Youth

From fame to monastic life: Greek TikToker quits social media and becomes a nun

With nearly 480,000 followers on TikTok, Eleni Mazlou has decided to dedicate her life to Christ and embrace monastic life. The 23-year-old influencer made the announcement by sharing photos from her monastic tonsure on social media. Before publicly revealing her new mission, the former content creator removed all posts from her personal channels that did…

Sep 17, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Paisie urges students to embrace responsibility at opening of Theological Seminary year

“Even if we had the most dedicated educators, the most loving parents, even if, by some miracle, we had the best government and the best schools in the world, none of this would help, would not matter, if you, the students, do not fulfil your part of the responsibility,” His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Paisie…

Sep 12, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

NEPSIS Youth Congress in Spain concludes with Divine Liturgy and lessons on true love from Bishop Timotei

The NEPSIS Youth Congress of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal concluded last Saturday with a Divine Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Timotei, the Romanian hierarch overseeing the Iberian peninsula. In his homily, Bishop Timotei addressed the youth about the meaning of true love and cautioned them about the potential pitfalls common to their…

Sep 12, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

“I am glad that the Romanian Orthodox Church considers us, the youth”: Impressions after ITO Bessarabia 2024

The Metropolis of Bessarabia published impressions gathered from young participants at its Orthodox Youth Meeting ITO Bessarabia 2024. The event was organized by the Romanian Orthodox Parish “Saint Basil of Poiana Mărului” in Orhei, Republic of Moldova, with support from the Romanian government’s Department for Romanians Abroad. In the event feedback questionnaire, one young attendee…

Aug 7, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Authentic joy is not the result of a click: Adrian Lemeni’s address to youth at Oașa Monastery Camp

Last week, Adrian Lemeni, an associate professor at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest, addressed the young participants at the International Camp at Oașa Monastery. He stressed the importance of seeking and attaining authenticity in their lives. “Especially for you as young people, it is essential to have the courage of authenticity. Do not…

Aug 2, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Nemțișor Camp celebrates 15th anniversary with special activities for over 500 youths

The Archdiocese of Iași celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Nemțișor Camp with special activities attended by more than 500 young people. The anniversary edition took place from July 22 to July 25 in the Friendship Glade at Nemțișor, a scenic area located in Romania, specifically within the Neamț County in the historical region of…

Aug 2, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Suceava Orthodox youth offer gifts of food to disadvantaged families on Romania-Ukraine border

Ahead of Christmas, Suceava’s Orthodox Youth Association (ATOS) carried out a new edition of its campaign titled “We care! We stand by you! God is with us!” in the localities on the border between Romania and Ukraine. At this year’s edition, 30 families from Mușenita commune, including the villages of Climăuți, Baineț, Vicșani, Băncești and…

Dec 30, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Children have a higher interest in studying Byzantine music: A significant benefit for Romania’s chant stands

The effort required to learn Byzantine music cultivates a student’s spiritual and cultural development. The conductor of a newly formed children’s Byzantine choir told Basilica.ro that the increasing number of children approaching the chanters at the church stand or in a structured study setting is a significant improvement. The declaration of 2023 as the Commemorative…

Oct 12, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

ITO 2023 Conferences: Dr Radu Tincu combats 5 false claims about drug use

Dr. Radu Tincu, a primary physician in Intensive Care and Toxicology, spoke at the 2023 International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO) Conferences held in Timișoara, Romania, about the growing scourge of drug use among young people. On this occasion, he challenged five false claims about drug use. “I’ve wondered if drug addiction is just a…

Sep 6, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Guard the light! Torch of 2023 Int’l Meeting of Orthodox Youth handed to Bucharest Archdiocese, host of the next edition

Youth representatives from the Archdiocese of Bucharest, which will host the next edition of the International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO) in 2025, symbolically received the 2023 edition torch on Sunday from the young people of the Archdiocese of Timișoara, this year’s host of the event. The ceremony took place after the Divine Liturgy celebrated…

Sep 4, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

“God exists!” Int’l Meeting of Orthodox Youth 2023 pays tribute to the 1989 heroes who prayed under bullets in Timișoara

Participants in the 2023 International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO) held in Timișoara, Romania, walked the Friendship Procession on Saturday. The procession ended in the city’s Opera Square with a tribute to the heroes of December 1989, who drove out atheist communism by praying under bullets in the very same place. The Friendship Procession was…

Sep 4, 2023Ștefana Totorcea