wfn.org | Greek Orthodox E-Bulletin January 23, 2009

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

> January 23, 2009

This is the weekly edition of the GOA E-Bulletin. For more information just click on the links below to go to the topics of interest to you.

If the link does not work from your email, copy the link and paste it into the address bar of your web browser.

FEAST OF THE THREE HIERARCHS: On January 30 the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast of the Three Holy Fathers, Great Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom.  For the background to this feast, hymns, readings, the icon, and much more visit this special site

http://www.goarch.org/special/threehierarchs/index_html

Registration is now open for the National Young Adult Pilgrimage to Russia!  Space is limited to 35 young adults and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration package price of $3025.00 (plus $225.00 air taxes) includes round trip international airfare to/from New York's JFK Airport to Moscow, train from Moscow to St. Petersburg, airfare from St. Petersburg to Moscow, six full days of sightseeing, all bus trips, transfers, entrance fees, hotels (double occupancy), and daily breakfasts and lunches. Deposit must be received by February 13, 2009! For more information please visit www.youth.goarch.org or contact us at 646-519-6180.

Join other young adults from across the country in this unique spiritual and educational journey! Stroll down timeless roads and explore ancient locales of Russia, land of striking beauty, diversity, and magnificent capitals.  The journey begins with the historic city of Moscow, the heartland of former Imperial Russia, ancient Russian churches and the beautiful Kremlin, and continues on to St. Petersburg, the most European of all Russian cities, today one of the most important cultural, scientific, and industrial cities in Russia.  Today Russia is a nation of diversity and tremendous vitality. Cultural traditions of a great country have re-awakened with a newfound strength. Ancient architectural monuments and cathedrals neglected and ruined in Soviet times are being rebuilt and restored. Come and see what this incredible country has to offer!

ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ORATORICAL FESTIVAL UPDATES: St John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Updates - Information about schedules for District and Metropolis Oratorical Festivals has been placed on the web pages for the Festival. As more information from the Metropolises is received, information will be updated. Also, an entire new page of tips for organizing a Festival and for writing a speech has been created with information shared from the Resurrection Church in Brookville, NY.  Go to www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/sjcof  to see the latest.

OCMC MISSION TEAMS FOR 2009: The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is now accepting applications for 2009 Mission Teams! These teams will travel to nine different countries in Asia, North and Central America, Africa, and Europe. Team Members will perform ministries of healthcare, construction, youth outreach, and teaching.  For more information on these unique opportunities visit

http://www.ocmc.org/programs/teams_search.aspx?SearchBy=Year

IONIAN VILLAGE ACCEPTING STAFF APPLICATIONS: Ionian Village, the travel abroad camping program of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, is now accepting volunteer staff applications for the summer of 2009. Ionian Village staff members play an important role in the spiritual, cultural and social development of Orthodox teenagers from across the United States of America, as they travel to the most significant and cultural sites in Greece.  For more information visit

> www.ionianvillage.org

2009 NATIONAL ORATORICAL FESTIVAL: The Twenty-sixth annual St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival will be hosted by the Metropolis of Chicago in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota on the weekend of June 12-14, 2009. The Rev. Paul Paris and The Rev. R. Demetrios Andrews host co-chairpersons, and members of the host committee recently met with Presvytera Margaret Orfanakos, Archdiocese Co-chairperson, to discuss the plans for the weekend.

The 2009 Topics and Topic Tips are posted on the Web-site of the Department of Religious Education at www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/sjcof

NATIONAL ORTHODOX RADIO PROGRAM: The Middle East seems to always be on the news these days, but the historic Christian populations in places like Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are rarely covered. Elizabeth Prodromou, who teaches International Relations at Boston University, joins us to talk about the history and current plight of Christians in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Also this week - a short segment with Fr. Michael Curey about his new book "Walking in the Light: A Spiritual Exercise in Great Lent for Young Adults."

Other programs on our Internet radio stations include a new "Special Moments in Orthodoxy," where Fr. Harry continues his adult Bible study of the Book of Acts. On this week's
"Theologically Thinking", Fr. Paul Tarazi discusses reconciling the New and Old Testaments.

Look for new podcasts from OCN's partnership with Axion Estin and New York's Cosmos Radio FM, and a new series on the Apocalypse by Dr. Jeannie Constantinou.

You can still register on our website to win a free iPod filled with Byzantine music. Contest ends on January 26.

All programs available on Internet Radio, Podcast and OnDemand at www.myocn.net.

ORTHODOX MARKETPLACE - www.orthodoxmarketplace.com

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The official online store of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese

> Free Shipping Offer Extended to 2009

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Due to the positive response, we have decided to continue offering UPS
ground shipping within the US for a $2 handling charge for any orders
that total $25 or more. No coupons are required - be sure to select UPS
Ground as the freight option when checking out.

> New and Upcoming Releases

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We are also pleased to present the Children's Bible Reader - Spanish
Edition, which is available now, as well as a number of academic bible
study resources including the revised Septuaginta, a critical edition of
the Gospel of John according to the Byzantine Tradition and others.

http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/-pr-19241.html?MMCF_EB

Soon we will release the new Orthodox Military New Testament, designed
to be small and portable while also including adequate devotional
references for Orthodox Christians who are deployed.

http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/-pr-19242.html?MMCF_EB

Ecology Film Series ? Featuring Ecumenical Patriarcch Bartholomew

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Documentary producer Jim Becket has released several films that document
the Symposium on Religion, Science and the Environment - a series of
gatherings that follow from a initiative from the Ecumenical Patriarch
to bring together experts from the field of ecological sciences, social
sciences and world religions together to discuss the impact of human
life on the environment and explore our obligations as people of faith
to sustain the created world. Join our waiting lists to be notified when
these products are available for sale.

http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/-pr-19273.html?MMCF_EB

SUPPORT THE ARCHDIOCESE WHILE SEARCHING or SHOPPING ON THE WEB:   The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has partnered with GoodSearch.com, a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results. To use GoodSearch.com and support the ministries of the Archdiocese, simply go to:

> http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=833607

> For online shopping visit

> http://www.goodsearch.com/goodshop.aspx

GAMES ONLINE TO EXPLORE AND LEARN THE ORTHODOX FAITH: The Department of Internet Ministries is pleased to announce an exciting new web site at http://games.goarch.org where kids and adults of all ages can explore, create, play, learn, discover, and grow in the Orthodox Faith. The site features online games and puzzles in a colorful, engaging environment, all with an Orthodox theme. The games are suitable for kids from ages 5 on up and currently features a coloring book, jigsaw puzzles, a memory game, a word finder, crossword puzzles, and more.

The online games are currently in beta and we encourage feedback so that we can further enhance this new online offering.  Click here to visit: http://games.goarch.org.