Each full-color calendar is a 12-month wall calendar with a “backer” that can be customized with the name, logo, and contact information of the parish, as well as the name, logo, and contact information of a calendar sponsor. The extension is scored and folded by the printer so that the calendar can be mailed in standard 9 x 12 mailing envelopes.

A discount is currently available for all orders with payment received by September 10, 2008.  The order deadline is October 1 with a minimum order of 50 calendars required.  Calendars will be shipped to the parishes by December 1, 2008.

To preview a sample of the January 2009 calendar page and to download an order form, please visit the Department of Communications calendar site at

http://www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/departments/communications/parishcalendars

For information about placing an order, sending digital art, and the placement and size of the parish and sponsor information, please download the Calendar Fact Sheet from the site above or contact the Department of Communications via email at calendars@goarch.org or via phone at 212-774-0244.

Parishes that ordered calendars last year will receive by mail a proof of their 2008 layout together with order forms and the calendar fact sheet.  Corrections and/or updates can be made to the proof and sent with the order form.  If a proof is not received by August 1, please contact the Department of Communications at the email or phone number above.

Contact: Stavros Papagermanos
Tel: (212) 570-3556; Fax: 212-774-0237
E-mail: communications@goarch.org

“The FAITH Endowment has made this dream a reality for 14 deserving students, and we thank God for their generous efforts”, stated Fr. Mark Leondis, Director of the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.

The Ionian Village program aims to provide a vibrant, first hand experience of Orthodox Christianity and Hellenism to its participants. Participants spend three weeks at the Ionian Village campsite, making guided excursions to some of the most important cultural and religious sites of Greece. Ionian Village destinations include the church of St. Dionysios on the island of Zakynthos, Ancient Olympia, the monastery of Ossios Lukas, and Delphi. In addition to excursions, participants are offered an educational program that includes athletic events, catechetical discussions, and sessions focusing on Greek culture. The last three days of the program are spent in Athens, where participants stay at an Athenian hotel, have the opportunity to get to know the city and take excursions to the Acropolis and the nearby island of Aegina.

For details or questions about the program, please visit www.ionianvillage.org or call 646.519.6190

Contact: Stavros H. Papagermanos
Tel.: 212.570.3556 – Fax: 212.774.0237

The theme of the Congress “Gather my People to my Home” was explained by Archbishop Demetrios in his Keynote address as the focus of our Archdiocese, our Parishes and our Ministries in the coming years. The Archbishop prescribed specific methods and actions for parishes and faithful to follow and in concluding his address said:

"Every time that we are in our churches, in our beautiful parishes, let us think of those other sheep, those other people who are outside, known and unknown, the ones described in the parable of the Great Banquet. Let us think of all others, the truly significant others, who wait to hear the voice of Christ.  The voice of Christ invites them to gather in His home, to become His flock.  But how can they hear the voice of Christ?  We are the voice of Christ!  My beloved people let such voice be heard outside of our Churches, calling the people of God to His home.  Let us be the voice of Christ. Everywhere for everyone.  At any time, at any place of the wide world of God." (See full text at www.goarch.org/en/news/NewsDetail.asp?id=202)

This same theme was repeated and elaborated by the other hierarchs of the Holy Eparchial Synod in the special sessions that followed the opening ceremony. Metropolitans Iakovos of Chicago, Maximos of Pittsburgh, Methodios of Boston, Isaiah of Denver, Alexios of Atlanta, Nicholas of Detroit, Gerasimos of San Francisco and Evangelos of New Jersey, all presided at these separate breakout sessions where the main congress theme was discussed, a discussion which was carried through the many educational workshops and committee meetings that followed. This theme resonated among those present at the various sessions and became an uplifting message which the delegates took with them back to all the faithful in their local Metropolises and parishes.

All the reports of the various ministry committees were discussed and accepted during the two plenary sessions on July 16-17. Clear progress was evident in all Church matters especially the Archdiocese finances which showed improvements on all levels as the National Ministries revenues exceeded $24 Million resulting in a record revenue year for 2007. Another notable and positive indication of this healthy financial state was the reduction of the Archdiocese debt by $5.1 Million from $7.9 Million to approximately $2.7 Million at the close of 2007.

Before its conclusion, the 39th Congress adopted two resolutions: a) a Chaplaincy Resolution expressing support for Orthodox Chaplaincy in general and calling for the creation of a canonical pan-orthodox chaplaincy agency in the U.S. military and b) a resolution in support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate calling upon the Federal Government and state legislatures to support the religious freedoms and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Archbishop Demetrios, offering some closing thoughts, suggested that parishes of the Archdiocese prepare a progress report by 2010 on the effectiveness and growth of the Church as a result of the call of this Congress to “Gather my People to my Home.”

“This Congress was guided by the Holy Spirit,” said Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain in his closing remarks.  Praising the participants he added: “you are all members of an orchestra that plays God’s song.”  Archbishop Gregorios represented the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Congress.

The Congress concluded with its grand banquet where religious and government representati For the rest of this News Release, visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website