Orthodox Youth

Romanian religious affairs official urges Orthodox youth to turn careers into vocations

“The Church and society need you, not for what you will become years from now, but for what you bring today,” State Secretary for Religious Affairs Ciprian Olinici told participants at the opening of the 2026 International Meeting of Orthodox Youth in Bucharest on Tuesday. The Romanian official reflected on the significance of the young…

2 hoursAurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest Mayor urges Orthodox youth to carry forward a ‘free, open and Christian’ Romania

Bucharest Mayor Ciprian Ciucu on Tuesday urged young participants at ITO 2026 to carry forward Romania “as it is today — open, free and Christian”. The Mayor addressed more than 2,400 young people gathered at the National Cathedral for the opening of the International Meeting of Orthodox Youth and said their presence gave the venue…

2 hoursAurelian Iftimiu

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 calls Romanian diaspora youth ambassadors of the Christian faith and national values

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church has encouraged Romanian children and young people living abroad to remain faithful ambassadors of Christianity and Romanian values, emphasising the importance of preserving their language, cultural heritage and spiritual roots through active ties with their homeland. In an official message addressed to participants in the 17th…

Jul 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal auxiliary bishop meets Orthodox scouts group, highlights youth engagement

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, the Holy Synod’s general secretary, met on Thursday, May 14, at the Patriarchal Palace with representatives of the International Orthodox Christian Scouts Organisation “Desmos”. The bishop highlighted the importance of involving young people in educational and community activities amid the challenges of contemporary society. “It is very important that…

May 18, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Iași hosts first gathering of Orthodox youth from ethnic minority communities

The Agora Events Centre of the Archdiocese of Iași hosted on Saturday, May 9, the first edition of the Assembly of Orthodox Youth from Ethnic Minorities, an event organised by the CRESC Association in collaboration with the Archdiocese’s Minorities Department. “Our faith unites us and helps us look upon one another with honour and love,”…

May 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

1,000 Greek pupils chant hymns to Virgin Mary at Thessaloniki Cathedral service (video)

Around 1,000 pupils from 37 schools at all levels of education in Thessaloniki chanted hymns to the Virgin Mary at the city’s Hagia Sophia Church. The pupils, together with the choir of the Hellenic Army Officers’ School and the Eirmos Byzantine Children’s Choir of the Metropolis of Thessaloniki, provided the liturgical responses on Friday, 13…

Mar 16, 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