Pilgrimage of Discovery Eligibility Requirements

1. Applicant must be age 23 to 30 on August 1, 2025. 
2. Applicant is 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). Young adults belonging to Orthodox 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. 
3. Applicant will only submit one application to the Pilgrimage of Discovery 2025.
4. Applicant was not selected as a Pilgrimage of Discovery participant in a previous year.
5. Applicant must be a citizen or legal resident of the United States. 
6. Applicant must be a high school graduate or have successfully passed the General Education Development (GED) Exam.
7. Applicant has demonstrated devotion and service to Christ and the Orthodox Church.
8. Applicant has demonstrated leadership qualities in ecclesial, academic, professional, and/or community life.
9. Applicant has never been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony. 
10. Applicant is not married. Individuals who are married are not eligible to apply.
11. Siblings are eligible to apply, however only one sibling applicant may be selected.
12. Applicant is not a deacon, priest/presbyter, bishop, monk, nun, or monastic novice.  A deacon, priest/presbyter, bishop, monk, nun, or monastic novice is not eligible to apply. 
13.  Applicant may not use artificial intelligence (AI) in any way to assist with the writing and/or completion of the Pilgrimage of Discovery application. Any applicant detected to have used artificial intelligence in any way 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.
14. Completion of Application. The applicant must complete and submit the entire application on the Pilgrimage of Discovery application portal by the published deadline date for applicants. A complete application includes the timely submission of all information requested in the application, as well as the timely submission of both required recommendations. Although an applicant may save and exit the application portal in order to return later to continue writing their application, the submission of the completed application must be made by the deadline date for applicants. In order for the completed application to actually be submitted, the applicant must click the “SUBMIT” button on the application portal. Late applications will not be eligible.
15. Completion of Recommendation by Orthodox Christian Priest/Presbyter: In order for a submitted application to be considered complete and ready for review, a recommendation written by a priest/presbyter must be submitted on the Pilgrimage of Discovery portal by the published deadline date for recommenders. Priest/Presbyter recommendations may 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 (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). No immediate family member, grandfather, uncle, Godparent, or any person related by three degrees of consanguinity or affinity may serve as a priest/presbyter recommender for an applicant. An Orthodox priest/presbyter writing a recommendation for any applicant must use a link that will be sent to him via an automated message from the Pilgrimage of Discovery application portal. The applicant will provide the priest’s/presbyter’s email address when prompted in the application. This email will be used to directly send to the  priest/presbyter a recommendation link which will allow him to access the recommendation form. He will be prompted to answer specific recommendation questions directly on the portal. The recommendation link will only be sent to the priest/presbyter once the applicant has submitted their completed application on the application portal. The priest/presbyter must submit his recommendation by following the link that is sent via the application portal. Although the priest/presbyter may save and exit the application portal in order to return later to continue writing his recommendation, a completed recommendation will only be submitted by the priest/presbyter when he finally clicks the “SUBMIT” button on the application portal. Late recommendations will not be accepted. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the priest/presbyter has submitted his recommendation by the published deadline date for recommenders. Only one priest/presbyter recommendation per applicant is allowed.
16. Completion of Recommendation by an Orthodox Christian Member of the Laity: In order for a submitted application to be considered complete and ready for review, a recommendation written by an Orthodox Christian member of the laity (not clergy) living within the United States must be submitted on the Pilgrimage of Discovery portal by the published deadline date for recommenders. No immediate family member, grandparent, aunt, uncle, Godparent, or any person related by three degrees of consanguinity or affinity may serve as a recommender for an applicant. An Orthodox Christian lay person writing a recommendation for any applicant must use a link that will be sent to them via an automated message from the Pilgrimage of Discovery application portal. The applicant will provide the recommender’s email address when prompted in the application. This email will be used to directly send to the recommender a recommendation link which will allow them to access the recommendation form. The recommender will be prompted to answer specific recommendation questions directly on the portal. The recommendation link will only be sent to the recommender once the applicant has submitted their completed application on the application portal. The recommender must submit their recommendation by following the link that is sent via the application portal. Although the recommender may save and exit the application portal in order to return later to continue writing their recommendation, a completed recommendation will only be submitted by the recommender when they finally click the “SUBMIT” button on the application portal. Late recommendations will not be accepted. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the recommender has submitted their recommendation by the published deadline date for recommenders. Only one Orthodox Christian member of the laity recommendation per applicant is allowed.
17. The applicant must be willing to provide their social media account information and give permission to the Pilgrimage of Discovery to access social media accounts, including accounts listed as private, as part of the review process.
18. The applicant must acknowledge that a moderate level of physical exertion will be necessary for participants on the Pilgrimage of Discovery 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.
19.  If selected, the applicant must be willing to conduct herself/himself on the Pilgrimage of Discovery in a responsible, respectful manner consistent with an Orthodox Christian way of life. 
20.  If selected, the applicant must be willing and able to adhere to all travel, health, and safety requirements and restrictions mandated by local, state, federal, and international governmental authorities relevant to the applicant’s successful participation in the Pilgrimage of Discovery, including but not limited to provision of a valid passport, second form of legal identification, any necessary visas, and international health insurance at the applicant’s own expense. 
21.  If selected, the applicant must be willing and able to 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.
22.  If selected, the applicant must be willing and competent to execute a legal document provided to the applicant releasing the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, its metropolises and ministries, the Pilgrimage of Discovery and their respective employees, agents, or volunteers from all liability for any injuries or property damage suffered by the applicant in connection with the Pilgrimage of Discovery.
23. If selected and the applicant has been granted permission to make independent travel arrangements to Istanbul, Turkey, the applicant must be willing and competent to execute a second legal document provided to the applicant releasing the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, its metropolises and ministries, the Pilgrimage of Discovery and their respective employees, agents, or volunteers from all liability for any injuries or property damage suffered by the applicant in association with their independent travel to and from the Pilgrimage of Discovery.
24. If selected, the applicant must be willing and able to attend three to four (3-4) mandatory preparatory meetings by video teleconference in advance of the Pilgrimage of Discovery to get to know the other participants, to learn what the applicant should expect on their journey, and to prepare for their experiences.
25. If selected, the applicant must be willing and able to commit to traveling and sharing experiences at various parishes and locations within their ecclesiastical regions/jurisdictions from time to time as an Archon Ambassador as part of the Alumni Leadership Network for up to two years following the Pilgrimage of Discovery to 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 the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
26. If selected, the applicant must be willing and able to be photographed, filmed, and recorded before, during, and after the Pilgrimage of Discovery for the purpose of promoting the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Pilgrimage of Discovery, and the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
27. If selected, the applicant must be willing to give permission for a background check to be conducted if it is requested by the Pilgrimage of Discovery.

