Why Are Young People Turning to Orthodox Christianity? Ancient Faith in an Age of Spiritual Exhaustion
By: Bishop Stephen Introduction: An Ancient Church Becomes a Modern Question One of the most frequently discussed questions concerning Orthodox Christianity today is surprisingly simple: Why are so many young people becoming interested in Orthodoxy? Across the United States, priests report increasing numbers of inquirers, catechumens, and converts entering Orthodox parishes. Some churches have expanded their catechism programs, added services, or begun planting new missions because their existing buildings can no longer comfortably hold those attending. Recent public attention has focused especially upon young men, although newer evidence suggests that the present wave of interest is broader, including women, families, racial minorities, former Protestants, former Roman Catholics, the religiously unaffiliated, and seekers from non-Christian backgrounds.¹ The phenomenon should not be exaggerated. Orthodox Christians still constitute only a small portion of the American population, ...