Now is as good a time as any to look ahead to what this year will bring. For Orthodox Christians, it means marking down the top Orthodox events of 2024. 

This year promises to be an eventful one — from academic conferences to film festivals to summer retreats and international gatherings.

In fact, there is plenty to be excited about no matter your interests. There is something for everyone. 

READ: 12 Biggest Stories Involving Orthodox Christianity That Took Place In 2023

Here are 10 Orthodox Christian events to look forward to this year:  

1. OYM 3ETREAT 

If you are an Orthodox Christian living in the Washington, D.C. area, OYM’s 3ETreat is the perfect choice for you. OYM’s Washington D.C. 3ETreat is a free Orthodox weekend retreat held Feb. 10-11 at the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The retreat serves as pan-Orthodox opportunity to gather local Orthodox Christians. OYM’s retreat has youth and adult tracks, making this event an enriching experience for the whole family. During the retreat, young participants will learn about seeking to encounter Christ and embodying Christ’s church, while adults discuss the importance of community, household and love in a world of pain. 

Orthodox Youth & Young Adult Ministries was founded in 2021 by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops to work with and unite jurisdictional efforts to minister to youth and young adults. OYM hosts retreats across the nation, with Washington D.C., being the first in 2024.  

2. YAL Chicago Conference 2024 

The Metropolis of Chicago Young Adult League Charter will hold an annual conference, gathering young Orthodox Christians from across United States. The YAL Chicago Conference 2024 will be hosted in Rosemont, Illinois, near O’Hare Airport, during President’s Day weekend from Feb. 16-19.  

This year’s YAL will explore what it means to turn our lives in a direction towards Christ. The keynote speaker is Yelena Popovic, director and producer of an award winning film “Man of God.” Other speakers will cover pop culture, monastic life and work and life balance. The important aspect of the YAL’s Chicago 2024 is getting to know your fellow Christians. There are plenty of fun activities such as bowling, mini golf and a formal gala dinner.

3. The Antiochian Men Conference and Retreat 

The Antiochian Men Conference and Retreat is the first of its kind. It will take place from March 7-10 at the Woodland Christian Camp and Retreat Center in Temple, Georgia. 

The retreat’s theme is “The Audacity of Manhood: Strength Through Virtuous Work,” and it includes an impressive lineup of speakers, including Bishop Nicholas of Miami and the Southeast and Father Stephen De Young. Between lectures, participants will have an opportunity to enjoy numerous leisure activities: kayaking, fishing as well as evening fellowship around the campfire. 

It’s not required to be an Orthodox Christian to attend the retreat. Orthodox catechumens and inquirers are, however, encouraged to join. 

4. Suprasl: Time for the Lord to Act 

Suprasl — A World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth is an international nonprofit organization with the mission to bring unity among Orthodox youth. In the summer, it hosts its flagship conference: A World Gathering of Orthodox Youth at the Monastery of the Annunciation in the small Polish town of Suprasl. Since 2022, the town on the Polish-Belarus border hosts for a week nearly 100 Orthodox youth from around the globe. The previous editions of Suprasl covered contemporary issues of environmentalism, artificial intelligence and their relevance to the Orthodox way of life. 

Besides spiritual enrichment and academic workshops, Suprasl organizes sporting activities such as kayaking, volleyball and field trips to Orthodox sacred and cultural sites in Eastern Poland. 

This year’s conference will be held from June 30-July 8 with the theme “It’s Time for the Lord to Act: Liturgy and Creation.” The keynote speaker will be Archbishop Alexander Golitzin of Dallas, the South, and the Bulgarian Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America. 

5. Chicago 2024: An International Orthodox Youth Encounter 

The Diocese of the Midwest of the Orthodox Church in America in partnership with Suprasl — A World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth will host Chicago 2024: An International Orthodox Youth Encounter from June 21-29. Chicago 2024 – An International Orthodox Youth Encounter is a preview of Suprasl. The event in Chicago will gather Orthodox youth from different countries and jurisdictions with the idea to live the joy of Christ and manifest the unity of the Orthodox Church.

