ARTICLE 1. NAME SYMBOL
1.A. The name of the organisation is "Balkan Orthodox Youth Association". In practice, the shortened form B.O.Y.A. may be used.
1.B. In Albanian: "Shoqata e Rinise Ortodokse Balkanik"
In Bulgarian: ""
In Greek: ""
In Romanian: ""
In Serbian: "Zajednica pravoslavne omladine Balkana"
1.C. The symbol of the B.O.Y.A. is a cross with the letters IC XC NI KA inscribed with the name of the Organisation around.

ARTICLE 2. AIM AND FUNCTIONS
1.Á. The aim of the Balkan Orthodox Youth Association is to create and strengthen the relations and to promote the cooperation among orthodox youth movements, initiatives and Theological/Church Schools in the Balkan Peninsula, and the Balkan peoples in general. The B.O.Y.A. is to develop an active solidarity and practical assistance in their work as well as to encourage cooperation between the sister Churches.
1.B. More specifically the B.O.Y.A. functions in the following fields:
a. Theological education and catechesis.
b. Youth programmes.
c. Network building, exchange and dissemination of information.
d. Humanitarian activity.

ARTICLE 3. MEANS
The means of promoting the above aims and functions are the following:
a. Participation in the liturgical life of the Church.
b. Conferences, meetings, visits, fraternisations, workshops and other forms of exchanges.
c. Educational and training programmes.
d. Publications.
e. Material supply for Church work.
f. Gathering of information, creation of documents, announcements
g. Creation and support of the " Balkan Press Centre" and support of other similar regional or local efforts in the mass media.
h. Practical work for needy people and groups.
i. Programmes for foreign migrants, refugees or victims of wars.
j. Any other suitable activity for the promotion of the aims and functions of the B.O.Y.A.

ARTICLE 4. MEMBERSHIP
4.1. General
There are two categories of membership of the Balkan Orthodox Youth Association: a) Affiliate members and b) Associate members
4.2. Affiliate Membership
a. Affiliate members participate with all rights and obligations an all B.O.Y.A. activities. They can be
1) Non-governmental Orthodox youth movements, organisations that are legal subjects.
2) Church (parish, eparchial and diocesan) youth groups and initiatives.
3) Theological Faculties and Church Academies
4) ?ny form of mass media (Fe. newspapers, magazines, or radio stations), provided they are the result of a collective initiative of Orthodox young people and do not belong to a movement that is already a member
b. from the Balkan area.
c. An affiliate member must also be able to:
1) prove that its principal aim is to serve Orthodoxy and witness the Orthodox faith
2) give evidence of stability, strength and continual activity for at least three years preceding the application for membership, as well as active participation in inter-Balkan work for at least two years.
3) give evidence that its aims and work are in full harmony with the aims and work of the B.O.Y.A. as stated above and with the frame of ideas decided on in the 1st Balkan Orthodox Youth Conference (Penteli 1992-document attached)
4) have the written blessing for the participation in the B.O.Y.A. by their canonical local bishop.
4.3. Associate Membership
Any Orthodox young people's initiative or movement willing to assist the work of the B.O.Y.A. can become an associate member:
1) if it does not come from the Balkan area and/or
2) if, according to the judgement of the General Assembly, its principal aim is different than the mentioned in article 4.2.c.1. However, article 4.2.c.3 and article 4.2.c.4 apply to associate members too.
Associate member-movements participate in all activities of the B.O.Y.A., but do not have the right to vote.
4.4.Status of the members.
If a movement, organization or initiative temporally does not fulfil the requirements of article 4.2.c.2 or has not fulfilled its financial obligations to B.O.Y.A for two consequent years, the general Assembly can decide upon changing of the status of a member of the B.O.Y.A. from affiliate to associate or discontinue the membership of a member that does not fulfil the requirements of articles 4.2.c.2 or 4.2.c.3.

ARTICLE 5. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
5.1. Any organisation or initiative willing to become a member of the B.O.Y.A. shall apply in written to a) the appropriate Regional Office and b) to the General Secretariat, at least 6 months before the coming General Assembly. The applications should include all necessary documents, which prove that it fulfils the constitutional requirements mentioned in article 4. The Regional Council submits a written evaluation of the application to the Board, together with all additional information needed in order to enable the General Assembly to decide on the application.
5.2. The General Assembly may take a new decision upon membership, if a member' s situation evidently changes.

