The 1st (Constituent) Conference of Desmos

Interorthodox Centre
Penteli Monastery
Athens - Hellas
7 - 8 June 1997






"Desmos" the International Link of Orthodox Christian Scouts had its Constituent Conference at the Inter-Orthodox Center of Penteli Monastery near Athens, 7 - 8 June 1997. Delegates from the National Scout Organizations of Armenia, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Poland, Romania, United States of America and Yugoslavia attend the Conference and adopted the Statutes. Representatives from Russia, Bulgaria and Republic Serpska, also attended as Observers. The World Scout Committee was represented by Mr. Costas Tsantilis and the World Scout Bureau by Mr. Jean Cassaigneau. Messages of good will was received by the following countries: Australia, Belarus, Canada, Egypt, Finland, Georgia, Moldova, Slovenia, Venezuela, Uganda, United Kingdom and Ukraine.

Messages of good will was received by the following countries: Australia, Belarus, Canada, Egypt, Finland, Georgia, Moldova, Slovenia, Venezuela, Uganda, United Kingdom and Ukraine.

His Grace Bishop of Calymnos, Representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch reads His message.

Warm and encouraging messages was sent by: His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria Petros VII, His Beatitude the Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos, His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and Greece Seraphim, His Beatitude the Archbishop of Albania Anastassios, His Beatitude the Archbishop of America Spyridon and His Excellency Mr. Ioannis Anthopoulos, Under-secretary of Education and Religious Affairs of the Hellenic Republic.


Chairman of the Conference was elected Mr.Costas Tsantilis, member of the World Scout Committee, founder of "Desmos."

Ch. Papageorgiou Chairman Interim Committee, C. Tsantilis Conference Chairman, Fady Shoucair Conference Secretary

The Conference elected seven members from among all delegates to serve in the Committee during the first term:

Mr. Nikolaos Bais (Greece), Mr. Odeh Bishara (Palestinian Authority), Mr Pampos Charalampous (Cyprus)Mr. Paul Chatzilyriakos (USA), Mt. Nikola Petrovic (Yugoslavia), Mr. Fady Shoucair (Lebanon), Mr. Alexandrou Szeceres (Romania). Mr Haroutun Haroutunian (Armenia) was elected substitute Member of the Committee.

The Committee elected Mr. Nikolaos Bais as its Chairman, Mr. Fady Shoucair as its Vice-Chairman and Mr. Alexandrou Szeceres as its Treasurer. The Committee appointed as volunteer Secretary General of Desmos Mr. Christos Papageorgiou.


Resolutions

"DESMOS" 1st Conference 7 - 8 June 1997 Penteli Monastery Athens - HELLAS

Resolution 1:

The delegates submit their respects and their gratitude to:

for their kind warm and encouraging messages and blessings.

Resolution 2:

The delegates commemorate on this Sunday, the 8th of June, the 1st Ecumenical Synod of Holy Fathers in Nice in 325 AD. and sincerely wish the Spiritual message of the day, guide the vision of “Desmos”.

Resolution 3:

The Conference extends its sincere appreciation to the World Scout Committee and to the World Scout Bureau for their wholehearted support for the founding of “Desmos” and invites a representative of the World Scout Committee to participate in all the “Desmos” Committee meetings.

Resolution 4:

The Conference extends its cordial thanks to Soma Hellinon Proskopon (Scouts of Greece) for the support they have offered towards the creation of the International Link of Orthodox Christian Scouts.

Resolution 5:

The Conference expresses its deep appreciation to the International Relations Department of Soma Hellinon Proskopon and the Organizing Committee of the 1st Orthodox Christian Scout Conference for their devotion to their task and services to this cause.

Resolution 6:

Delegates offer their gratitude to the Board of the Inter-Orthodox Center and in particular to the Very Reverend Ioannis, Abbot of Penteli Monastery for their hospitality, effective cooperation and support.

Resolution 7:

The Conference extends its appreciation to the Representative of the World Scout Committee Mr. Constantinos Tsantilis, Chairman of this 1st Conference, extending to him its sincere thanks for his contribution towards the founding of “Desmos.”

Resolution 8:

The Conference records its appreciation for the expression of goodwill it received from the following countries (Scout Associations): Australia, Belarus, Canada, Egypt, Finland, Georgia, Moldova, Slovenia, Venezuela, Uganda, United Kingdom and Ukraine and records with pleasure the presence of the observers from Russia, Bulgaria and Republica Srpska.

Resolution 9:

The Conference express its thanks to Mr. Jean Tzen, President, National Council of Soma Hellinon Proskopon; to Mr. Christos Lygeros, Chief Commissioner of Soma Hellinon Proskopon; and to Mr. Jean Cassegneau, Director, Relationships & Special Events of the World Scout Bureau for their inspiring presentations.

Resolution 10:

The Conference records with pleasure the presence of the following guests:

Resolution 11:

The Conference offers its sincere thanks and appreciation for their loyal services to the retiring members of the interim Committee:

Resolution 12:

The delegates send their warm greetings to all Scout Associations around the world regardless of race, creed, or color and encourage them to do their duty to God and serve other people.

Resolution 13:

The delegates send their warm greetings to all Scout Associations around the world which include in their membership Christian Orthodox Scouts and encourage them to do their duty to God and serve other people.

Resolution 14:

The Conference urges the World Organization of the Scout Movement to support the promotion, the strengthening of relations and the cooperation among Christian Orthodox Scouts and the Christian Orthodox Churches.

Resolution 15:

The Conference welcomes the WOSM initiative to bring together representatives of different religions active in Scouting.

The Conference records the announcement of the WOSM on the upcoming 2nd Inter-Religious Scout Meeting, expresses its willingness to support initiatives of this nature, which promote the Spiritual Dimension of the Scout Movement to new challenging prospects.

“Desmos” will make all efforts to contribute to the development of this dialogue.

Resolution 16:

  1. The Conference has elected seven members from among all delegates to serve in the Committee during the first term:
  2. The Conference has elected as 1st substitute member of the Committee, Mr. Haroutun Haroutunian (Armenia)
  3. The Conference noted with pleasure the election of Mr. Christos Papageorgiou as volunteer Secretary General of “Desmos”.
  4. The Conference has agreed that the office of “Desmos” should be based at present in Athens.

Resolution 17:

Future events:

The Conference authorizes the Committee to send invitations and decide on the venue of the Christian Orthodox Scouts International Camp and 2nd Desmos Conference, within one year.

Resolution 18:

Membership admission and fee

  1. The Conference records with pleasure the admission of the following National Christian Orthodox bodies representing National Scout Organizations, members of WOSM, as founding members of the International Scout Link of Christian Orthodox Scouts “Desmos”:
  2. The Conference recognizes the need to support the running expenses of the Secretariat and establishes an annual fee amounting to 10 % of the WOSM annual fee per Orthodox Scout.

Resolution 19:

Desmos Emblem

The Conference accepts the attached design as the Emblem of “Desmos” colored gold with black letters.

Resolution 20:

The Conference recognizes the need to support the Christian Orthodox Scouts of Russia, that vast country where there is no National Scout Organization member of WOSM yet, and urges the Committee to invite to its forthcoming meetings, a representative of the Russian Federation of the Orthodox Scouts, in a consultative capacity.