The 3rd World Scout Inter-religious Symposium (WSIS) was held from 21st to 25th October 2009 in Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda. This event was organised by the World Scout Inter-religious Forum (WSIF), an informal network of religious groups/organisations in Scouting and was jointly hosted by International Union of Muslim Scouts (IUMS) and The Uganda Scouts Association.

DESMOS was represented by Christos Papageorgiou, Desmos President and Vassilis Birtsas, Desmos PR and Communications Commissioner.

DESMOS President had the presentation at the Symposium. To find out more about the event, go to INTERNATIONAL EVENTS)

As an expression of real need to offer to Orthodox scout leaders in DESMOS member-countries in the Balkans the opportunity to have a training on spiritual dimension in Scouting, DESMOS organized the event in the Monastery "Свети Николај Српски", in Soko Grad, in Western Serbia.

His Excellency, Episcope Lavrentije of the Serbian Orthodox Church – Eparchy of Šabac gave His Blessing to the Scout Organization of Serbia to organize the Training in the premises of the Monastery "Свети Николај Српски", in Soko Grad, and Father Zoran Ristivojeviæ and the civil staff of the Monastery were excellent hosts, offering very good conditions for work. The event was financially supported by the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Serbia, and partially sponsored by the Public Enterprise "Serbian Railways". To find out more about the event, go to ACTIVITIES

Russian Association of Scouts / Navigators (RAS/N), NSO WOSM member, decided to join The International Link of Orthodox Christian Scouts „DESMOS“.

After the meeting that DESMOS President and DESMOS Secretary General had in the Republic of Korea with RAS/N delegation to the World Scout Conference, headed by President Anatoliy Ermolin, the contacts continued and The Link is now welcoming the new member.(More)

HM The King of Sweden visiting Desmos tent

During the 21st World Scout Jamboree, DESMOS had an important role and significant participation in the Jamboree programme, in Faith & Beliefs Zone, with the Workshop organized with the idea to enable young people find out more about Orthodoxy and about the International Link of Orthodox Christian Scouts. The Fait & Beliefs Zone had centrally situated location on the Jamboree site, with specially reserved space for all main faiths and religions. DESMOS prepared in its tent the exhibition - display of icons, and the workshop of Orthodox iconography. The outside of the tent was decorated with a representation of a Byzantine church in the façade and inside the tent there was the exhibition of “Dodekaorton”, twelve main celebrations of the Church giving information on our faith in four languages. The participants of the Workshop could choose to paint with acrylic colors St. George (the Patron of Scouting), Virgin Mary or the Holy Cross, on wooden plates containing the outline design. The workshop was open from 9:00 to 17:00 with a midday break. There were eight DESMOS members from Greece, Serbia, Lebanon and Palestine, that helped organizing and smooth running of the workshop. We could facilitate 70 persons at the same time (scouts, adult leaders, IST members, day visitors). The Workshop visitors were not only Christians but people of different religions from all over the world. They could spend some time in the Desmos tent, paint their icon, which they could take with them as the souvenir, and take information concerning Orthodoxy, as well as Desmos info leaflet. During rush hours, due to increased interest for participation in the Workshop, there were even people painting outside of the tent or waiting for a free table and chair. The total number of Scouts passed through the Workshop is estimated to over 3000.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate, under the auspices and blessing of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, organized in the City, from the 11th until the 16th of July, the 2nd Orthodox Youth Conference, with the theme: “Members of the Church - Citizens of the World.”
Approximately 900 young men and women participated in this Conference from all the Eparchies of the Ecumenical Patriarchate throughout the world, as well as from sister Orthodox Churches, Monastic Communities, other Christian Churches and Confessions, Orthodox Theological Schools and Academies, Institutes and Seminars, International Church Organizations and International Youth Associations, Cultural Foundations and local Christian Churches.
DESMOS Representative at the Conference was Maria Vaxevanopoulou, Scouts of Greece. Report, Conclusions

ON THE OCCASION OF CONSECRATION OF IRINEJ OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND FOR THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, DESMOS SECRETARY GENERAL WAS INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THIS IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL EVENT, ON JULY 15, 2006, IN THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF HOLY ARCHANGEL MICHAEL IN BELGRADE. ON BEHALF OF HIS HOLINESS THE SERBIAN PATRIARCH THE INSIGNIA OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE – THE OMOPHORA, PANAGIA, MITRE AND STAFF – WERE PRESENTED TO THE NEWLY ELECTED AND VESTED BISHOP IRINEJ BY METROPOLITAN AMFILOHIJE WHO ON THIS OCCASION SAID: “GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THE HONOR OF SERVICE ON THE CONTINENT OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. THE CHURCH SENDS YOU AS THE LORD ONCE SENT HIS STUDENTS TO PREACH, TO GATHER THE PEOPLE OF GOD, TO ENLIGHTEN THEM AND TO CONSECRATE THEM WITH THE HOLINESS YOU HAVE RECEIVED TODAY WITH WHICH GOD HAS HONORED YOU.” More