ARTICLE 6. REGIONS
6.1. For practical purposes of the work of the Balkan Orthodox Youth Association, the members form regional groupings where and when necessary. The regions are defined by the General Assembly.
6.2. The representatives of the affiliate and associate members of each region, as well as the elected members of the Board and the Finance Control Committee from the region and the Regional Secretary constitute a Regional Council.
6.3. During the General Assembly they meet and propose to the Assembly a Regional Secretary. In case their proposal is not accepted, they have to make another proposal. It is not allowed to propose Regional Secretaries from the floor.
6.4. In between the General Assemblies the Regional Council meet at least once a year. It can have a sitting if 50% plus 1 of all its members are present.
6.5. The Regular Meetings of the Regional Council are called by the Regional Secretary. Irregular Meetings of the Regional Council (Office) are called by the President and the General Secretary of the B.O.Y.A., after a written request of at least 1/3 of the members. The members should be informed about the meeting at least one month in advance.
6.6. Regional Councils have the following functions:
a. To hear out, discuss and accept the report about the activities of the Regional Office of the B.O.Y.A. prepared by the Regional Secretary.
b. To elaborate on the current programmes of the B.O.Y.A. and examine ways of contributing to their realisation.
c. To evaluate the programmes the Region has been involved in and how they have been accomplished.
d. To propose new initiatives, projects and activities, which can be included in the programme of the B.O.Y.A for the following period.
e. To evaluate all the applicants for membership in the B.O.Y.A. and to recommend to the Board their affiliation or association.
f. To make a proposal to the Board for the election of a new Regional Secretary if he/she resigns or is unable to fulfil his/her duties.
6.7. In case of lack of regional structure or serious malfunctioning of the Regional Secretary his/her duties are taken over by the Board.
6.8. The Regional Secretariats are responsible for the following tasks:
a. To call the Regular Meetings of the Regional Councils.
b. To prepare an annual report about the activities of the B.O.Y.A. in the region.
c. To formulate, apply and propose to the General Assembly and the Board programmes on regional level.
d. To assure co-ordination with the staff and the other regions in order to apply the programmes initiated by the B.O.Y.A.

ARTICLE 7. SUPPORT STRUCTURE
A special status in the Balkan Orthodox Youth Association has the Association for Solidarity to the Balkan Orthodox Youth "MARTYRIA", a Greek non-profit persons' association created in order to support the work of the B.O.Y.A. The Association "MARTYRIA" may participate in various activities of the B.O.Y.A.. Similar associations can be founded in any region.

ARTICLE 8. THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE B.O.Y.A.
The institutions of the B.O.Y.A. are:
a. The General Assembly
b. The Board
c. The Executive Committee
d. The Finance Control Committee

