With the blessing of Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain and under the successful coordination of the program’s coordinator, Fr. Gregory Floridis, the Lenten gathering organized by the youth of the Archdiocese (Christian Orthodox Thyateira Youth – COTY) took place on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Church of the Holy Trinity and the Evangelist Luke in Birmingham.
Approximately two hundred young people, aged between sixteen and thirty-five, attended the gathering from various communities, seeking to cultivate brotherhood and friendship in Christ, as well as to deepen their understanding of the Orthodox faith within the devotional spirit of Great Lent.
During the event, keynote presentations were delivered. Bishop Maximos of Melitene spoke extensively on the topic “The Lenten Period as a Way to Overcome Fear and Loneliness in the Age of Social Media.” He was followed by Dr. Nikitas Banev, who presented a lecture entitled “The Journey of Lent: In the History of the Church and Today.”
Immediately after the main presentations, the young participants took part in special workshops that included iconography, liturgical practice, and the preparation of prosphora (liturgical bread), offering them the opportunity for practical engagement.
At midday, a Lenten meal was offered by the community, with the care of the parish priest, Archpriest Fr. Christos Stefanou. In the evening, the gathering concluded with the celebration of the service of Vespers.
