MAIN STEPS FOR THE FOUNDATION OF
THE BALKAN ORTHODOX YOUTH ASSOCIATION

Since the late eighties, Orthodox young people all over the Balkans meeting each other in various occasions have been expressing the necessity of the co-operation between the Orthodox Youth Movements in the Balkans. These meetings were followed by:

MAY 1992: Inter--Balkan Conference of Orthodox Youth in the Holy Monastery of Penteli in Greece, held under the blessing of Archbishop Seraphim. Participants from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Serbia-/Montenegro adopted a resolution concerning the foundation of the Balkan Orthodox Youth Association. The meeting continued in Thessaloniki under the blessing and auspices of the His Eminence Metropolitan of Neapolis Dionysios.

APRIL 1993: Meeting of the Preparatory Committee in the Holy Monastery of Klisura, Bulgaria. Preparation of the General Assembly and adoption of a Constitution draft.

AUGUST 1993: 1st General Assembly in Neamtz, Romania. Election of the first Board in which since then, the regions of Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Serbia- /Montenegro have been equally represented and adoption of the B.O.Y.A. Constitution.

Two more General Assemblies have taken place: The 2nd in Evangelistria, Greece, under the auspices and blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan of Thebes and Levadia Ieronymos. The 3rd one in Novi Sad, Serbia, under the auspices and blessing of His Eminence under the auspices and blessing of His Eminence Bishop of Batcka Irinej.