The Pilgrimage of Discovery is the gift of a religious-educational journey that visits historic sites around Constantinople and includes a special audience with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Pilgrimage of Discovery will select up to eighteen young adult leaders, women and men, from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the United States under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (i.e. Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America; American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese; Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; Vicariate for Palestinian-Jordanian Orthodox Communities in the USA; or Vicariate for the Orthodox Communities of Slavic Tradition in the USA). This peer journey features religious and cultural immersion, in-depth discussions led by subject matter experts, and an opportunity for open dialogue with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Pilgrimage of Discovery is a rare opportunity for the selected young adults to have a transformative and immersive spiritual experience in Constantinople and to grow in their Orthodox Christian faith.

The anticipated dates of travel are August 1-8, 2026. Please go to www.pilgrimageofdiscovery.org for the latest information on the dates of travel.

Travel expenses will be paid for up to eighteen young adults that are selected, including flights, all transportation while in Turkey, and entrance fees to programmed sites. The Pilgrimage of Discovery will be seven days/six nights and will also include all hotel accommodations (double occupancy), breakfasts, and dinners. Incidentals, personal expenses, and any additional meals will be the responsibility of the participants.

Although subject to change, the Pilgrimage of Discovery itinerary will visit: Hagia Sophia (recently converted to a mosque) to witness the epitome of Byzantine architecture and mosaics; Zoodochos Pigi Church at Balukli to receive holy water from the life-giving spring and to see where former Patriarchs are buried; the historic Chora Church (recently converted to a mosque) to marvel at the church's famed Byzantine mosaics; Hagios Demetrios Church in Kuruçesme where the faithful walk through a tight, dark cave in the church to receive holy water from the life-giving spring; and old, Greek ‘Pera’ to see structures that show evidence of thriving Greek culture in Constantinople prior to the 21st century. The young adults will journey on a private charter boat trip through the Bosphorus and into the Sea of Marmara to the Princes' Island, Heybeliada, and will ride in electric vehicles to visit Halki Seminary, founded in 1871 by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to train Greek Orthodox priests and later closed by the Turkish government in 1971. A highlight of the Pilgrimage of Discovery will be visiting the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the Phanar, praying at St. George Church within the Phanar, and having an audience with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. There will also be time to explore the city freely after dinners, and so much more!

Yes. The young adults will be scheduled to have an audience together with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew where they will have the opportunity to engage in open dialogue.

The Pilgrimage of Discovery is being funded by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and by charitable contributions from generous donors across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Orthodox Christian jurisdictions in the United States under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is a group of passionate leaders, relentlessly focused on protecting religious freedom for everyone and ensuring the future of the Ecumenical Patriarchate—the spiritual center of the world’s 300+ million Orthodox Christians.

Information on the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate can be found at www.archons.org

Updates will be posted at www.pilgrimageofdiscovery.org and at the Pilgrimage of Discovery Instagram and Facebook pages.

Applicants must be age 23 to 30 on August 1, 2026

As per the Pilgrimage of Discovery application instructions and Eligibility Requirements, each eligible applicant must submit one application through the Pilgrimage of Discovery application portal by the published deadline date for applicants. Moreover, as per the application instructions and Eligibility Requirements, recommendations must be submitted by two recommenders for each eligible applicant through the Pilgrimage of Discovery portal by the published deadline for recommenders. Complete applications will then be forwarded to the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee for a blind review. Only the ecclesiastical region/ecclesiastical jurisdiction and gender of each applicant will be made known to the Selection Committee members. The names of recommenders and applicants will also be removed from all recommendations as part of the review process before recommendations are considered by the Selection Committee. The Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee is responsible for selecting up to eighteen young adults total from all eligible applicants. In its sole discretion, the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee may select less or more than eighteen young adult recipients. One recipient will be selected from each respective metropolis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and from the Archdiocesan District of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America—if eligible young adults have applied from those respective ecclesiastical regions—for a total of up to nine recipients. The other Pilgrimage of Discovery recipients will be selected from the remaining cohort of eligible applicants irrespective of the applicants’ ecclesiastical regions within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (i.e. metropolises or the Archdiocesan District) or the applicants’ Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the United States under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (i.e. Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America; American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese; Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; Vicariate for Palestinian-Jordanian Orthodox Communities in the USA; or Vicariate for the Orthodox Communities of Slavic Tradition in the USA). Any ecclesiastical region of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (i.e. any metropolis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America or the Archdiocesan District of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America) that does not have an eligible young adult apply from its territory by the application deadline will forfeit the opportunity to have a young adult from that ecclesiastical region travel on the Pilgrimage of Discovery. In such a case, the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee may select any other eligible applicant without regard to ecclesiastical region or ecclesiastical jurisdiction to fill an opening that was originally designated for any of the nine ecclesiastical regions of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America that may be without an applicant. In addition to selecting up to eighteen young adult recipients total from all eligible applicants, the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee will select four young adults as alternates without regard to ecclesiastical region or ecclesiastical jurisdiction to serve as potential replacements for any of the up to eighteen young adult recipients who may become unable to participate in the Pilgrimage of Discovery.

