The Oil of Gladness
An Orthodox Gathering of Joy, Purpose, and Prayer.
OYP CON is the annual Pan-Orthodox gathering of Orthodox Young Professionals from across Great Britain and Ireland — a space set apart for prayer, fellowship, reflection, and joy. Rooted in the sacramental life of the Church, this weekend brings together people from different backgrounds who seek to live faithfully and deeply in the world.
Each year, we gather in a place of natural beauty and spiritual richness to explore a central theme, share in worship and learning, and reconnect with God and one another. Whether you are returning or attending for the first time, you are warmly welcome.
THIS YEAR’S THEME: “WHAT IS THE OIL OF GLADNESS?”
In Scripture, the oil of gladness is a sign of God’s favour, a symbol of healing, holiness, and joy. It is poured out in moments of consecration, on prophets, kings, and the faithful, and in the life of the Church, it marks the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.
We are anointed at the beginning of our Christian life and moments of deep need: at Baptism and Chrismation, in times of sickness, and during Holy Week. These anointings are not isolated rituals; they are signs of something lasting, a joy that is not of this world but which takes root in us through grace.
Yet, that joy can be hard to hold onto. Amid daily pressures, sorrow, or spiritual fatigue, the memory of that anointing can fade.
This year, we reflect on how the Holy Spirit continues to be poured out in the Church and how we might live in a way that remembers our anointing. What does it mean to carry that blessing through ordinary life? How can we learn to recognise joy not as a passing feeling but as a fruit of the Spirit, quiet, enduring, and full of light?
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.
Psalm 44:8
FEATURED SPEAKERS
We are honoured to welcome a small number of deeply rooted and prayerful speakers, each bringing their own lived wisdom, Orthodox insight, and pastoral care.
Fr Turbo Qualls
Priest
Fr Turbo is the parish priest of St Mary of Egypt Serbian Orthodox Church in Kansas City, Missouri; he is known for his bold honesty, clarity of teaching, and love for those on the margins.
Fr Bartholomew
Monk
A monk of the Monastery of Koutloumousiou on the Holy Mountain, Fr Bartholomew brings with him the quiet strength of a life shaped by prayer, silence, and the rhythms of the Church — as well as a heart open to young people seeking depth.
Aidan Hart
Iconographer, Writer, Theologian
A renowned iconographer, writer, and theologian, Aidan draws on decades of experience in both the ascetic and artistic traditions of the Church. His work reveals how beauty can become a means of communion.