Syndesmos, Bond of Unity
The World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth

Founded in 1953, Syndesmos timed the Assembly to coincide with its 50th Anniversary. Today, Syndesmos lists over 100 member movements and Orthodox theological schools in nearly 50 countries.

Since its inception, the Orthodox Church in America has been intimately involved in the work of Syndesmos, and among the fellowship’s founders were the late Protopresbyters Alexander Schmemann and John Meyendorff. Mr. Mark Stokoe, a former OCA Youth Director who also attended the anniversary Assembly, served as Syndesmos General Secretary for several years in the 1980s. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman has attended several Syndesmos General Assemblies in years past and hosted a Syndesmos-sponsored group of youth from Russia at Saint Tikhon Monastery and Seminary -- one of the first international exchanges of its kind -- in 1991.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Rev. Michael Kallaur served as Syndesmos Vice-President, while the Very Rev. John Matusiak served as a Syndesmos program director in the early 1990s and Vice-President from 1996 until 1999. For several years, Mr. Joseph Matusiak and Mr. John DeTrana, both members of the Orthodox Church in America, served as administrative assistants at the Syndesmos General Secretariat in Bialystok, Poland, where it was located before its move to Athens, Greece in 2000.

Between 1991 and 1998, over 300 OCA youth and young adults participated in various Syndesmos events abroad, especially in the annual Syndesmos International Summer Institute initially held in Mikhnevo, Russia and later at the Annunciation Monastery in Suprasl, Poland. The summer institute was discontinued after Syndesmos' 16th Assembly in 1999.

The General Assembly, Syndesmos’ highest governing body, convenes once every four years. It is charged with electing officers and setting policy and programs for the following quadrennium.

Click here for a printer-friendly flyer about Syndesmos and the World Day of Orthodox Youth.

Click here to go to the Syndesmos website.

Click here for 20-Something Ways to celebrate International Orthodox Youth Month (part 1 // part two)