“We are ready for the future!” was the unified exclamation of about 200 Orthodox young people who participated in the 2024 Youth Conference of the Archdiocesan District of Perth. The conference, held on Saturday, July 13, in the capital of Western Australia, saw the youth expressing their commitment with one voice and one heart. Their enthusiasm, zeal, and determination were further inspired by the words of spiritual encouragement delivered by Archbishop Makarios of Australia at the opening of the Conference.
“There is nothing to scare us when we have Christ with us,” the Archbishop assured during his inspiring speech. He vividly described to the young audience how “all you who are weary and burdened” find rest near God. Perhaps the most appropriate example he could present to the young people is that of their grandparents—people who have toiled much, experienced numerous trials, and continue to face challenges, yet their souls remain at rest because of their deep faith in God.
“No matter how many difficulties they face or how often things don’t go according to plan, those who are meek and humble remain undisturbed and untroubled by life’s events. Yes, they experience pain and feel the weight and sorrow of the situation, yet in the depths of their hearts, a blessed peace reigns. There is a sense of security and consolation because they have Christ with them, supporting them,” said the Archbishop.
On the other hand, people who are distant from God may enjoy worldly comforts and pleasures, but they are never fully satisfied, never truly at peace.
As the Archbishop explained: “We may stay at home all day or even sojourn on a tropical island, sitting around doing nothing, yet still, we feel an unsettling sense that something is missing. We experience a void that cannot be filled by all the pleasures of life or anything money can buy.”
Unfortunately, the desperate attempt to fill this inner void leads many people, especially the young, to the illusions offered by drugs. Archbishop Makarios made special reference to this issue: “People who take drugs and alcohol feel the need to consume them in order to live happily. They want to believe the lie that these substances will bring them happiness and joy. But, in fact, it has led them down the wrong path. Unfortunately, this is often the case in our modern society. What begins as recreational drug use for a fleeting sense of happiness quickly spirals into full-blown addiction.”
Pointing out that secular pleasures can only offer temporary relief and sometimes even trap us in painful situations, the Archbishop reminded the young people that “only Christ can reach the deepest parts of our being.”
Therefore, he encouraged them to center their hearts and minds on Christ, making Him the priority in their lives. He also assured them that “the Church will always welcome you with open arms, its doors will never close, for God is at the head, and the Church is your home. The Archbishop is your spiritual father and loves you deeply.”
It is noteworthy that the Youth Conference organized by the Archdiocesan District of Perth was part of the centennial celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. Before the opening of the Conference, held in the Archdiocesan District’s Conference Hall, a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated in English at the nearby Church of St. Nektarios.
Archbishop Makarios presided over the Divine Liturgy, accompanied by Bishops Elpidios of Kyanes and Evmenios of Kerasounta, Archdiocesan Vicars of Perth and Northcote respectively. The service was enhanced by the singing of a large choir from the Christian Union in Sydney. Following the conclusion of the Conference, a luncheon was held, bringing all the participants together for a time of fellowship and reflection.
