His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel marks 19 years on Wednesday since his enthronement as Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Born in the village of Dobrești, Timiș County, on 22 July 1951 to Alexie and Stela Ciobotea, he received the name Dan-Ilie at baptism. He attended primary school in his native village before continuing his education…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania received Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, during an official visit to the Patriarchal Residence on Friday, 11 September 2026. The delegation included Mara Roman, Head of the European Commission Representation in Romania; Cătălin Gheran, a member of Mînzatu’s Cabinet; Rareș Achiriloaie, Cabinet member and communications adviser;…
Andrei Pohrib, who received the ITO torch with Maria Stella Pascal, said the 2026 International Meeting of Orthodox Youth represented for him an image of the Christian life. The moment took place during the closing ceremony at the National Cathedral, where the Archdiocese of Bucharest handed over the ITO torch to the delegation of the…
The 2026 International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO 2026) concluded on Thursday at the National Cathedral with the Divine Liturgy and a ceremony handing over the torch to the Archdiocese of Iași, which has been designated to organise the next gathering. Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishops Varlaam of Ploiești and Paisie of Sinaia celebrated the service, along…
“Dear young people, we thank you for the beautiful Procession of Lights you held this evening from the National Cathedral to the historic Patriarchal Cathedral. It was a pilgrimage of joy and peace,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel told young participants in the 2026 International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO 2026) on Wednesday evening, after they…
“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…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel emphasized the importance of the family for humanity at the closing ceremony of the 2026 International Orthodox Youth Meeting (ITO), held on Thursday at the National Cathedral in Bucharest. „The conjugal family in its entirety, consisting of a man, a woman, and children, is a blessing and a gift from God…
Andreea Ogăraru, a mother of six, and Dr Radu Țincu, a senior physician in Intensive Care and Toxicology at Bucharest’s Floreasca Emergency Clinical Hospital, spoke with participants at the 2026 International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO 2026). The event took place on Tuesday evening at the National Cathedral in Bucharest and was broadcast live by…
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…
“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…
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…
