Patriarch Daniel gratefully marks 75th birthday with working meeting focused on Orthodox youth gathering

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church marked his 75th birthday on Wednesday during a working meeting at the Familia Cultural and Missionary Centre in Pantelimon, near Bucharest. His Beatitude said the day represents “a moment of gratitude offered to God.”

The meeting brought together members of the Standing Committee of the National Church Council and the Standing Committee of the Archdiocesan Council of the Archdiocese of Bucharest. Discussions focused on the current stage of preparations for the 2026 International Meeting of Orthodox Youth ( ITO 2026 ), which will take place in Bucharest from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3.

A necessary place for dialogue Fr. Ștefan Ababei presented the history of the “Familia” Cultural-Missionary Centre during the working session. 22.07.2026. Photo credit: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu At the conclusion of the meeting, Fr. Ștefan Ababei, Coordinating Patriarchal Counsellor and Director of the Familia Cultural and Missionary Centre, presented the development of the complex built on the site of the former Pantelimon hotel complex, highlighting its transformation into a centre dedicated to the Romanian Patriarchate’s pastoral,…