NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America organizes a series of events in celebration of Greek Letters and the Feast Day of the Three Hierarchs, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian and St. John Chrysostom.

On Saturday, January 28, at 5:00 p.m. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America will present the Three Hierarchs Awards of Excellence to the students who excelled in the Comprehensive Examination in Modern Greek in June 2011, during an auspicious Award Ceremony which will take place at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Center (337 East 74 Street) in Manhattan. New York State Assemblywoman, Mrs. Aravella Simotas, will be the main speaker of the event, which will also feature a musical performance by students of the “William Spyropoulos” Greek-American School of St. Nicholas, Flushing, under the direction of Areti Giovanou. The event is coordinated by the Direct Archdiocesan District Office of Education.

On Sunday, January 29, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios will preside at the Divine Liturgy in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Three Hierarchs in Brooklyn, NY. Following the Liturgy the community will hold a tribute in honor of Greek Letters and their Patrons Holy Fathers of the Church. On this occasion, the Hellenic Heritage Award will be presented to Archon Peter J. Pappas.

On Monday, January 30, at 9:30 a.m. Archbishop Demetrios will officiate at the Divine Liturgy commemorating the Three Hierarchs and Holy Fathers of our Church at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (319 East 74 Street, NYC) for the students, teachers, and administrators of the New York City parochial day schools. In the Liturgy the Archbishop will address the students on the life and works of the Three Hierarchs and the importance of our Greek Orthodox heritage.
In the evening Jan. 30, beginning at 6:00 p.m. the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese will host a special event organized in conjunction with the exhibition Transition to Christianity: Art of Late Antiquity, 3rd-7th Century AD, at the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (USA). The Event will include the viewing of the exhibition and a lecture by Dr. Demetrios Katos, Dean of Hellenic College, Brookline, Massachusetts. The topic will be “Transition to Christianity: The Three Hierarchs and the Adoption of Secular Education and Culture.” The program will also feature the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir and will be held in the Olympic Towers Atrium, 645 Fifth Avenue, in Manhattan.

NEW YORK – Ionian Village, the summer camping ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, is now accepting registrations for its Summer 2012 programs.

Operating from a beautiful seafront campsite on western Peloponessos in Greece, Ionian Village brings its campers and staff into close contact with their faith and heritage as they travel throughout the country to sites of cultural and religious importance.

In its 42nd year, Ionian Village has reached more than 16,000 campers, staff and clergy through its programs. Participants return home each summer with strengthened faith and an expanded appreciation for the Church and our Greek heritage.

Summer 2012 marks the first summer under new Director, Fr. Evagoras Constantinides, who himself is among the ever-growing alumni of the Ionian Village programs. “I am excited and humbled to be at the helm of this important ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese,” says Fr. Evagoras. “I know firsthand how powerful the Ionian Village program is within the lives of our Orthodox young people and look forward to continuing the life-changing work that takes place every summer.”

Ionian Village offers two camping sessions:

• Summer Travel Camp (June 29 to July 18) and
• Byzantine Venture (July 25 to August 13).

Registration is open to Greek Orthodox youth who have completed grades 7 through 12.

This summer will also see the expansion of the Spiritual Odyssey program, shorter pilgrimage-style trips for young adults ages 19 to 28. Three unique programs are being offered:

• Cyprus and Constantinople (May 30 to June 9)
• The Greek Mainland (June 10 to June 20) and
• The Greek Islands (July 15 to July 25).

For more information about any of the Ionian Village programs, or to participate in this summer’s programs, visit www.ionianvillage.org or contact the Office of Ionian Village at (212) 570-3536.