Western Europe Regional Meeting

From 21 to 23 Jan uar y 2000, some 30 active members of eight Orthodox youth movements from England, France and Holland met here. The meeting took place in the presence of three SYNDESMOS Board members: Secretary
General-elect Rebecca Hookway, Vice-President Hildo Bos, and Regional Representative Lydia Obolensky.
The aim of the encounter was to establish personal links between key members of youth groups throughout Western Europe and to reflect on concrete ways by which the groups might cooperate. In this sense it was a great success: during its mere 36 hours, participants hardly spent a minute without dis-cussing, praying and learning together. The prevailing atmosphere was relaxed and informal, uniting a variety of people all at different stages in their experience of SYNDESMOS and youth activities, but all speaking a common language and sharing common goals.
Saturday afternoon's sessions focused on the work of youth groups and their expectations of SYNDESMOS. The role of SYNDESMOS in providing specialised training and bringing together youth leaders on an international level was emphasised. There was also strong support for cooperation through the international SYNDESMOS network and on the local level.
A fireside evening on Saturday provided the perfect backdrop for continued exchange. Archimandrite Grigorios [Papathomas] of Saint Sergius Theo-logical Institute, Paris, led an intense discussion on the spiritual essence of youth ministry and SYNDESMOS.
He noted the danger of organising work to such a degree that "there is no room left for the Spirit of God to act." Father Grigorios encouraged youth workers to focus on the fundamental aims of any task in the Church, which is to reveal the love and communion that can come among people thanks to the "foolish sacrifice of Christ" on the Cross [cf. 1 Cor. 1:23]. When asked what SYNDESMOS' priority should be, he answered, "the Kingdom of God."
The weekend ended with an early morning Liturgy served by Father Grigorios and Archdeacon Job in the castle's wooden church, after which everyone left inspired and strengthened by the bond of friendship which developed in such a short period of time.
Concretely the meeting produced a list of those activities sponsored by the region's youth groups in which members from other groups can participate. The list will be circulated by e-mail and will be available on the SYNDESMOS web page.
SYNDESMOS wishes to thank Anita and Gabriel Bornand for the hospitality they showed the participants as guests at their wonderful chateau.