Eighteen Orthodox Christian young adults from across the United States arrived in Constantinople on August 2, 2026 to begin the 4th Annual Pilgrimage of Discovery (POD), a program that the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate founded. With ongoing funding from the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as from charitable contributions from generous donors across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Pilgrimage of Discovery (POD) is a religious and educational journey through Constantinople awarded to Orthodox Christian young adults across America.
Now in its fourth year, the Pilgrimage of Discovery sends Orthodox Christian young adults to Constantinople each summer to learn about Orthodoxy, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the history of the Church, and the enduring challenges facing the Mother Church and the Orthodox faithful still living in Asia Minor. This seven-day, all-expenses-paid journey deepens each participant’s connection to the faith and prepares them to lead the Orthodox Church into the future.
During their time in Constantinople, which has been known throughout its long and illustrious history as the Queen of Cities, the pilgrims will walk through centuries of Orthodox history, praying at the Panagia of Blachernae, standing beneath the dome of Hagia Sophia, and journeying to the historic Halki Theological School on the Princes’ Islands. The week culminates at the Phanar, seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, with a private audience with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew himself.
The young adults participating in this year’s Pilgrimage of Discovery offer heartfelt thanks to the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and to every donor whose generosity makes this life-changing pilgrimage possible. Support for the POD program carries these young adults to the Sacred Center of our faith, and carries their unforgettable experience back home to communities across the country. Once the POD participants return to their home parishes, the Alumni Leadership Network empowers these young adults to share their life-changing experiences with others, educating communities and raising awareness to help support the Ecumenical Patriarchate and secure its future.
You can follow the pilgrims’ journey all week on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok @pilgrimageofdiscovery, and visit www.pilgrimageofdiscovery.orgto learn more about the program.
Interested in being a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience? Applications for the 2027 Pilgrimage of Discovery open December 1, 2026.
Interested in being a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience? Applications for the 2027 Pilgrimage of Discovery open December 1, 2026. Key Eligibility Requirements:
- Age: Must be 23 to 30 years old on August 1 of the application year.
- Status: Must be single/unmarried, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and an Orthodox Christian in good standing.
Archdiocesan District
Kaitlin Kaye, Amerisa Kyriazis, Maria Menoutis
Metropolis of Atlanta
Stavros Boardman, Mary Moshos, Katherine Spetseris, Nicholas Staviski
Metropolis of Boston
Elaina Stamas
Metropolis of Chicago
Theodore Greanias, Maria Mantice, Athanasia Tortorelis, Niko Vasilopoulos
Metropolis of Denver
James Vletas
Metropolis of Detroit
Elias Kapourales
Metropolis of New Jersey
Matthew Delaney
Metropolis of Pittsburgh
Mauretta Patitsas
Metropolis of San Francisco
Aleksandar Lucic, Alanis Tziouvalas
