News Release
American Bible Society I 1865 Broadway
New York,
NY 10023
Contact: Autumn Black
Director
of Public Relations
American Bible Society
(212) 408-1215
ablack@americanbible.org
New York, NY,
June 1, 2009
The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) in partnership with the American Bible Society is pleased to announce the publication of The New Testament & Psalms for Orthodox Christians: Military Edition. This new publication is a pocket-sized New Testament and Psalms specifically designed to minister to Orthodox Christian men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces.
"It is my heartfelt prayer that these sacred words of Scripture, icons, and the accompanying daily prayers will serve as a source of strength and encouragement for our dedicated service men and women in the Armed Forces,” His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America and Chairman of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), remarked. “Wherever the tour of duty calls them, may this pocket edition of the New Testament be a constant reminder of the fervent intercessions that are offered to God by those whom they protect, for their health, safety and well-being."
The Orthodox Military Edition New Testament and Psalms features a camouflage cover and conforms to military specifications so that it can easily be carried in a uniform or backpack. Unique to this edition are the Orthodox Christian morning and evening prayers; mealtime prayers; an article on living an Orthodox Christian life while serving in the military; full color icons of military-specific saints; a daily Bible reading guide; a prayer list to remember the names of those living and deceased; maps and many other useful aids.
"The American Bible Society is proud to have been part of this pivotal publication of the New Testament and Psalms that will provide the sacred words of the Scriptures to Orthodox Christians serving in the Armed Forces,” said Dr. Lamar Vest, president of the American Bible Society. “We deeply value and treasure the strong bonds of genuine friendship that have developed into shared ministry over the past several years among the American Bible Society, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the Orthodox Christian Church."
The Orthodox Christian Military Edition of the New Testament and Psalms is also complimented by the simultaneous launch of a new SCOBA web site portal at http://www.scoba.us/military. Aimed at being a resource to military service men and women, their families, and Orthodox Christian Chaplains, visitors will be able to order copies of the Orthodox Military Edition New Testament and Psalms; access daily Bible readings and the lives of the Saints; download iPod and iPhone-friendly audio versions of the New Testament. Additionally, visitors will have access to prayers for various occasions, the texts of liturgical services, and a directory of Orthodox Chaplains listed by branch of service.
The Military Edition of the New Testament and Psalms was formally launched in Greek Orthodox parishes in the United States on May 31 and be given to service men and women in active duty. Anyone wishing to acquire a copy of the New Testament & Psalms for Orthodox Christians: Military Edition may do so online at: http://www.goarch.org or http://www.scoba.us/military.
About The American Bible Society
Headquartered in New York City, the mission of the 193-year-old American Bible Society is to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so that all people may experience its life changing message.
About SCOBA
SCOBA, Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, is an association of the Primates of different Orthodox Churches headquartered within the United States. It is comprised of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in the USA, the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas, the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church in America, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA, and the Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America.
