You can find the flyers of scheduled events here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAv3Lz

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Representing the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Saint Anastasia Fellowship (SAF) was honored to participate in the “Called To Care – Strengthening Faith and Behavioral Health as Social Infrastructure for Recovery” meeting, held July 8–9, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The gathering, hosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)—the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services branch tasked with advancing behavioral health and addressing substance use disorders—brought together faith leaders, academics, and public health experts dedicated to leading their communities in the prevention, treatment, and reintegration of individuals suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs).

The gathering provided a powerful testament to the dedication of those on the front lines, highlighting how organizations support vulnerable individuals through compassionate, wraparound care. The dialogue was instrumental in reframing the national perspective on the addiction epidemic, moving beyond the view of this issue solely as a clinical mental health crisis to recognize it as, at its core, a spiritual crisis. This shift in perspective is supported by compelling evidence illustrating the protective, preventative power of faith in addressing SUDs.

In the context of this integration, Father Nikolas Delaveris, Director of Development, emphasizes that the path to true, long-lasting recovery requires moving beyond institutional barriers. He observes:

“It is vital that we empower faith-based organizations to provide their sacramental and sacred offerings to their communities alongside our understanding of evidence-based care. This integration is essential to avoid the ‘whitewashing’ of these faith-based and culturally relevant supports, ensuring that individuals receive care that honors both their clinical needs and their spiritual identity. We must work as wells of healing rather than as silos; these silos are man-made constructs that find no precedent in the Gospel, which calls us to provide a holistic, communal response to the suffering of our neighbors.”

This approach advocates a model in which organizations reject the “silo” mentality—which often isolates clinical, evidence-based practices from the cultural and sacramental life of the individual—and instead function as “wells,” drawing from both scientific rigor and deep spiritual tradition. By bridging the gap between professional clinical standards and the intrinsic value of religious ministry, SAF aims to ensure that support remains authentic, culturally grounded, and spiritually restorative, ultimately creating a more effective network of care.

The discussions from this meeting are currently being synthesized into a forthcoming white paper. This document is intended to serve as a foundational roadmap for reintegrating our faith as a nation into our approach to addiction recovery and overall public health, strengthening collaboration between behavioral health sectors and faith-based institutions.

About The Fellowship:

The Saint Anastasia Fellowship—a ministry of the Direct Archdiocesan District—offers a uniquely Orthodox Christian approach to addiction recovery. By combining contemporary clinical practices with Scripture, Tradition, and the wisdom of the Orthodox Church Fathers, the Fellowship provides vital education, outreach, intercessory prayer, and peer-based group support to individuals and their families navigating addiction. This ministry is made possible through a generous grant from Leadership 100.

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The Department of Religious Education (DRE) of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is pleased to announce an upcoming Sunday School Curriculum Training Webinar on Sunday, August 16 7:00 – 9:30 PM EST, to provide clergy, Directors of Religious Education, teachers, and parish volunteers with an introduction to the newly released National K–12 Sunday School Curriculum and guidance for its implementation. 

The upcoming webinar is especially intended for those who were unable to attend the curriculum training sessions offered during the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland, as well as for anyone interested in learning more about the curriculum and how it can be utilized in their parish ministry. 

The training will be led by the Department of Religious Education and Dr. Drew Baker, Project Lead for the National K–12 Sunday School Curriculum, who will provide a guided introduction to the curriculum’s vision, structure, and practical use. Participants will receive instruction on how to effectively implement the curriculum within their parish programs, including strategies for structuring lessons, utilizing the teacher and student resources, and establishing a consistent and organized approach to teaching the Orthodox faith. 

In addition to the curriculum overview and implementation guidance, the webinar will include a live question-and-answer session, allowing participants to ask questions and receive practical support as they prepare to use the curriculum in their classrooms. 

Registration

Those interested in participating in the Sunday School Curriculum Training Webinar are invited to register here. Upon completing registration, participants will receive a confirmation email with the webinardetails and access information. If you do not receive the confirmation email shortly after registering, please check your spam or junk folder before contacting the Department of Religious Education. 

The webinar will be recorded and made available following the session. Those who are unable to attend live are still encouraged to register in order to receive access to the recording. 

For more information about the National K-12 Sunday School Curriculum and additional resources visit www./goarch.org/sundayschool.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio–During a joint session of the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress and the 2026 National Young Adult League (YAL) Conference on July 2, National YAL leaders brought together clergy, lay leaders, and young adults for a collaborative discussion on strengthening parish young adult ministry while unveiling the newly revised Parish Ministry Young Adult League Guidelines, the first comprehensive update to the resource in more than twenty years.

The session, ”Building Stronger Young Adult Ministries,” was led by John Panos, Chair of the 2026 National YAL Conference, and Lenie Tsakonas, National Chair of the National YAL Board, and moderated by Eva Konstantakos, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM) for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Designed as both a practical workshop and a listening session, the program invited clergy, parish leaders, and young adults to engage in meaningful dialogue surrounding the realities of young adult ministry in their local communities. Participants shared parish-specific successes, challenges, and best practices while exploring practical strategies for cultivating thriving YAL ministries rooted in authentic relationships, communication, and parish engagement.

Throughout the discussion, panelists emphasized that effective young adult ministry begins with listening. They encouraged parish leaders to intentionally seek out the voices of young adults, foster meaningful opportunities for connection, and create parish communities where young adults are welcomed, included, and empowered to participate fully in the life of the Church.

“The future of young adult ministry is not about creating another program, it’s about building genuine relationships and helping young adults discover that they belong in the life of the Church,” said Tsakonas. “When we take the time to listen, communicate intentionally, and invite young adults into meaningful service and fellowship, we create communities where faith can truly flourish. Our hope is that every parish leaves knowing they have both the responsibility and the opportunity to invest in the next generation.”

