An international gathering of Orthodox youth from Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland took place near Sofia from January 30 to February 3, marking World Orthodox Youth Day, which is traditionally observed on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The events were hosted at the Kremikovtsi Monastery outside the Bulgarian capital and brought together more than 60 young participants from various European countries, according to liturgija.mk.

The celebration was jointly organized by Orthodox youth organizations from the three countries: the international Suprasl Brotherhood, the Bulgarian Orthodox Youth Association, and the Romanian organization ASCOR (Iași). The meeting was held with the blessing of Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel.

Organizers noted that the Sofia gathering continued cooperation launched in 2025 in Poland, where Bulgarian students took part in an international Orthodox youth forum for the first time. Upon returning home, they established the Bulgarian Orthodox Youth Association, and the meeting in Sofia was intended to further strengthen and support its activities.

The forum’s program included worship services, lectures, discussions, and shared cultural events. Particular attention was given to the role of the Church in contemporary society, social service, and the personal spiritual growth of young people. Participants also became acquainted with the work of the Kremikovtsi Monastery, which, in addition to its liturgical life, is involved in outreach to people with disabilities and children with mental disorders.

During the forum, special services were also held to mark the 130th anniversary of the birth of Saint Sophrony (Sakharov) of Mount Athos, a prominent 20th-century ascetic and theologian. Born in Moscow, a participant in the First World War, and a gifted artist, Saint Sophrony lived through the dramatic upheavals of his era, including the Russian Revolution and the Second World War. After a successful artistic career in Paris, he underwent a profound spiritual transformation in the early 1920s and devoted himself to prayer and the pursuit of divine knowledge.

On Mount Athos, Elder Sophrony became the closest disciple of Saint Silouan the Athonite and the preserver of his spiritual legacy. After leaving the Holy Mountain, he continued his ministry in Western Europe, founded the Monastery of St John the Baptist in Essex, United Kingdom, and authored an extensive theological body of work translated into many languages. In 2019, he was canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as Saint Sophrony the Athonite.