Patriarch Daniel of Romania addressed participants on Thursday, November 20, at the Palace of the Patriarchate, during the official launch of the new “Saint Elijah the Tishbite” National Youth Activity Centre project — a major initiative co-financed through European funds.
In his message, the Patriarch highlighted the Church’s long-standing commitment to education and the formation of young people, emphasising that the future centre in Pantelimon, Ilfov, will stand as a concrete testimony of the Church’s care, offering children and youth a space for learning, social development, community life, and spiritual growth.
He encouraged closer cooperation between Church, School, and Family, especially in the face of rising social challenges that affect children and adolescents across Romania.
Please find below Patriarch Daniel’s full message:
“The National Youth Activity Centre ‘Saint Elijah the Tishbite’ – A Concrete Testimony of the Church’s Care for Education”
The announcement of the launch of the project National Youth Activity Centre “Saint Elijah the Tishbite”, in the context of the Solemn Year of the Centenary of the Romanian Patriarchate and the Commemorative Year of Romanian Orthodox Spiritual Fathers and Confessors of the 20th Century, is a new occasion of joy for the life of our Church.
The challenges faced today by children and young people, in a society marked by secularisation and globalisation, impoverished of spiritual values and subjected to constant changes—economic, social, and moral crises (migration, excessive alcohol and drug consumption, physical or verbal violence)—represent a compelling reason to become more aware of the role and importance of the Family, the Church, and the School in forming and educating children and young people.
For many years, Romania has recorded the highest early school-leaving rate in the European Union. Statistics show that this phenomenon is especially common in rural areas, small towns, and isolated or disadvantaged regions.
Thus, education in today’s world stands at a crossroads; its challenges are numerous and complex. It is therefore essential that School, Family and Church work together to build an educational system that is fair, modern, and relevant for the future of young people, for the stake of education lies in forming strong characters who can face life’s trials and in promoting authentic role models capable of inspiring today’s generations.
Young people need, above all, living, edifying models and an educational vision that shows and transmits perennial, stable values—those that truly matter in life. An education inspired by Christian faith forms not only good citizens for this world but also citizens for the Kingdom of God, for eternal life and blessedness (cf. Matthew 6:33).
Saint John Chrysostom reflected deeply on the power of the Scriptural word understood as mission and witness. His writings emphasise the power of the word to create, educate, convince, and transmit messages, for a spiritual message, in order to take root, must be clothed in the garment of the word: “Just as the Holy Scriptures are written in ink, so too should our hearts have been inscribed with the Holy Spirit. But since we have cast aside this grace […] let us embark on a new path to regain it.”
Such teachings and realities show the great responsibility we all share for the future of children and young people. If until now the Church, together with the family and the school, has borne fruit through catechetical programmes such as “Christ Shared with the Children”, or educational projects such as “Choose School!”, a broader step is now required—one that responds both to the urgent needs of the present and to the challenges of the future.
In this context, the experience accumulated so far serves as the foundation for a new, comprehensive vision that combines fidelity to the Christian tradition with openness to the demands of contemporary education.
These programmes have demonstrated the effectiveness of a complex approach that combines educational support with cultural, artistic, sports, and recreational activities, producing a significant impact on children’s lives. The rhythm and diversity of activities, along with parental involvement, have helped prevent children from dropping out of school.
Thousands of pupils have improved their school performance, developed their talents, and understood that uniting education with faith in God opens the path toward a bright future. This experience shows that when priests, teachers, parents, and volunteers—the entire community—join efforts, children once marginalised can take flight, growing “in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52), to the joy of their families and to the benefit of society.
The results obtained so far confirm the importance of the Church–Family–School partnership and highlight essential lessons: the integral education of young people is not limited to acquiring intellectual knowledge but also involves the formation of moral-religious character and the cultivation of virtues; a child needs to grow in communion with Family, School and Church to feel loved, guided, and integrated into a living community.
Thus, through its pastoral and educational-cultural ministry, the Church responds to society’s needs, becoming a stable moral and spiritual reference point in both peaceful times and times of trial.
In a society where many children continue to face exclusion, limited access to education, and a lack of support, the national project National Youth Activity Centre “Saint Elijah the Tishbite” emerges as an essential initiative for disadvantaged children from isolated or deprived regions of Romania. This project supports the implementation of national and local strategies and directly contributes to reducing poverty and helping vulnerable groups overcome social exclusion.
Through this project, an edifying and comprehensive model of education—rooted in Christian Tradition—will be implemented, fostering cooperation between Church, Family, and School. It will build upon the significant educational efforts sustained by the Romanian Patriarchate, including the results of previous programmes and projects.
Located in Pantelimon, Ilfov County, the Centre will become a representative space for Romania, designed for non-formal educational, socio-cultural, and sports activities. Situated near Bucharest, the national centre will be built on a 100,000-square-metre (10-hectare) site and will include accommodation facilities, a canteen, a conference centre, a library, reading rooms, art and music education rooms, science labs, theatres, workshops, experimental laboratories, a multifunctional sports hall, sports fields, internationally certified running tracks, a cycling track, outdoor playgrounds, and more.
The Centre will also host modern accommodation units, allowing groups of children and young people from across the country to participate in events or camps. Its infrastructure and facilities are designed to create a welcoming environment where children from any social background—rural or urban—can feel safe, valued and motivated to learn new things.
The importance of the St Elijah Centre lies not only in its modern infrastructure but also in the missionary vision it embodies—a model of best practice integrating education, sports, spirituality, and social responsibility.
We hope that every child who enters this Centre—whether from the most remote village or the heart of the capital—will feel the love of Christ and the care of the Church for them; that they will discover their own potential to contribute to the common good. From the earliest centuries, the Church founded schools and charitable institutions, knowing that enlightenment through knowledge and acts of generosity must always go hand in hand.
On Romanian soil, the first schools were founded near churches and monasteries, under the protection of faithful rulers and enlightened hierarchs—proof that education and prayer have always been united in the Church’s mission. This work is grounded in the word of Jesus Christ: “Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them” (Mark 10:14).
Christ shows that every child has the right to love, formation, and support. Therefore, the Church cannot remain indifferent when children are disadvantaged and deprived of educational opportunities.
We pray to God to bless all Romanian children and young people, together with their families in Romania and abroad, to watch over them, instil in them zeal for education, and grant them help in cultivating their talents—gifts of God for the good of society.
† Daniel
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Photo: Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene
