The webinar “Orthodox Youth Voices in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” will bring
together three complementary perspectives:

• • Anthropology — examining how AI is changing human identity, relationships,
    behaviour, and our understanding of the human person.

• • Orthodox Theology — reflecting on human dignity, freedom, responsibility,
    spirituality and the Orthodox understanding of the person created in the image
    and likeness of God.

• • Software Engineer — explaining what AI systems actually are, how they make
    decisions, what their limitations are, and where technical responsibility lies.
    The discussion will place Orthodox youth at the center of the conversation, not merely
    as users of new technologies, but as a generation that will live with the long-term
    consequences of decisions being made today.

Topics;

1. 1. Tijana Petković-Bertsch PhD candidate – Anthropology — examining how AI is
      changing human identity, relationships, behaviour and our understanding of the
      human person with the overview on the future business market for young people
   2. Rev. Ph.D. candidate ȘTEFAN RAICU – What happens to a young person who receives the answer before even setting out on the journey toward it?
   3. Mr. Vasilije Dragovic – AI developments – what young Orthodox people need to know from IT perspective?

Speakers:

Tijana Petković-Bertsch

She is an Orthodox theologian specializing in ecumenism and the
ethics of technology. She lectures at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences in
Ludwigsburg and is a member of the Faith and Order Commission. In addition, she
serves as an adviser to the Faith and Science Working Group of the World Council of
Churches. Her scholarly work focuses on the intersection of theology, digital
transformation, and ecumenical dialogue.

Rev. Ph.D. candidate ȘTEFAN RAICU

Holder of two bachelor’s degrees: a bachelor’s and a master’s degree (“Protection and
Valorization of Historical Heritage”) from the “Nicolae Lupu” Faculty of History and Heritage,
and a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the “Andrei Șaguna” Faculty of Orthodox
Theology, both at “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu. I am currently a doctoral candidate in
Systematic Theology, specializing in Missiology, at the “Andrei Șaguna” Faculty of Orthodox
Theology. During my undergraduate studies, I participated in various Erasmus+ scholarship
programs in Italy and Greece. In 2018, I served as general secretary of the international event
ITO 2018 (International Meeting of Orthodox Youth), held in Sibiu with the participation of
over three thousand young people from Romania and abroad (delegates from the Ecumenical
Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, the Bulgarian Patriarchate, the
Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, etc.); I was a member of the organizing
team for several conferences held in Sibiu, and in 2026 I participated as an attendee, offering a
brief reflection during the final session of the International Symposium “Ecclesiology, Moral
Discernment, and the Mission of the Church in a Changing World,” organized by the WCC and
held at the “Saint Hierarch Andrei Șaguna” Faculty of Orthodox Theology. I am also the author
of a book and more than 15 scholarly articles in the field of theology; in 2018, I became an
advisor to the Youth Department of the Cultural Sector of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese
of Sibiu; since 2020, I have been a cultural correspondent and editor for Radio Trinitas of the
Romanian Patriarchate; and since 2021, I have been an Orthodox priest at the Church of St.
Anthony the Great in Sibiu, Romania.

Vasilije Dragovic

Vasilije Dragovic is a Computer Science student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(graduating May 2027), specializing in machine learning, database systems, algorithm
design, and minoring in Mathematics. Through advanced coursework in mathematical
foundations of machine learning, optimization, discrete mathematics, and complex
variables, he focuses on building scalable AI systems and robust data architectures.
Currently serving as a Data Scientist at Dow Jones, Vasilije architects predictive models
and automated pipelines using Python and SQL to inform growth strategies and
measure platform performance. His domain expertise bridges statistical modeling,
causal inference, and advanced software design, enabling him to transform complex
quantitative datasets into actionable technical frameworks.
Vasilije’s background includes research on automated AI planning domains in
collaboration with IBM Research, as well as full-stack software development for Bank of

America Research. This covers end-to-end machine learning workflows, algorithmic
optimization, and large-scale data wrangling.

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4873778878?omn=86852652729