A highlight of the session was the presentation of the newly revised Parish Ministry Young Adult League Guidelines, which were distributed digitally to attendees as a practical resource for strengthening local YAL ministries. The guidelines were thoughtfully revised through the collaborative efforts of the National YAL Board, along with Archdiocesan Clergy and Lay Leadership, to better reflect the needs of today’s young adults and the realities of contemporary parish ministry.

The updated guidelines provide practical recommendations for establishing and sustaining parish YAL ministries, fostering meaningful engagement, strengthening communication, and creating pathways for young adults to become active participants in the life of the Church. The resource is now available to clergy and parish leaders across the Archdiocese through the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website, extending the impact of the session well beyond the Congress.

The conversation remained highly interactive, with participants contributing thoughtful perspectives from across the Archdiocese. Following the panel discussion, a robust question-and-answer session addressed topics including parish communication, leadership development, volunteer engagement, welcoming newcomers, and creating intentional pathways for young adults to become active participants in parish life.

The joint session also highlighted the value of bringing together the Clergy-Laity Congress and National YAL Conference communities. Young adults welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with clergy and lay leaders in a shared conversation about the future of parish life, while participants across generations reflected on the importance of fostering stronger relationships, open communication, and mutual collaboration.

As the National YAL Board continues its work of supporting young adult ministry across the Archdiocese, sessions such as these and the development of practical resources like the revised Parish Ministry Young Adult League Guidelines reflect the Board’s ongoing commitment to equipping parishes, listening to the needs of young adults, and strengthening Orthodox Christian community for generations to come.

For more information about the young adult ministry efforts of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, please email [email protected] or [email protected].

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His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America has announced the appointment of Rev. Protopresbyter Gregory Gilbert as the new Dean of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York, New York, effective September 1, 2026. Currently serving as Chancellor of the Metropolis of New Jersey, Fr. Gregory brings to the Cathedral and its ministries a wealth of academic, liturgical, and pastoral experience, together with a deep love for the Orthodox Christian faith and the life of the Church.  

Archbishop Elpidophoros has also announced the appointment of Reverend Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Elias Villis as Acting Chancellor for the Metropolis of New Jersey, effective August 16, 2026, to continue the pastoral and administrative care of the Metropolis. Fr. Elias will also continue to serve as Chancellor of the Archdiocesan District.  

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With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, the Archdiocese District Summer Camping Ministry, Camp Saint Paul 2026 joyfully completed five transformative weeks of Orthodox Christian fellowship, worship, and spiritual formation under this year’s theme, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Throughout the summer, our campers were challenged to trust God when the path is unclear, choose Christ in a world filled with distractions, and embrace their true calling.  Not simply to be successful, but to become saints.

Reflecting on this year’s theme, His Eminence shared these words adapted for Camp Saint Paul 2026: “Never be afraid to let Christ write the story of your life. The world will ask you to walk by what you can see, but our Lord calls us to walk by faith: to trust Him, to serve His Church, and to become saints in every generation.”

As another blessed summer comes to a close, we pray that every camper leaves Camp Saint Paul with the courage to walk by faith, knowing that Christ is leading every step of their journey.

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK—On Friday, July 17, 2026, ahead of the final match of the World Cup, several Girl Delegates and Girl Delegate alumni of the GOA’s UN Girl Delegate Program participated in a day-long showcase event at the UN, organized to foster global community and promoted mental health well-being through football. The Girl Delegates were joined by Niki Devaris-Morgulis, Girl Delegate Program Director, and Jack Rice, Summer Intern at the Ecumenical Department, throughout the day’s events. 

The showcase, One World, One Game, One Goal: Football as a Catalyst for Youth Mental Health and Well-Being, featured UN Member States Friends of Football and brought together young leaders, changemakers, policymakers, UN entities, governments, civil society, private sector partners, athletes, and advocates. One World, One Game, One Goal is part of the United Nations Youth Office’s flagship initiative on Youth Mental Health and Well-Being, which seeks to advance an important shift from fragmented, individual approaches to a holistic ecosystem model around issues of youth mental health and well-being. The United Nations and its partners recognize mental health is shaped not only by healthcare systems, but also by environments, education, community, digital spaces, and opportunities for connection. This initiative brings those elements together through the power of football. 

As the world’s most popular sport, football provides a universal platform to build social connections, strengthen emotional resilience, and promote inclusion, dignity and collective well-being. Under the banner One World, One Game, One Goal, football becomes a tool for advocacy, action, and systems change, on a truly global stages like the United Nations and the World Cup. 

Numerous United Nations partners such as the FIBA Foundation with World YMCA and YMCA Greater New York, Mount Sinai, the Special Olympics, and others hosted spotlight sessions showcasing real-world solutions at the intersection of sports and youth mental health. Additionally, mental health and well-being workshops examined how sports can play a meaningful impact on youth mental health. For instance, one workshop by Design FC had participants combine sport jersey design and personal storytelling to explore their interests and passions. 

There several other opportunities where GOA Girl Delegates learned about the positive impact of sports in fostering leaders, supporting mental health, and furthering public advocacy.    

By participating in One World, One Game, One Goal, GOA Girl Delegates were able to appreciate the universal value of football to the social and cultural experiences of people from across the globe and engage with youth leaders in understanding how sports can support human flourishing.  

The GOA Girl Delegate Program to the UN is a made possible through the support of the Archbishop Iakovos L100 Endowment Fund and the National Ladies Philoptochos Society.   

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