wfn.org | Archbishop Demetrios Hosts American Bible Society President

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
> 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106
> Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0237
> Web: http://www.goarch.org  - Email: communications@goarch.org

> Contact: PRESS OFFICE
> Stavros Papagermanos
> pressoffice@goarch.org

ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS HOSTS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY

NEW YORK ? Archbishop Demetrios of America welcomed Dr. R. Lamar Vest,
President of the American Bible Society, yesterday at the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America in New York.  Archbishop Demetrios had
invited Dr. Vest along with key American Bible Society staff involved
in the recent publication of the first-ever military edition New
Testament and Psalms for Orthodox Christians.

On behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod, Archbishop Demetrios presented
Dr. Vest with a check in the amount of $30,000 in gratitude for this
new Orthodox Military Bible edition and the other Orthodox-related
projects.  The American Bible Society has underwritten all costs
associated with the production and printing of the New Testament and
Psalms for Orthodox Christians.

During their meeting, the Archbishop extended his sincere appreciation
to Dr. Vest for the many successful projects that have come to
fruition as a result of the strong cooperation between the American
Bible Society and the Archdiocese.  Moreover, the Archbishop expressed
his strong desire that this cooperation continues to strengthen and
bear even more fruit.

Dr. Vest also presented the Archbishop with a copy of the recently
published Childrenâ??s Bible Reader in Serbian.  The Serbian edition
was based on the highly acclaimed Greek, English, and Spanish
versions, which were collaborative efforts of the Greek Bible Society,
the American Bible Society, and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Dr. Vest was received along with Robert Briggs, Executive Vice
President of Global Scripture Ministries; Chris Thyberg, Managing
Director of Emerging Programs and Global Scripture Ministries; Nick
Garbidakis, Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer;
Tom Durakis, Director of Licensing and Product Services; and Lea
Velis-Drivas, Director of Legal and Risk Services.  Metropolitan
Nicholas of Detroit and Archdiocese Director of Administration Jerry
Dimitriou, who serve on the American Bible Society Board of Trustees,
were present along with Theo Nicolakis, the director of Internet
Ministries who serves as the Archdioceseâ??s representative to the
American Bible Society.

Archbishop Demetrios made his first official visit to the American
Bible Society on March 6, 2008.  During that visit, the Archbishop met
with the president, was shown the Societyâ??s rare Bible collection
(the largest collection of print Bibles in America), and given a tour
of the Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA).

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