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GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215
Web: http://www.goarch.org
Email: communications@goarch.org

For Immediate Release
July 17, 2003

OFFICIAL CHARTER TEXT AND SUPPORT DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE ON-LINE

New York -- The distribution of the Charter of the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America has begun with the posting of the official English
and Greek texts on the web site of the Archdiocese.  Also posted with the
Charter is the letter of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
upon the granting of the Charter by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate and the letter of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
of America to the Clergy, Parish Councils, and Faithful of the Greek
Orthodox Communities in America.

This distribution of the Charter comes after the preparation of the English
text following the granting of the original Greek text of the Charter by
the Synod of the Patriarchate.	Printed copies of the Charter and the
letters of the Patriarch and Archbishop are currently being prepared and
will be distributed to the parishes within the month of August.

In his letter Archbishop Demetrios states, "This Charter of the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America is the product of intensive work over
several years by the representatives of the Joint Archdiocesan/Patriarchal
Committee, our Holy Eparchial Synod, our Archdiocesan Council, our
Clergy-Laity Congresses, and the clergy and lay leadership and membership
of the parishes of the Church in America.  All have had the opportunity to
contribute to a process that has affirmed the level of maturity of our
Archdiocese, as our discussions and deliberations have been characterized
by respect, honesty, moderated concern, Christian dignity, and deep
commitment to the Church and Her mission and function."

In addition he states that the Charter "affirms first and foremost the
unity of our 'one and indivisible Archdiocese,' a unity that has been and
will continue to be crucial to mission and ministry at all levels," and
that the various articles of the Charter clearly affirm "the cooperation
between clergy and laity and their harmonious function within the Church?."
"United in our vision, and in our programs and activities, we will meet the
needs of our contemporary world in ways that will bring healing,
transformation, salvation, and life."

The Charter and the related documents are available on-line at
http://www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/documents/charter_index.asp .

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