Important new Bible resources developing

NEW YORK (GOARCH) - The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is pleased to announce the launch of two new websites, www.GreekOrthodox.bible and www.Septuagint.bible, as part of the new .BIBLE top-level domain (TLD) initiative. The .BIBLE TLD joined .com and .org this past year as a new option for web site addresses on the Internet. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Department of Internet Ministries is one of only a select number of key ministry partners of American Bible Society participating in this initiative in 2015. American Bible Society is administering the new .Bible TLD), with the aim to open up a new platform for engagement with the Scriptures. Domain names ending with .BIBLE will be available for public purchase in early 2016 (for more information please visit www.nic.bible).

“There is no mission more sacred than sharing the message of the Gospel and giving people from around the world the opportunity to engage with the Scriptures on a daily basis,” said Theo Nicolakis, Chief Information Officer of the Archdiocese and member of the .BIBLE TLD Advisory Council. “These new sites continue the Archdiocese’s legacy and strong commitment to digital ministry.”

“We are honored to have the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Internet Ministries as one of our key ministry partners,” said Scott Wennermark, Director of Strategic Advancements for the .BIBLE TLD. “The GreekOrthodox.Bible and Septuagint.Bible sites represent exactly the kind of technology innovation and vision that the Archdiocese is known for.”

GreekOrthodox.Bible

The www.GreekOrthodox.Bible site will serve as the central hub for the development of multi-lingual, Scripture-based technology services; mobile apps; and Biblical resources for the Orthodox Christian Church worldwide. In 2016, www.GreekOrthodox.Bible will be expanded to serve as a central clearinghouse for Liturgical texts and prayers in the life of the Orthodox Christian Church—all of which are deeply rooted in the Scriptures. Visitors will also have the ability to build and download Liturgical services automatically for any given date.

GreekOrthodox.Bible is the culmination of nearly two decades’ work by the Department of Internet Ministries, which originally began as an initiative to digitize the Typicon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1997. The result of this initiative, now known as the Online Chapel Digital Engine, has served as the foundation for many of the Archdiocese’s most popular offerings over the past 17 years such as the Online Chapel on www.goarch.org, Bulletin Builder, and the Daily Readings mobile app.

Septuagint.Bible

The Septuagint (LXX), also called the Translation of the Seventy, is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). The Septuagint has been a living part of the faith and worship of the Orthodox Christian Church since the time of the Apostles. It still serves as the source for the Old Testament readings in the various liturgical services of the Orthodox Church.

Septuagint.Bible is a joint initiative between the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Hellenic Bible Society. The aim of www.Septuagint.Bible is to:

1. Make available the living Septuagint text as it is used in the sacred services of the Orthodox Christian Church as well as for private devotion in the life of Orthodox Christians worldwide
2. Promote easy accessibility to the Septuagint
3. Publish a properly edited edition of the Septuagint for use in the Divine Services of the Orthodox Christian Church