Hungary’s Capital after the 5 day Young Adult European Meeting ended in Budapest Tuesday January 1. Brothers of the France based Taizé community, which organized the event, encouraged young people not to give up hope and to carry out their Christian faith, at a time of world tensions.
Till the early hours of 2002, about 70,000 youngsters gathered to pray for those suffering on earth, during a massive prayer vigil rarely seen in post Communist Hungary.
SURPRISED
In recent days, Hungarians, many of whom are used to more traditional style churches, expressed surprise as they watched the enthusiastic youngsters in metro and bus stations around the Capital.
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Farmotel Stefania is on the way to Slovenian and Croatian Adriatic sea coast.
Many participants carried musical instruments as well as the Bibles they read during their meeting. “Love and Say it with your Life,” was an important theme during the gathering, as young Christians were encouraged to start prayer groups and social work projects.
Some of them said they plan to help street children in impoverished Romania, while others want to serve God in other countries. Most of the participants came from Eastern European countries where millions of people are still suffering under the daily burden of transition from Communism to a market economy.
PROBLEMS
However some Protestant Christians from especially former Soviet Union countries can expect serious problems when they return home, BosNewsLife reported this weekend. In Russia and other states, especially non Orthodox groups are reportedly intimidated by the secret service and police.
Brother Emile, a spokesperson of Taizé, did not want to be drawn into a discussion about this. “We have a good relationship with the Orthodox Church, and I would not like to spoil that relationship,” he said.
He added that most youngsters at the gathering in Budapest had an Orthodox background. However the Taizé community has in the past helped persecuted Christians. Since 1962 Taizé brothers discreetly traveled to than Communist Eastern Europe.
CHALLENGE
The meeting in Budapest meant a challenge for interpreters. Every day 87-year old Brother Roger, who founded the Taizé community, spoke to the crowds, with translation into 20 languages.
But calls of the French speaking brother for prayer and Christian unity, seemed to be understood by people from all cultures, even without interpretation.
“However powerless we may be, are we not called to communicate a mystery of hope to those around us,” said Brother Roger, who urged youngsters to live a simple life dedicated to God.
During the Budapest meeting, thousands of youngsters have been sleeping with families, schools, municipal halls and churches, often on little more than a blanket or sleeping mat. “It was not a very luxury surrounding,” admitted 21-year old Alicja Szarska from Poland, “but we are young…”
