ITO 2026

National Cathedral to host first Divine Liturgy of 2026 during international Orthodox youth gathering

The National Cathedral will reopen its doors to worshippers during the International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO 2026), which will take place in Bucharest from 31 August to 3 September. According to a statement from the Romanian Patriarchate’s Press Office, the National Cathedral will host several liturgical services and conferences next week. On Thursday, 3…

Aug 28, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate spokesperson ahead of ITO 2026: An opportunity for dialogue, prayer and communion

“We want this event to provide an opportunity for dialogue, prayer and communion, and to raise awareness of the importance young people have for the Church and society in general,” Father Adrian Agachi, spokesman for the Romanian Patriarchate, said on Thursday at a press conference dedicated to the 2026 International Meeting of Orthodox Youth. The…

Aug 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

ITO 2026 to gather 2,400 Orthodox young people in Bucharest for prayer, dialogue and fellowship

The International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO), the largest youth event organised by the Romanian Orthodox Church, will take place in Bucharest from 31 August to 3 September 2026 under the theme “Young People, the Family and Life in Christ”. With the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, this year’s gathering will bring together approximately…

Aug 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Youngest Romanian bishop urges young people in diaspora to ‘be bridges, not walls’

“You are the heart of the Church scattered throughout the world, like the seed of the Gospel carried to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8),” Assistant Bishop Iachint of the Pacific of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand told young Orthodox Christians on Wednesday. Marking International Youth Day, the youngest hierarch…

Aug 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel gratefully marks 75th birthday with working meeting focused on Orthodox youth gathering

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church marked his 75th birthday on Wednesday during a working meeting at the Familia Cultural and Missionary Centre in Pantelimon, near Bucharest. His Beatitude said the day represents “a moment of gratitude offered to God.” The meeting brought together members of the Standing Committee of the National…

Jul 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel to spend 75th birthday in working session on 2026 Youth Gathering

The Romanian Patriarchate has reiterated that the official (institutional) celebration of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel is the anniversary of his enthronement as Patriarch on 30 September, while his birthday, 22 July, and his name days—the Feast of the Holy Prophet Daniel (17 December) and of Saint Daniel the Hesychast (18 December)—are personal celebrations. This year…

Jul 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Youth Gathering unveils ITO 2026 logo inspired by National Cathedral and Brâncuși

The visual identity of the 2026 International Orthodox Youth Meeting (ITO) has been unveiled, featuring a logo inspired by the mosaics of Romania’s National Cathedral and Constantin Brâncuși’s iconic Infinite Column. According to the organisers, the central element of the monogram is “a minimalist representation of the silhouettes of young people joyfully participating in the…

Jul 2, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest to host 2,400 young people for International Orthodox Youth Meeting

Around 2,400 young people from Romania and abroad are expected to take part in this year’s International Orthodox Youth Meeting (ITO), which will be held in Bucharest from 31 August to 3 September. The gathering will be held under the theme Young People, the Family and the Meaning of Life in Christ, reflecting the Romanian…

Jun 30, 2026Aurelian 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