Any young adult may submit an application for the Pilgrimage of Discovery who meets the eligibility requirements as an Orthodox Christian in good standing at a parish in the United States that is either: a) within an ecclesiastical region of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America from which the applicant is applying (i.e. Archdiocesan District; Metropolis of Atlanta; Metropolis of Boston; Metropolis of Chicago; Metropolis of Denver; Metropolis of Detroit; Metropolis of New Jersey; Metropolis of Pittsburgh; or Metropolis of San Francisco); or b) within an Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the United States under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople from which the applicant is applying (i.e. Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America; American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese; Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; Vicariate for Palestinian-Jordanian Orthodox Communities in the USA; or Vicariate for the Orthodox Communities of Slavic Tradition in the USA). Young adults belonging to Orthodox jurisdictions not listed here are ineligible for the Pilgrimage of Discovery. Each eligible applicant is only permitted to submit one application for the Pilgrimage of Discovery 2026.

The Archdiocesan District (i.e. greater New York area and northern suburbs; upstate New York, Long Island; the western half of Connecticut; Washington, D.C.); Metropolis of Atlanta; Metropolis of Boston; Metropolis of Chicago; Metropolis of Denver; Metropolis of Detroit; Metropolis of New Jersey; Metropolis of Pittsburgh; Metropolis of San Francisco.

The Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America; American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese; Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; Vicariate for Palestinian-Jordanian Orthodox Communities in the USA; and Vicariate for the Orthodox Communities of Slavic Tradition in the USA.

The young adult should contact their parish office to ascertain the ecclesiastical region of their parish at which they are in good standing within Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

The young adult should contact their parish office to ascertain if the Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the parish at which the young adult is in good standing is within one of the following eligible jurisdictions in the United States under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople: Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America; American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese; Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; Vicariate for Palestinian-Jordanian Communities in the USA; or Vicariate for the Communities of Slavic Tradition in the USA.

No. Only a young adult that meets the eligibility requirements as an Orthodox Christian in good standing at a parish in the United States that is either: a) within an ecclesiastical region of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America from which the applicant is applying (i.e. Archdiocesan District; Metropolis of Atlanta; Metropolis of Boston; Metropolis of Chicago; Metropolis of Denver; Metropolis of Detroit; Metropolis of New Jersey; Metropolis of Pittsburgh; or Metropolis of San Francisco); or b) within an Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the United States under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople from which the applicant is applying (i.e. Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America; American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese; Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; Vicariate for Palestinian-Jordanian Communities in the USA; or Vicariate for the Communities of Slavic Tradition in the USA) may submit an application for the Pilgrimage of Discovery. Young adults belonging to other Orthodox Christian jurisdictions not listed here are ineligible for the Pilgrimage of Discovery.

“Good standing” is defined as: 1) having been baptized and chrismated according to the rites of the Orthodox Church; 2) adhering to and living according to the tenets of the Orthodox faith in religious, moral and social practices; 3) faithfully attending the divine liturgy and other worship services; 4) participating regularly in the holy sacraments; 5) respecting all ecclesiastical authority and all governing bodies of the Church and being obedient in matters of faith, practice, and ecclesiastical order; and 6) contributing towards the progress of the Church's sacred mission.

Two. Each young adult applicant must have one recommendation submitted by an Orthodox Christian priest/presbyter and a second recommendation submitted by an Orthodox Christian member of the laity.

A young adult applicant should consider seeking a recommendation from a priest/presbyter who knows the applicant well and can speak to the applicant’s history, character, stability, strengths, leadership, devotion, good standing within the Orthodox Church, and suitability for the Pilgrimage of Discovery. Priest/Presbyter recommendations may only be submitted by an Orthodox priest/presbyter (not a deacon or a bishop) from any ecclesiastical region of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (i.e. a metropolis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America or from the Archdiocesan District of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America) or from an Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the United States under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Priests/presbyters belonging to other Orthodox Christian jurisdictions that are not under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople are ineligible to write recommendations for applicants to the Pilgrimage of Discovery. Finally, an immediate family member, grandfather, uncle, Godparent, or any person related by three degrees of consanguinity or affinity may not serve as a priest/presbyter recommender for an applicant.

