What spirituality for young lay people at the end of the 20th century

This article is the transcription of a conference by Father Cyrille Argenti, delivered as the conclusion of a gathering intended for young Orthodox laypeople at the end of the twentieth century. The author addresses the question of Christian spirituality in the context of a secularized and consumerist society. His central thesis is that Orthodox spirituality does not designate a higher compartment of human life, but the transformative action of the Holy Spirit on the whole person. Drawing on Scripture and patristic tradition, the author articulates interior life, commitment to justice, and participation in the Eucharistic liturgy. He shows that personal encounter with Christ, ascesis as renunciation of desires, and communal epiclesis constitute the pillars of a spirituality that is both contemplative and engaged in the world. The theological contribution lies in the connection drawn between individual spiritual life and the ecclesial and eschatological dimension of the Kingdom of God.