George Papadopoulos, the great musicologist and historian of church music, writes in his report to the members of the Church Music Association in Constantinople, on the occasion of the holding of the first music competition in 1900:
“… This (the Association) will come to establish Music Contens, due to its dignity so that one motivated chance advise our musicians to present their talent in music.
Firstly the Association decided that they should compose a hymn in honour of our Patron and protector of our Association, St John the Damascene […]. In that competition all the accomplished musicians were called ; they were asked to set to music their Hymn on the basis of our ecclesiastical music and through the usage of our own notation , aiming at archaic style and as long as it was possible in time closer in time of of our praised to be Holy Father of the Church ‘.
Also, in Chapter 8, Article 95 of the new Regulations of the Church Music Association in Constantinople (1902): ” The committee for the competitions , for cultivation of our national music and clarification of its history, announces such written contests , that are sponsored by lovers of music.
The “Scholeion Psaltikis”, in order to contribute to the development of musical creation in the field of church music and to give the opportunity to both old and new composers to present their art and talent as well as to test their knowledge and capabilities, brought back the institution of Contens by establishing the Composition Contens. The compositions are judged on the basis of specific criteria by a special committee made up of chanters distinguished for their compositional and performing abilities and the three best are awarded with a monetary prize. Three Contens have been held so far (2010, 2013 and 2016).