Voluntariatul creștin ortodox ca instrument de formare a valorilor morale și spirituale în rândul tinerilor
Orthodox Christian Volunteering as a Means of Forming Moral and Spiritual Values among Young People

Author(s): Victoria Ferescu, Ion-Marian Croitoru
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Ideas Forum International Academic and Scientific Association
Keywords: Orthodox Christian volunteering; spiritual formation; moral values; young people; active faith; serving the neighbour; social responsibility; community involvement; personal development; philanthropy;
Summary/Abstract: In a society increasingly marked by individualism and secularization, young people face many challenges in forming a solid moral and spiritual value system. As cultural, technological and economic influences become more pronounced, there is an urgent need to provide young people with opportunities for personal development based on enduring values and grounded in spiritual principles. In this context, Orthodox Christian volunteering emerges as an unconventional but highly effective form of education capable of cultivating both moral and spiritual virtues. For young people, involvement in Christian voluntary activities is not only a way of helping the community, but also a way of developing their moral character and deepening their spiritual life. Volunteering offers them a setting in which they can learn and experience core values such as altruism, compassion, responsibility and solidarity. Moreover, by serving their neighbours, young people come closer to Christian teachings, actively and palpably living their faith, which contributes to the development of a strong Orthodox Christian spiritual conscience, having as main motivation the love of God and of their fellow man, thus coming to respond to the Gospel commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself (Luke 10, 27)". The analysis of Orthodox Christian volunteering as a tool for the formation of moral and spiritual values among young people explores how voluntary activities, carried out under the auspices of the Orthodox Christian faith, contribute to the personal development of young people and to strengthening their bond with God. It is therefore appropriate to examine the impact of this type of volunteering on the character and behaviour of young people, illustrating how these activities can provide young people with the opportunity to discover their spiritual calling and become moral leaders in their communities, as Orthodox Christian volunteering is a profound form of youth education that not only develops their social and interpersonal skills, but also provides them with an Orthodox Christian worldview based on love, compassion and unconditional service. This is an essential way for young people to develop a strong moral character and deepen their relationship with God, thus becoming responsible citizens and dedicated Orthodox Christian believers.

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