Connect Conference for Orthodox Young Adults

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Connect Conference for Orthodox Young Adults

The Connect Conference is a weekend retreat uniting Orthodox Christian young adults.

Our mission is "to engage young adults by cultivating a pan-Orthodox community focused on spiritual growth, authentic conversation and fellowship." The Connect Conference is for Orthodox Christian young adults in their 20s and 30s, a demographic often overlooked by ministries and underrepresented at events in our churches. While there is plenty of focus on youth, college students, and senior adult

s, Orthodox young adults are often left without specific support at a time we are making critical decisions about marriage, family, lifestyle, and careers. There is lots of uncertainty during this time, but we can lean on Christ to help us through it! Whether you're in graduate school, a young professional, married, or single - if you're a young adult seeking to increase your faith and devotion to Christ, as well as find your role in the Orthodox Church community, this conference is for you.

07/17/2026

We live in a world of extremes.

Competing trends, competing voices, everyone claiming to know the way. But Christ invites us onto a different path: to follow Him closely down the straight and narrow way.

Not "What should I do with my life, my time, my resources?"
But, "What would Christ do with them?"

Join us for three days to honestly unpack the questions that shape this season of life — with young adults who are in the exact same life phase as you: Who am I? Who do I belong with? What am I supposed to do?

Registration opens July 23rd 🧡

05/29/2026

Save the date!! This year's Connect Conference will be Friday, October 2nd to Sunday, October 4th, 2026 in the Chicagoland area!

10/07/2025

Sunday October 5, 2025 marked the third and final day of this year’s Connect Conference. We traveled up the street to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral for Liturgy. Following the Liturgy, we ate lunch together and Katrina Bitar officially ended our conference with her final talk. Thank you to Luke Landtroop for the photos from St. Sophia.

Spyridoula Fotinis, a conference attendee and Director of Inter-Parish Association spoke briefly on the work the ministry does to promote communication, camaraderie, and cooperation across Orthodox Christian parishes of all jurisdictions in a given area. The Inter-Parish Association is an official ministry of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America.

As at previous conferences there are usually social events before and after the conference officially begins and ends. This allows folks who come early or leave late to socialize a bit more. This year’s post conference activity was to visit the Lincoln Memorial. Thank you to Craig Dixon for the photo.

Thank you to everyone for joining us this year!

10/06/2025

Saturday October 4, 2025 marked the second day of the annual Connect Conference. Participants were able to attend talks and engage with our three speakers: Fr. John Parker, Katrina Bitar, and Daniel Bein. Before Vespers attendees were given the opportunity to speak openly with two of our speakers and some invited guests including Fr. David Subu, a local area priest from Protection of the Holy Mother of God Orthodox Church in Fall Church, Virginia.

Fr. David with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon brought the relics of St. Olga of Alaska for our evening Vespers service. Fr. David served Vespers along with Deacon Ken Liu. Deacon Ken works for Orthodox Youth Ministries (OYM) who we are graciously thankful for their financial support every year. At the conclusion of Vespers, Fr. David spoke briefly on the humble life of St. Olga. Everyone was given the opportunity to venerate her relics and receive an icon card. We are extremely thankful to His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Fr. David Subu and Deacon Ken Liu for blessing us with the relics of St. Olga. The choir was led by Subdeacon Nicholas Jones who also led the choir at our first conference back in 2017. Thank you Nicholas for joining us again!

After Vespers everyone went off to dinner before coming back together for an evening of dancing and socializing.

We want to take a moment and thank our wonderful organizers for this years conference. (Photo 17) From Left to Right: Julia Goussetis, James Thomas, Simeon Brasowski, Fr. Paul Lundberg, Larissa Hatch, Victor Lutes, and Charity Williamson (Not pictured) Glory to God for a wonderful second day!

10/04/2025

Connect 2025 has officially started!

Yesterday, Friday October 3, 2025, Orthodox young adults from across the country (and Canada) gathered together at the JW Marriott in Washington D.C. for the annual Connect Conference. The evening began with an opening introduction and ice breaker to get everyone on their feet greeting new people. Fr. Paul Lundburg, our Development Coordinator led our evening Vespers service. After Vespers we hit the streets of DC to head to the evenings social event at Clyde’s Restaurant. Glory to God for a beautiful and fruitful first day!

10/01/2025

Blessed Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos! We are so excited to see you later this week in Washington, D.C. for our 2025 Connect Conference. As we approach this year’s event, we wanted to provide you with a few things to review before you leave, including the schedule, pre and post conference group activities, hotel / venue information, and more. Check your emails! All information is also provided on our website.

09/16/2025

We have extended registration for the 2025 Connect conference for one more week! Come and join over 100 young adults in Washington D.C. October 3-5! Registration will close on Monday September 22, 2025.

Learn more:
https://www.connectorthodox.org

Register here:
https://www.connectorthodox.org/register.html

Address

Washington D.C., DC

Website

https://connectorthodox.org/

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