ARTICLE 9. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
9.1. Functions
The General Assembly is the supreme body of the Balkan Orthodox Youth Association. Its functions are the following:
a. To assess the situation of the B.O.Y.A. and the work of the Regional Offices, the Board and the elected officers.
b. To consider ideas and aspirations of the members and regions and to determine objectives and priorities for the programme of the B.O.Y.A. for the following period.
c. To elect officers: President, two to four Vice-Presidents, General Secretary, Regional Secretaries and members of the Board, as well as a Finance Control Committee and its Chairman.
d. To consider and vote upon proposed amendments of the Constitution.
e. To decide upon affiliated or associated status of members.
f. To decide upon changing of the status of a member of the B.O.Y.A. from affiliate to associate or discontinue the membership of a member that does not fulfil the requirements of articles 4.2.c.2 or 4.2.c.3.
9.2. Composition
The General Assembly is composed of the following:
a. Delegates. They are the official representatives of the affiliate members who are regularly fulfilling their financial obligations, and they have the right to speak, to propose and to vote.
The affiliate members are represented by an equal number of delegates. Nevertheless, the delegates of one region should not be more than one third (1/3) of the total number of delegates. If so, the number of the delegates of the said country should be reduced on an equal basis. However, each member should have at least one delegate. Their total number is fixed by the Board in a way that it is no less than the triple of the members of the retiring Board.
Apart from the movement representatives, the members of the retiring Board, the retiring Finance Control Committee, the retiring Regional Secretaries and representatives of the Association for Solidarity to the Balkan Orthodox Youth "MARTYRIA", in equal number to those of the affiliate members may participate in the General Assembly and have a delegate status too.
b. Participants. They are the official representatives of the associate members, invited by the Executive Committee on an equal base. The participants have the right to speak and to propose, but not to vote.
c. Visitors, observers. The Board can invite any other person as a visitor or observer with the right only to speak.
9.3. Quorum, agenda, frequency of meetings, etc.
a. The General Assembly meets every three years as a rule and extraordinarily after a written request of the 1/2 of the affiliate members to the G. Secretary or the decision of the 2/3 of all elected members of the Board. All members have to be notified for at least four months in advance for a regular Assembly and one month for an extraordinary one.
b. More than 1/2 of the delegates constitute a quorum.
c. The Executive Committee proposes a project for agenda of the General Assembly at the preceding meeting of the Board. The adopted project for agenda of the General Assembly is sent to all the members of the B.O.Y.A together with the invitations of the delegates to participate in the General Assembly.
The Board proposes the agenda of the Assembly on the first working session. Any delegate may propose additions or alterations from the floor. All proposals have to be seconded in order to be voted on. The rules of order of the working sessions are adopted at the beginning of the meeting and may not be altered later. The agenda of the extraordinary General Assemblies should be included in the written request/Board decision and may not be altered.
d. The General Assembly is being chaired by the retiring Board.
e. In all matters proposals can be made by the Board or from the floor, but they have to be seconded. Regional Secretaries may, however, only be proposed by the regions themselves.
f. Decisions are normally made by a simple majority of the present delegates. A 2/3 majority is requested for new memberships and for constitutional amendments. Secret voting is only taking place if a) considered necessary by the chairing body or if b) requested by 1/3 of the delegates.
9.4. Elections
Each region proposes one or two persons for the Nominations Committee. The members of the Nomination Committee may not candidate for the Board. The Nomination Committee selects proposals for candidates for the Board, examines their willingness to accept the proposal and comes to a plenary meeting with a sound proposal at least one day before the elections. Candidates are voted on one by one. The same applies to the elections of the Finance Control Committee.

ARTICLE 10. THE BOARD
10.1. Functions
The Board is the executive body of the Balkan Orthodox Youth Association. It has the following functions :
a. To apply the decisions of the General Assembly and to initiate specific programmes according to the priorities stated by the G. Assembly.
b. To make recommendations to the G. Assembly about affiliation or association of members.
c. To declare Orthodox individuals who greatly contribute to the aims and the work of the B.O.Y.A. honorary members. They have the right to participate in all activities of the B.O.Y.A., but they may not vote.
d. To approve the budget of the B.O.Y.A. submitted by the Executive Committee.
e. In preparation of its work, the Board can establish working groups and expert commissions.
f. To elect a deputy for any member of the Executive Committee except the President, or any Regional Secretary if he/she resigns or is unable to fulfil his/her duties. the deputy shall be elected by ordinary plus one majority of the present at the meeting.
g. To suspend membership in case of article 4.4. until the next General Assembly with a 2/3 majority
10.2. Composition
The Board consists of the following members:
a. The members of the Executive Committee and
b. Four to seven members-at-large.
10.3. Frequency of meetings, quorum
a. The Board meets every six months regularly.
b. Extraordinary meetings can be called by 1/3 of its members. In this case, all members have to be notified at least one month in advance.
c. More than 1/2 of elected members constitute a quorum.
d. Decisions of the Board are made by simple majority.

