Youth

Romanian Orthodox scouts from France visit Patriarchate to deepen faith and cultural identity

A group of Romanian Orthodox scouts from France visited the Patriarchal Palace on Tuesday, where a delegation of 18 children, accompanied by their leaders, was received in the Conventus Hall by Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, general secretary of the Holy Synod. The bishop addressed the scouts with a message highlighting the importance of…

Apr 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Young Romanians in Canada open spring with camp centred on faith and friendship

Children and young people from Romanian Orthodox communities in Canada marked the beginning of spring with the 2026 Spring Religious Camp dedicated to Saints Andrew and John Cassian. The event was organised on March 1–4 by the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada at the Notre-Dame-de-la-Rouge Centre in Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, Quebec. The spiritual coordinator was Fr Grigorie Țăpuc,…

Mar 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Benedict sets out seven pillars for young people’s spiritual formation

His Grace Bishop Benedict of Sălaj proposed seven key pillars for building a spiritually robust personality, drawing on the Gospel reading at the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The feast coincides with International Orthodox Youth Day. Reflecting on the verse “to present Him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22), the bishop underlined that “young…

Feb 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox youths are the Church’s living present, not only its future, says UK’s Romanian Archbishop

“Young people are not only the future of the Church; they are its living present,” said His Eminence Atanasie, Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in his message for International Orthodox Youth Day. The Archbishop expressed his gratitude to Orthodox youth, especially those living outside their home countries. Young people in the…

Feb 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Southern Bessarabia Diocese reports baptism growth and stronger youth engagement in 2025

The Diocese of Southern Bessarabia recorded visible pastoral growth throughout 2025, alongside greater involvement of young people in diocesan life. Figures in the diocese’s annual activity report point to an encouraging development: 889 baptisms, 350 weddings and 870 funerals were recorded, with the number of those entering the Church through the Sacrament of Baptism exceeding…

Jan 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Bishop warns drugs lure youth with ‘quick highs’ but lead to depression

His Grace Bishop Sofronie of Oradea warned in an interview with Agerpres that drugs pose a major danger to young people because they promise “quick highs” but deliver “inner collapse and depression” in return. According to the bishop, narcotic substances are a substitute for authentic good, sought by people to replace the love and meaning…

Jan 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in UK unveils youth projects for 2026

The Youth Department of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has announced the projects it plans to implement in 2026. Among the department’s initiatives are the organisation of introductory training courses in youth work for priests and youth workers, the running of camps and pilgrimages, the coordination of educational and cultural…

Jan 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Generation Z shows rising interest in Christianity in Britain, report finds

Interest in Christianity is increasing among young people in the United Kingdom, according to data from a report published by the Bible Society. Participation in religious life among those aged 18 to 24 has increased fourfold over the past six years. The report highlights that this growing interest is particularly visible among young people from…

Jan 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Bishop warns technology threatens young people’s freedom

“Purity of heart is difficult to preserve in this world — but not impossible,” said Bishop Damaschin of Dorna, Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți, in an interview with Lumina Newspaper about the challenges facing young people in contemporary society. He stressed that, despite the overwhelming flood of digital stimuli and temptations…

Dec 4, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest to host International Orthodox Youth Meeting in 2026, Patriarch announces

Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church announced during a ceremony at the Patriarchal Palace last Thursday that next year, Bucharest will host the International Orthodox Youth Meeting with participants from around the world. “The next international event will be in September next year, at the beginning of September, when for about 3–4 days the…

Nov 10, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

4,000 young voices sing hymns of faith in Cluj-Napoca; Metropolitan urges youth to be missionaries of Christ

A choir of about 4,000 young people performed religious hymns on Saturday evening in Cluj-Napoca during the event “Hymns of Heaven”, where Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramureș and Sălaj urged them to be faithful missionaries of Christ. The event, unique in Romania, featured performances of traditional Orthodox hymns and songs honouring Jesus Christ and the…

Oct 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu