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The 86th Congress of the Archdiocese of the United States of America Was Held in Philadelphia: Conferences, Services, and Festive Momentstranslated

July 13, 2026 · 1 min read

The 86th Congress of the Archdiocese of the United States of America took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event was hosted by the Parish of the Holy Trinity in the city.

The gathering brought together clergy and delegates from Romanian Orthodox communities of the Two Americas from Friday through Sunday, featuring a program that included conferences, services, and festive moments.

Conferences Addressing Contemporary Challenges The 86th Congress of the Archdiocese of the United States of America opened on Friday, June 10, 2026, with the Holy Liturgy at the Parish of the Holy Trinity. Photo credit: Metropolitanate of the Two Americas

The congress began on Friday with the celebration of the Liturgy, followed by the official opening of the sessions.

His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of the Two Americas commemorated the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America and highlighted the significance of the consecration of the church’s iconostasis, a work that crowns the efforts to beautify the place of worship.

Throughout the congress, conferences were held on contemporary issues facing the Church’s mission in modern society.

Father Oliviu Petru…

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (6) 🌐 Show original

Виктор Киселёв

It’s good that they gathered in Philadelphia and celebrated the Liturgy, and remembered 250 years of America. It’s a pity that the text ends with Father Oliviu Petru; it would be interesting to know what exactly he was talking about. In our Minsk choir we also often discuss how the Church should hold on in the modern world.

Photini Taylor

Sounds like a good gathering. Nice they started with Liturgy at Holy Trinity and tied it to the 250th anniversary. Too bad the article cuts off right when it gets to Fr. Oliviu Petru — I was curious what he actually said about the Church in today’s world.

Γιώργος Μακρής

Good that they started with a Liturgy at the Holy Trinity and that they commemorated the 250 years of America. It's a shame that the article cuts right to Fr. Olivou Petrou, I'd like to know what he had to say about the challenges today. In our association in Volos, we also often discuss it.

Olivia Campbell

Yeah, it was a solid start with the Liturgy at Holy Trinity tying right into the anniversary like that. Fr. Oliviu focused mostly on how parishes can keep young people engaged when everything online pulls them away. What part of his talk were you hoping to hear more about?

Emma Baker

Our choir here in Pittsburgh was just talking about keeping the young folks coming to church too. Fr. Oliviu's point about screens pulling them away really hits home. Did he give any practical ideas that worked in the parishes?

Сергей Белов

It’s good that such topics are raised in the choir in Minsk. Father Oliviu, as far as I understood from other reports, was talking about how to preserve parish life when young people move to the states. What do you most often discuss in Minsk: education or the influence of the Internet?