ARTICLE 11. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
11.1. The Executive Committee consists of the following members:
a. The President. He/she supervises and cares for the appropriate function of the B.O.Y.A..
b. Two to four Vice Presidents.
c. The Secretary General. He/she makes the practical arrangements for the meetings of the Board and the Executive Committee and co-ordinates the regional Secretaries, the staff and the inter-Balkan programmes. He/she is also the contact person with the Association for Solidarity to the Balkan Orthodox Youth "MARTYRIA".
d. The Deputy General Secretary. The General Assembly elects a deputy General Secretary with the following tasks:
1.To assist the General Secretary in his/her work.
2.To replace the General Secretary in case of absence, or whenever he/she is delegated to in written.
The deputy General Secretary has the right to be present in the Board and Executive Committee meetings with the right of word, or to replace the General Secretary in case of absence.
11.2. Functions
It has the following functions:
a. To represent the B.O.Y.A. as an international organisation.
b. To apply the decisions of the General Assembly and the Board.
c. To co-ordinate the finance sand prepare the budget of the B.O.Y.A.
d. To appoint the staff of the B.O.Y.A.
e. To submit proposals to the Board.
f. To present an annual report to the Board and a report for each mandate to the General Assembly.
g. The B.O.Y.A. is legally bound by the joint signature of two of the following persons: The President or a Vice-President and the General Secretary.

ARTICLE 12. FINANCE CONTROL COMMITTEE
12.1.The Finance Control Committee supervises the finances of the B.O.Y.A.. It consists of a Chairman and two members elected by the General Assembly. It meets at least once a year and is called by the Chairman. It presents an annual report to the Board and a report for each mandate to the General Assembly.
12.2. The Chairman of the Finance Control Committee can participate in all meetings of the Board and has a consultative voice.

ARTICLE 13. FINANCES OF THE B.O.Y.A.
13.1.The assets of the B.O.Y.A. shall be formed of:
a. The membership fee.
b. Donations and legacies made by legal entities and persons. The persons making donations to B.O.Y.A. are considered friends of B.O.Y.A..
c. Income from the assets of the B.O.Y.A.
d. Income form the activities of business units, established by the B.O.Y.A. in accordance of every country' s law.
e. Other income and donations, received under law regulations.
13.2. Subjects of donation or any legacy are sums of money, chattels and real estate and rights over them, copyrights and trade marks, stocks and shares. the donations shall be registered in a special book of donations.
13.3.The donor or the legator can establish a separate fund under a specific name stated by him/her.
13.4.The Board has to refuse to accept a donation or a legacy, made under unacceptable conditions for the B.O.Y.A. or contrary to its principles, goals, or the provisions of its by-laws.
13.5.The assets of the B.O.Y.A. are invested in real estate. bank deposits, shares and in other appropriate forms.
13.6.The Board can dispose of the assets of the B.O.Y.A. in accordance with this statute.
13.7.The Board can transfer part of the income into capital fund.

ARTICLE 14. MEMBERSHIP FEE
Members are expected to pay annual membership fees to the B.O.Y.A. as defined by the Board.

ARTICLE 15. HEADQUARTERS
The legal headquarters of the B.O.Y.A. shall be in Athens, Greece, unless otherwise decided by the G. Assembly.

ARTICLE 16. BYLAWS
The General Assembly may adopt practical interpretations of the Constitution under the form of bylaws.

ARTICLE 17. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the Constitution have to be submitted in written form to the Board at least three months before the General Assembly. The General Secretary has to inform all members of the B.O.Y.A. about the proposed constitutional amendments at least one month before the General Assembly.

THE B.O.Y.A. OFFICERS ELECTED
BY THE 3RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
A.BOARD MEMBERS
President Mariyan Stoyadinov (Bulgaria)
Vice-Presidents Fr.Miodrag Andric (Serbia)
Adrian-Sorin Zahiu (Romania)

General Secretary
Dep.General Secretary Yannis Zervos (Greece)
Dimitrios Karadimas (Greece)
Members at Large Fr.Haralambos Theodosis (Greece)
Guiorgui Dimitrov (Bulgaria)
Stefan-Srdjan Milenkovic (Serbia)
Ilie Trif (Romania)
B.FINANCE CONTROL COMMITTEE
Chairman Todor Enchev (Bulgaria)
Members at Large Stefan Zaharescu (Romania)
Ljubomir Jovanovic (Serbia)
C.REGIONAL SECRETARIES
GREECE Theodora Ikonomou
BULGARIA Emiliyan Pogonchev
ROMANIA Gabriel Grigorescu
SERBIA Dmitar Tasic
D."MARTYRIA" BOARD MEMBERS
President Yannis Zervos
Vice-President Costas Kamariaris
Secretary Filippos Ikonomou
Treasurer Nikos Petsios
Events' Supervisor Dimitrios Karadimas