An international symposium on Orthodox missiology has opened at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Bucharest, bringing together participants from Romania, Greece, the United States and Bulgaria to discuss how the Church can engage with society and younger generations in an increasingly digitalized world.

The conference, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of university-level research in Orthodox missiology, features more than 30 presentations. According to Romania’s Basilica news agency, discussions focus on the Church’s mission in a technology-driven society, artificial intelligence, digital media, secularization and changes in family life.

A significant part of the program is devoted to communication with children and young people, as well as new approaches to presenting religious content in what participants describe as an “algorithmic culture.”

Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church sent a message to the symposium emphasizing that the central purpose of the Church’s mission remains the proclamation of the Gospel and the transmission of the Christian faith.

At the same time, the patriarch noted that while the content of the faith remains unchanged, the means used for missionary work can adapt to changing cultural and social circumstances.

Patriarch Daniel also stressed the importance of combining theological education with practical work among young people. As a historical example, he cited the “Sunday School” established in 1926 by Professor Vasile Ispir, in which theology students taught schoolchildren and accompanied them to church.

The symposium is dedicated to Ispir, who is regarded as a pioneer of university-level missiology in Romania. In 2026, the country marks the 140th anniversary of his birth as well as 100 years since the establishment of the Association of Orthodox Missionary Students.

The discussions in Bucharest reflect the challenges facing religious communities as digital technologies reshape communication and social life, while the Church seeks to preserve its traditional theological message and adapt its methods of outreach to contemporary audiences.