The conference will coincide with the feast of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, which gives a special significance to this event. If you live in Chicagoland or you are an international student in the United States, Chicago 2024 — An International Orthodox Youth Encounter, needs to be on your summer bucket list. 

6. MontaNika 

You would be wrong to think that Montana and Orthodoxy don’t have much in common. The MontaNika is an annual conference organized by parishioners of the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Butte, Montana. It’s the fusion of Orthodoxy and the American West. 

The mission of the conference is to show the unique qualities of Montana that make it suitable for Orthodox values and community. In addition to theological and spiritual components, the MontaNika’s participants enjoy outdoor activities in the Treasure State. 

The conference also serves for attendees to explore the potential of Orthodox life in Montana. This year’s dates for MontaNika 2024 are June 27-30. If you are heading west this summer, make sure to plan ahead and include this conference in your itinerary.  

7. Eagle River Institute 

The picturesque Eagle River, located 15 miles north of Anchorage in Alaska, is the home of a flourishing Orthodox community.

Once an Evangelical Church, this parish became an Orthodox hub. Since 1995, every August, Orthodox from all corners of the country have flocked to Alaska to attend the Eagle River Institute.

The Eagle River Institute is a forum for Orthodox scholars addressing relevant topics to everyday life of Orthodox Christians.

The institute includes 12 hours of lectures that will cover theology, history and contemporary issues. Previous editions of the Institute addressed topics such as the war in Ukraine, ecumenical dialogue and the question of liturgical reform, among others. 

Upon conclusion of the program, participants can join the annual pilgrimage to Spruce Island to celebrate canonization of St. Herman of Alaska. Instead of going on an Alaskan summer cruise, visit America’s northernmost state and learn more about Orthodoxy by attending Eagle River Institute.  

8. FoMA Madingley Conference 

The Monastic Republic of Mount Athos is the most secretive place on the European continent. The Athos peninsula is located in the region of Central Macedonia. 

The Friends of Mount Athos is a charitable and educational organization founded in 1990. For the past 34 years, the FoMA has done so much to materially support Mount Athos and facilitate pilgrimage. The organization also gives a voice to the monastic community when interacting with the outside world. King Charles has been an honorary member of the FoMA since 1994. 

Since 2003, the Friends of Mount Athos have hosted the annual Madingley Conference in Cambridge, England. This year’s conference will be held Oct. 11-13 with the theme: Holy Mountains, Holy men — The Spirituality of Mount Athos. 

Madingley Conference is an excellent way to be introduced to the world’s oldest monastic community. 

9. Byzantfest 

It might come as a surprise to many, but Australia is the home of the largest, if not only international Orthodox film festival, known as Byzantfest. The festival’s mission is to share the best Orthodox stories with the world. 

Films featured during the festival reflect Orthodox Christian themes such as beliefs, culture and values and include dramas and documentaries as well as animated cartoons. The organizers have not announced festival dates yet. However, if you plan on traveling to the Land Down Under, keep an eye on the Byzantfest website to learn more. 

Even if you are not visiting Australia this year, you still have a chance to enjoy films featured at Byzantfest. After the festival, all films are available via Vimeo or YouTube for a limited time.  

10. Fellowship of St. Moses the Black Annual Conference

For 30 years, the Fellowship of St. Moses the Black has led the way in promoting racial reconciliation within the Orthodox Church and sharing Orthodox Christianity with the African American community. The Fellowship is under the leadership of Abbess Katherine Weston. 

The Fellowship of St. Moses the Black organizes the annual conference to pray, learn and share encouragement. For the last several years, the conference has been held during the first half of October. 

Over the years, the conference has addressed issues of racial injustice, racism and culture, aiming to link ancient African Christianity with the African-American experience. If you want to learn what Orthodox Christianity has to offer to the process of racial reconciliation, this conference is a must-attend event. 

Are you planning to attend any of these conferences? Let us know in the comments section below. 

Jovan Tripkovic is an editorial fellow at Religion Unplugged. Follow him on Twitter @jovan_tripkovic.