Yes, with some restrictions. Since young adults ages 23-30 are so transient, recommendations are permitted from a priest/presbyter (not from a deacon or bishop) that is not a priest/presbyter from the young adult’s own parish, ecclesiastical region, or jurisdiction, as long as the priest/presbyter is a member of the clergy within an ecclesiastical region of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America or within an Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the United States under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (i.e. Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America; American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese; Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; Vicariate for Palestinian-Jordanian Orthodox Communities in the USA; or Vicariate for the Orthodox Communities of Slavic Tradition in the USA). Priests/presbyters belonging to other Orthodox Christian jurisdictions not listed here are ineligible to write recommendations for applicants to the Pilgrimage of Discovery.

A young adult applicant should consider seeking a recommendation from an Orthodox Christian member of the laity (not clergy) living within the United States who knows the applicant well and can speak to the applicant’s history, character, stability, strengths, leadership, devotion, and suitability for the Pilgrimage of Discovery. However, an immediate family member, grandparent, aunt, uncle, Godparent, or any person related by three degrees of consanguinity or affinity may not serve as a recommender for an applicant.

Yes. The application is due January 31, 2026 by 11:59 pm CT. Recommendations are due February 7, 2026 by 11:59 pm CT. If there are changes to any of those dates, they will be published on www.pilgrimageofdiscovery.org . The applicant is responsible to communicate well in advance with their recommenders to ensure they know the questions they will be requested to answer and to make sure they receive a link that will be sent to them via an automated message from the Pilgrimage of Discovery application portal. The applicant will provide each recommender’s email address when prompted in the application. These email addresses will be used to directly send to the recommenders a recommendation link which will allow them to access the recommendation form. Recommenders will be prompted to answer specific recommendation questions directly on the portal.

Recommendation links will only be sent to recommenders once the applicant has submitted their completed application on the application portal. Recommenders must submit their recommendations by following the link that is sent via the application portal. Although recommenders may save and exit the application portal in order to return later to continue writing their recommendations, completed recommendations will only be submitted by recommenders when they finally click the “SUBMIT” button on the application portal. It is advisable for recommenders to first answer all recommendation questions on their own MS Word doc and then to copy/paste their answers into the portal before finally clicking the “SUBMIT” button on the application portal.

Late recommendations will not be accepted and will result in an incomplete application for the applicant. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that recommenders have submitted their recommendations by the published deadline date for recommenders.

Yes. An applicant that was not selected as Pilgrimage of Discovery recipient in a previous year may apply again this year if they meet the other eligibility requirements.

Yes. If an applicant was selected as an alternate for the Pilgrimage of Discovery in a previous year but has not traveled on the Pilgrimage of Discovery, they may apply again this year if they meet the other eligibility requirements.

Yes. Siblings are permitted to apply to the Pilgrimage of Discovery.

No. Individuals that are married are not eligible to apply to the Pilgrimage of Discovery.

No. Deacons, priests/presbyters, bishops, monks, nuns, and monastic novices are not eligible to apply to the Pilgrimage of Discovery.

No. Applicants may not use artificial intelligence (AI) to assist with the drafting, writing, and/or completion of Pilgrimage of Discovery applications. AI essays are easy to detect, whereas the Pilgrimage of Discovery seeks to understand the heart and insights of applicants. Any applicant detected to have used artificial intelligence to assist with their essays or to complete their application will be disqualified. Such determinations will be at the sole discretion of the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are laws that pertain to accommodations and public access that are enforced only in the United States. While the country of Turkey maintains some legal protections, the same types of accommodations available in the United States may not be available in Turkey. The Pilgrimage of Discovery program requires a moderate level of physical exertion such as walking distances, boarding buses, boarding planes, boarding boats, riding in open-air vehicles, climbing uphill roads, walking up and down stairs, walking on uneven streets, walking with crowds, etc.

The selected young adults will either: a) travel from a US international airport designated by the Pilgrimage of Discovery for round trip air travel to Istanbul that is included and paid for as part of the Pilgrimage of Discovery; or b) make independent travel arrangements only with prior written permission granted by the Pilgrimage of Discovery so as to arrive in Istanbul by the designated start date/time of the Pilgrimage of Discovery. Such independent travel will be reimbursed up to $1500. Those young adults granted permission to make independent travel arrangements to and from Istanbul will be required to submit receipts detailing specifics on dates, times, airlines/flight numbers, costs, etc. for all flights to and from Turkey in order to receive reimbursement.

The young adults will travel around Turkey by private motor coach and by private charter boat. The young adults should also be prepared for a moderate level of walking and physical exertion that will be necessary on the Pilgrimage of Discovery.

