“A young believer in a secularised society is not someone closed in on themselves; rather, the Gospel makes them free and helps them become purer, more responsible and more loving,” Bishop Macarie of Northern Europe said on Wednesday evening at the National Cathedral, where he spoke with participants in the 2026 International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO 2026).
The hierarch delivered the spiritual conference Youth and the Church in the Orthodox Diaspora: Pastoral Experience in Northern Europe, which also included an extensive question-and-answer session.
Bishop Macarie began his address by thanking His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
“We should all thank him,” the Bishop said.
“We thank him together not only for this moment, but for the constant care he shows towards young people, children and families, both in Romania and beyond its borders, through catechetical and educational programmes, support for volunteering at camps and gatherings, pastoral care for pupils and students, and all the initiatives through which the Romanian Orthodox Church offers young people genuine spaces for encounter, formation and service.”
Young people in the diaspora between two worlds
“Abroad in particular, young people navigate between two worlds: the world of home and family, and the world of society,” Bishop Macarie said.
“At home, under the guidance of their parents and grandparents, they are helped to be good Christians, to cultivate their identity and not to lose their inner freedom. At school, university and in society, however, they encounter a completely different world.”
“There are situations in Northern Europe and in other countries abroad where a young Orthodox Christian is the only one, not merely among their circle of friends or in their class, but in the entire school. They pray and fast, while the others do not. There is therefore an urgent need for them to have a sense of belonging and to find young people with the same spiritual search and the same concerns,” His Grace explained.
“And their only place of belonging abroad is the Orthodox community of which they are part. It is wonderful when we have gatherings where young people come together from many different places.”
Building communities
The Bishop recalled one such gathering attended by young people of both Romanian and Scandinavian backgrounds, which helped Romanians and converts alike realise that other young people also fast and pray, face the same temptations, share the same spiritual questions and have the same longing for God.
“You who are here in Romania — and many of you belong to very committed and dynamic youth communities — cannot fully realise what it means for a young person to be alone in a school, a university or a society where many people have no faith at all,” the Bishop said.
‘This is the moment of your salvation’
Bishop Macarie addressed the lack of meaning as one of the major challenges facing young people today and strongly encouraged Romanian families in the diaspora to speak Romanian at home so that the language can be passed on to their children.
The Bishop of Northern Europe concluded the first part of his conference by encouraging young people to go to confession and receive Holy Communion as strengthening spiritual nourishment.
“Look, you are surrounded by so many brother priests. Go to confession now, at this very moment! This is the moment of your salvation, young man and young woman! Seek out a spiritual father. Have the courage to ask him. He will not judge you. Tell him what is on your heart. You will receive absolution and guidance; you will receive medicine. What an opportunity we have, then, for this gathering to be crowned tomorrow by the Divine Liturgy,” His Grace said before the question-and-answer session.
ITO continued
The spiritual conference was followed by a presentation of the national project St Elijah the Tishbite Youth Activities Centre, delivered by Patriarchal Adviser Fr Florin Marica, director and coordinator of educational projects within the Theological and Educational Department of the Patriarchal Administration.
Trinitas TV presenter Cosmin Iulian Cîrstea moderated the event, which Trinitas TV broadcast live, including on the Romanian Patriarchate television station’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Immediately after the conference, the 2,400 participants in ITO 2026 set out in procession from the National Cathedral towards the historic Patriarchal Cathedral. The route followed Izvor Street, Calea 13 Septembrie, Libertății Boulevard, Constitution Square, Unirii Boulevard, the western side of Unirii Square and the Hill of Joy.
Photo: BASILICA / Mircea Florescu
