wfn.org | GOAA - NEW FAITH AND LIFE RESOURCE AVAILABLE FOR PARISH MINISTRY

[George Conklin <gconklin@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

NEW FAITH AND LIFE RESOURCE AVAILABLE FOR PARISH MINISTRY AND OUTREACH

NEW YORK â?? The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announced today the publication of the new â??Faith and Life: Orthodox Christianityâ?? series with the release of two web-based pamphlets on the topics of â??Fastingâ?? and the
â??Dating of Easter in the Orthodox Church.â??  A third pamphlet focused on â??Holy Weekâ?? will be available early next week.  These pamphlets and the â??Faith and Lifeâ?? series are available for free.  Intended to be placed in the Narthex, these pamphlets are designed to assist parishesâ?? ministries and outreach and the spiritual life and growth of Orthodox Christians by providing an introduction to a wide range of spiritual, social, and theological issues.

In the initial launch of the series, the Archdiocese is publishing the pamphlets as both web pages and as PDF files that can be viewed online or downloaded and printed on legal size paper for distribution.  The resources will also be featured in Bulletin Builder
(http://bulletin.goarch.org).  As additional topics and pamphlets are published, the resource will be available in a format that can be customized by parishes or ordered in a print version for use in display racks.  The variety of formats is intended to assist parishes in providing quality literature on Orthodox Christianity for outreach to the unchurched and for parish educational and catechetical programs.

The first three pamphlets on â??Fastingâ??, the
â??Dating of Easter in the Orthodox Churchâ??, and â??Holy Weekâ?? offer an attractive and concise presentation of these significant issues in the life and praxis of the Orthodox faith.  Combining Holy Scripture, theology, history, liturgy, and practice, the pamphlets address relevant and contemporary issues in a way that enhances knowledge and understanding of the faith, addresses the challenges of contemporary life, and offers guidance to help persons, families, and communities grow in their relationship with God and in their commitment to His will for their lives.  This is the focus of the entire â??Faith and Lifeâ?? series, which will include dozens of topics in the areas of worship, theology, ethics, and spirituality.

As the pamphlets are prepared they will be added to the â??Faith and Lifeâ?? website at http://faith.goarch.org. The two initial publications on â??Fastingâ?? and the â??Dating of Easter in the Orthodox Churchâ?? are now available on this site in preparation for the upcoming observances of Holy Week and Pascha.  More information will be distributed soon on the availability of print versions.