behind every act of violence, whether committed by a perpetrator or suffered by
a victim, there is a human being searching for meaning, acceptance, love, and
identity, as a result of the unprecedented crisis confronting today’s society.
Hatred and violence reveal serious psychological wounds that lie hidden within
the inner makeup of many people and manifest themselves in reactions toward
fellow human beings who are perceived as “opponents” and “enemies.”
The Orthodox Church does not
regard this phenomenon merely as a social or psychological problem, but as a
spiritual reality that reveals the disruption of man’s relationship with God,
with his fellow human beings, and with his own self. Its pastoral response is
not limited to condemning violence; it proposes a different way of life, one
that heals the heart and transforms the human person.
Beyond sociological,
psychological, and legal approaches, however, the Orthodox Church approaches
the problem as one that is profoundly existential and spiritual. Violence is
not merely antisocial behavior; it is an expression of wounded human existence,
of alienation from God, and of the rupture of the communion of love.
The pastoral ministry of the
Church is not limited to condemning acts of violence. Its aim is the healing of
the human person, the restoration of communion with God, and the renewal of the
human heart.
It is this purpose that our
present statement also seeks to serve, on the occasion of the new school year.
In a spirit of love and wholehearted concern for our children, together with
our wishes for their good progress, we also offer the following thoughts on
addressing the serious phenomenon of youth violence. We do so because we are
convinced that this problem is fundamentally spiritual, as we stated above, and
for this reason our Local Church, through our Office and with the blessings of
our revered Shepherd, addresses a message of reconciliation to sensitive young
souls, calling upon them to view life and human relationships in the light of
Christian love, mutual respect, tolerance, and forbearance.
1. The Human Person as the
Image of God
The foundation of Orthodox
anthropology is found in the biblical proclamation: “And God made man
according to the image of God” (Gen. 1:27). Every human being, regardless
of age, race, or social status, bears within himself the image of God. His
worth does not depend upon his outward appearance, his achievements, or social
recognition.
Violence is an affront to
precisely this Godlike dignity of the human person. Every form of aggression,
whether physical or verbal, constitutes a denial of the sacredness of the
person. Saint Gregory the Theologian reminds us that man is a “living being
in the process of deification” (zōon theoumenon), that is, a
God-created being called to theosis. Every human person has been called
to become a participant in the life of God, and not an agent of destruction.
2. The Theology of Violence in
Holy Scripture
The first act of violence in
human history is the fratricide of Abel by Cain (Gen. ch. 4).
This account is not merely a historical reference. It reveals the deeper
spiritual dynamic of violence. Cain does not merely kill his brother. Before
this, he has already distanced himself from God, and for this reason his
sacrifice was not accepted. Characteristic are God’s words to him: “Why have
you become very sorrowful, and why has your countenance fallen? If you offer
rightly, but do not divide rightly, have you not sinned? Be still; his turning
shall be toward you, and you shall rule over him” (Gen. 4:6–7). Sin is born
in the heart before it is manifested in actions. Christ completes this theology
by saying: “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders…” (Matt.
15:19). Therefore, the Church does not deal only with outward actions, but
heals their inner causes.
3. Violence as a Spiritual
Illness
The Fathers of the Church teach
that the roots of violence are found in the passions. Saint Maximus the
Confessor teaches that all the passions arise from self-love, that is, an
egocentric love of oneself, which inevitably leads to the rejection of others.
Worse still, it causes a person to regard the other as a rival who must be
weakened or even eliminated.
From the passion of self-love
arise:
- anger,
- jealousy,
- ambition,
- pride,
- resentment,
- vindictiveness.
Saint John Chrysostom
writes characteristically: “Nothing makes a person so like the beasts as
uncontrolled anger.” The Church, therefore, does not view a violent young
person as a “bad child,” but as a human being in need of healing. Sin is
not a legal transgression; it is an illness of human existence.
4. The Social Causes of Youth
Violence
Theology does not ignore social
reality. Contemporary youth grow up under conditions that often foster
aggression:
- crisis in the family,
- lack of meaningful communication,
- excessive use of digital media,
- cyberbullying,
- glorification of power,
- a culture of competition,
- social insecurity,
- economic difficulties,
- absence of stable role models.
The modern young person
experiences an intense anxiety about being accepted. Many times, he uses
violence as a means of gaining recognition or as a defense against rejection. A
person who is wounded often wounds others.