Selection Process

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 sixteen young adults total from all eligible applicants. In its sole discretion, the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee may select less or more than sixteen 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 Communities in the USA; or Vicariate for the 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 date 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 sixteen 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 sixteen young adult recipients who may become unable to participate in the Pilgrimage of Discovery. The Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee will base its selection of recipients on the following: 

1. Eligibility:
Each recipient must meet all eligibility requirements described in the Pilgrimage of Discovery Eligibility Requirements. 

2. Criteria for Selection

The Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee will consider the following criteria in selecting recipients:

• Activities and leadership positions up to the age of 18 inside the Orthodox Church or inside Orthodox Christian organizations.
• Activities and leadership positions after the age of 18 inside the Orthodox Church or inside Orthodox Christian organizations.
• Leadership positions after the age of 18 outside the Orthodox Church or outside Orthodox Christian organizations.
• Assessments made by the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee from all written answers submitted in the application process that demonstrate the applicant’s leadership, spiritual gifts, talents, experiences, motivation to travel, as well as potential to support and promote the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Pilgrimage of Discovery, and the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. 
• Assessments made by the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee from the recommendation submitted on behalf of the applicant by an Orthodox priest/presbyter (not a deacon or bishop) from any ecclesiastical region of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (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 from 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 Communities in the USA; or Vicariate for the Communities of Slavic Tradition in the USA).
• Assessments made by the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee from the recommendation submitted on behalf of the applicant by an Orthodox Christian member of the laity who lives in the United States. 
• Assessments of any additional information that may be scrutinized or requested by the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee at its discretion during the review process, including but not limited to social media profiles, requested interviews, additional questions, or verification of information or materials submitted.

Applications will be judged comprehensively and holistically. Although the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee will apply the above criteria in a reasonable and objective manner, the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee is not required to place the same weight upon each criterion for each applicant. The selection of recipients will be determined solely at the discretion of the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee. All deliberations of the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee are strictly confidential.

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Any questions regarding the Pilgrimage of Discovery should be addressed to pilgrimageofdiscovery@gmail.com