wfn.org | PARISHES TO CELEBRATE ORTHODOX CHARITY ON IOCC SUNDAY

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

  SCOBA
   The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas
    8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021

INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES (IOCC)
110 West Road, Suite 360, Baltimore, Md. 21204
Tel: (410) 243-9820 - Fax: (410) 243-9824
Web: www.iocc.org - E-mail: news@iocc.org

For immediate release

November 3, 2003

PARISHES TO CELEBRATE ORTHODOX CHARITY ON IOCC SUNDAY

Baltimore (IOCC) -- Hundreds of Orthodox Christian parishes all across the
United States will celebrate their role in the rebuilding of homes, the
returning of refugees, the feeding of children, the training of women and
other humanitarian accomplishments on IOCC Sunday, Nov. 23, 2003.

Falling annually on the Sunday preceding Thanksgiving, IOCC Sunday engages
parishes in the mission of International Orthodox Christian Charities
(IOCC), the humanitarian aid agency of Orthodox Christians.

The day was designated by IOCC's parent body, the Standing Conference of
Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas SCOBA, to be observed by all
Orthodox parishes, which play a key role in advancing the humanitarian work
of IOCC through stewardship and other forms of support.

"In the short period of 11 years, IOCC has earned the respect and trust of
all who have come to know its sacred mission," said the nine SCOBA bishops
in their annual IOCC Sunday encyclical letter.

"The services of IOCC have expanded from an initial focus on crisis relief
to the offering of new hope to people who have known only sadness and
despair," the bishops said.

The SCOBA encyclical will be read in Orthodox parishes on IOCC Sunday. A
copy of the encyclical can be found at www.iocc.org/encyclical (PDF file).

The bishops noted in their encyclical that IOCC works in the Balkans, the
Middle East and other parts of the world, helping people rebuild their
homes and communities after war, training people in agricultural
techniques, teaching women marketable skills, and providing daily meals and
lessons to schoolchildren.

IOCC offers a way for Orthodox Christians to practice stewardship, make a
difference in the lives of people in need, and become "leaders in good
works," the bishops said.

To learn more about IOCC's humanitarian programs around the world, please
visit www.iocc.org.

For media inquiries, please contact IOCC Communications Associate Stephen
Huba at:

1-877-803-4622 or shuba@iocc.org.

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