Yes. The young adults who are selected for the Pilgrimage of Discovery will be required to demonstrate proof of health insurance that provides coverage for them while in Turkey and while transferring through any international airports that may be used. Such health insurance coverage will be at the participants’ own expense. Those participants who do not already have a health insurance policy that covers them for travel to and in Turkey can purchase short-term travel health insurance from a provider not affiliated with the Pilgrimage of Discovery.

A typical day will include breakfast at the group’s hotel, travel by private motor coach to interesting sites in or around Constantinople, learning about history, culture, and religion, sharing life-changing experiences with other Orthodox Christian young adults, enjoying local cuisine, meeting new people, having fun, and growing in an Orthodox spiritual journey of discovery.

Yes. The young adults will attend worship services at churches around Constantinople, including a scheduled opportunity to pray at St. George Church within the Phanar.

Yes. The young adults will have opportunities to meet Orthodox Christian members of the laity and clergy living in Constantinople/Istanbul who will share their experiences with the young adults.

The use of a mobile telephone is an excellent option for staying in touch with family and friends as long as the phone is able to operate at the correct GSM frequencies for mobile phone service in Turkey. Participants should check with their mobile telephone carrier for specifics regarding mobile phone service in Turkey.

Yes. Young adults should have spending money for incidentals, personal expenses, and any additional meals that are not included on the Pilgrimage of Discovery.

The selected young adults should take some US currency with them to Turkey. However, using Apple Pay or Google Pay linked to debit or credit cards is a very convenient way to pay for incidentals, personal expenses, and additional meals that are not included on the Pilgrimage of Discovery. ATM machines are also widely available throughout Istanbul. Participants should check with their debit or credit card companies for specifics regarding exchange rates and fees for transactions in Turkey.

The weather will likely be hot, but participants should dress modestly and tastefully while on the Pilgrimage of Discovery. For daily excursions to churches and monasteries, men are advised to wear dress pants and short sleeve polo shirts or dress shirts. Women are advised to wear dresses or skirts that fall below the knees, and shirts or blouses that cover the shoulders. For more formal occasions such as visiting the Ecumenical Patriarchate or attending divine liturgy, men are advised to wear ties with sport jackets or suits, while women are advised to wear dresses. In general, shorts, blue jeans, tank tops, and spaghetti-strap blouses are not appropriate outside the hotel.

No. Proficiency in Greek or Turkish is not necessary to participate in the Pilgrimage of Discovery. Information conveyed by subject matter experts on the Pilgrimage of Discovery will be in English.

Yes. Passports are required and must be valid for at least six months beyond the travelers’ entry date into Turkey. Also, there must be at least one blank page remaining in passports for entry and exit stamps.

American passport holders do not currently need to obtain a visa for tourist travel to Turkey.

Those young adults using round trip air travel to Istanbul that is included and paid for as part of the Pilgrimage of Discovery will travel from a convenient US international airport designated by the Pilgrimage of Discovery. Those young adults granted permission by the Pilgrimage of Discovery to make independent travel arrangements so as to arrive in Istanbul by the designated start date/time of the Pilgrimage of Discovery will use airports of their own choosing.

The young adults will travel on daily excursions in Turkey accompanied by several Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, with subject matter experts from the Pilgrimage of Discovery, and with a licensed tour guide.

After the Pilgrimage of Discovery, the young adults will travel and share experiences at various parishes and locations within their ecclesiastical regions/jurisdictions from time to time as Archon Ambassadors as part of the Alumni Leadership Network for up to two years following the Pilgrimage of Discovery. The young adults will help to expand awareness about the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Pilgrimage of Discovery, and the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Such travel will be at the applicant’s own expense unless prior arrangements have been approved by the Alumni Leadership Network, the Pilgrimage of Discovery, or Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

After the Pilgrimage of Discovery, the young adults will travel and share experiences at various parishes and locations within their ecclesiastical regions/jurisdictions from time to time as Archon Ambassadors as part of the Alumni Leadership Network for up to two years following the Pilgrimage of Discovery. The young adults will help to expand awareness about the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Pilgrimage of Discovery, and the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Such travel will be at the applicant’s own expense unless prior arrangements have been approved by the Alumni Leadership Network, the Pilgrimage of Discovery, or Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Yes, it will! This life-changing experience will help the young adults grow in their Orthodox Christian faith, better connect with their religious traditions, and more deeply understand the relevance of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the young adults lead the Orthodox Church into the future. This immersive journey will create a lasting impact on the young adults’ identity, faith, family, community and culture, while helping secure the continuity of the Orthodox Church.

Contact Cally Kobza at ckobza10@gmail.com

Contact pilgrimageofdiscovery@gmail.com