wfn.org | Greek Orthodox Diocese to Observe Year of the Family 2005

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

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

January 7, 2005

Contact: Rev. Fr. Constantine Sitaras
Center for Family Care
Tel. 845-424-8175
Email: familycare@goarch.org

"YEAR OF THE FAMILY" TO BE OBSERVED IN 2005
BY THE GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA

New York, NY --  His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek
Orthodox Church in America, has announced on behalf of the Holy Eparchial
Synod that 2005 will be observed as the "Year of the Family." This national
campaign, which will include programs, activities, and resources for all
levels of the Church in America, was officially launched at the 37th
Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress held in New York City, July 25-30, 2004.

In announcing the "Year of the Family," Archbishop Demetrios stated,
"Through this special emphasis on the family, our goal is both to affirm
the importance of the family as a blessed gift of God and to address the
specific needs of families as they try to live in a very challenging
culture and world.  As Orthodox Christians we know that each and every
family needs to be connected to the Church, a place where true
relationships with God and one another are nurtured and sustained.  Thus,
through this program we will be working to bring more aspects of our faith
into the home and to bring more families into the Church."

The theme for the "Year of the Family" will be "Family as Church," a
program that follows the biblical phrase used by the Apostle Paul,
kat'oikon ecclesia, "the church in the home" (Romans 16:5, Colossians
4:15). In explaining the significance of the theme, Rev. Father Constantine
Sitaras, coordinator of the Archdiocesan Center for Family Care, stated,
"We know the early Christians met in homes for worship, teaching, and
fellowship.  This undoubtedly formed a unique connection between Church and
Family.  We hope to renew this relationship by showing families that the
Church and its attributes are essential to the well-being of the family."

To assist this effort, resources for use in the home and the parish are
being prepared and distributed. One resource is a table prayer guide that
encourages families to pray together. Another is a brochure on establishing
a home iconostasion, a place for regular family and personal prayer.
Parishes will receive resources for planning and conducting a monthly
parish family night.  Further, regional retreats and one-day family
conferences will be held throughout the year to provide additional support
and training.  To distribute these and other resources, an extensive "Year
of the Family"	web site has been established at
http://www.familyaschurch.org.	Currently, the site includes introductory
material for the "Year of the Family," and more resources will be added as
they are produced or made available.

The "Year of the Family" is the first initiative of the Archdiocese toward
the establishment of a national center for family care.  This major effort
was announced by Archbishop Demetrios at the 2002 Congress in Los Angeles.
Following the Congress, the Archbishop appointed a Roundtable on the Family
consisting of clergy, marriage and family specialists, physicians, and
other professionals.  The Roundtable has met regularly over the past two
years to plan and implement this national campaign.

For more information on the "Year of the Family" visit the web site at

http://www.familyaschurch.org

or contact the Center for Family Care at 845-424-8175 or by email at
familycare@goarch.org.

***************************************
Get your first 10 digital prints or your first roll of film FREE at:
http://www.orthodoxphoto.com

TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE LIST:
http://www.goarch.org/listserv/

The Archdiocese list is being made possible by the Greek Orthodox 
Archdiocese Department of Internet Ministries.