5. Christ Overturns the Logic
of Violence
The history of the world
glorifies the powerful. The Gospel glorifies the peacemakers. Christ says: “Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). The
power of Christ is not expressed through coercion. It is expressed through the
Cross. The Resurrection demonstrates that love is stronger than every form of
violence.
Saint Porphyrios used to
say: “Darkness is not dispelled by darkness. You light a lamp.” This is
the whole pastoral approach of the Church. It does not fight against the human
person. It fights against the darkness that wounds him.
6. The Church’s Therapeutic
Approach
The Orthodox Church does not
propose an ideology. It proposes a way of life. The healing of violence comes
through:
- a personal relationship with Christ,
- prayer,
- confession,
- the Divine Eucharist,
- ascetic struggle,
- forgiveness,
- life within the parish,
- service to one’s neighbor.
The Church functions as a
spiritual infirmary. The spiritual father is not a judge. He is a physician of
souls.
7. Pastoral Ministry toward
Young People
Young people today do not first
seek answers. They seek persons. They are not moved by moralizing. They are
moved by authenticity.
For this reason, the pastor is
called:
- to listen more,
- to understand more deeply,
- to love without conditions,
- not to stigmatize,
- to accompany the young person along his path.
The Church needs spaces in which
young people will feel safe to express their anger, their questions, and their
wounds.
8. A Message to Today’s Youth
Dear young person,
You live in an age that
constantly asks you to prove your worth. The Church tells you something
different. Your true worth is given to you by God, Who created you as a
rational being, unique and unrepeatable, destined to be glorified together with
Him. Do not believe that your worth depends on “likes,” popularity, or
the image you project. Every human being possesses the same worth, which we are
obliged to respect.
Therefore, do not let anyone
persuade you that violence makes you strong. Strength is not measured by how
much others fear you, but by how much you are able to love and to be a sign of
reconciliation and peace.
If there is anger within you,
speak about it. If you feel alone, ask for help. If you have been hurt, do not
be afraid to trust people who can stand beside you. Silence often deepens the
wound, whereas love heals it.
Do not allow anger to become your
identity. Do not let rage determine your future. True courage is to ask
forgiveness. True strength is to forgive. True freedom is to love.
Do not become part of the
problem. Become a person who reconciles, who unites, who protects the weak, and
who defends the truth without hatred. And be absolutely certain that, in the
end, you will be the true victor.
If you feel alone, speak. If you
have been hurt, do not withdraw into yourself.
You do not need to prove anything
to God. You are already His beloved child. Christ does not ask you to be
perfect. The Church is not a place for the “perfect.” It is the home of
those who struggle. Christ rejects no one. He awaits everyone. He asks you to
open your heart to Him, so that He may make you truly free. Near Him you will
find the true fulfillment and peace that you need as the foremost provisions for
your life.
Conclusion
Youth violence will not be
eradicated merely through stricter laws, security cameras, or disciplinary
sanctions. All these may have a deterrent effect, but they do not heal the
human heart. The Church, drawing upon its two-thousand-year spiritual experience,
reminds us that true change begins with the inner transformation of the human
person. This is a fundamental principle and practice that the world ignores,
especially the various social systems, which proceed from a mistaken starting
point. They do not seek to change the human person, but rather institutions,
and for this reason they fail. Unless the human person—the primary cell of
society—is renewed, society itself will not change.
Pastoral ministry toward young
people must be inspired by the example of the Good Shepherd. It must combine
truth with love, discernment with compassion, and spiritual guidance with
sincere dialogue. The Church is called not to confine itself to denouncing
violence, but to create communities in which young people can experience
acceptance, trust, participation, and hope.
The greatest answer of Orthodoxy
to violence is the experience of the Resurrection. The Risen Christ conquers
hatred not through revenge but through forgiveness, conquers fear through
peace, and transforms the human person from an agent of destruction into an
agent of love. This is the timeless message of the Church to every young
person: life finds its fulfillment not through domination, but through
communion; not through the power of violence, but through the power of love,
which “never fails” (1 Cor. 13:8).
We wish our beloved children, who
are the future of our society and our homeland, a good and blessed new school
year, praying for the illumination of the All-Holy Spirit and for their good
progress.
May the peace proclaimed by
Christ our Redeemer reign in their pure young souls, and may their path
thereafter be “in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).
Greek
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