Orthodox Church in America’s enhanced web site to “go live” Wednesday, March 2

— With the blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, an expanded and enhanced upgrade of the Orthodox Church in America’s web site at http://www.oca.org is slated to “go live” on Wednesday, March 2, 2005.

For over one year, OCA webmaster, John Mindala, together with the Sandwire Corporation, a technical support service, department members David Lucs and Greg Sulich, and staff members, the Rev. Joseph Frawley, Lisa McElearney, and Tracey Sommerville, have devoted endless hours adding new features and resources and reorganizing the thousands of pages and sections developed since the site made its debut in December 1996. Under the supervision of Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, OCA chancellor, and the Very Rev. John Matusiak, director of communications, their work builds upon foundations established by Glen Mules, Peter and Robert Czech, and former web team members.

Over the years, the OCA web site has grown to over 5000 individual pages. As such, the site’s content needed to be restructured, redesigned, and organized to provide more user-friendly navigation while enabling the web team to provide more effective and timely maintenance.

In addition to the launch of the new site, the OCA Department of Christian Education will also launch its new site, developed by department member John Pusey, under the supervision of Interim Director, Alexandra Safchuk and department members. Members of the Deparment of Christian Education have collaborated to expand the number of educational resources offered in the site.

Among the enhanced and new resources that will be found on http://www.oca.org are the following:

A complete reorganization of the FOCUS curriculum pages, which offer a wealth of Christian education resources for children, teens, and adults. In the process of redesigning the existing pages, a number of new features and resources have been added, including additional study units.

The complete catalogue of items offered by the Orthodox Christian Publications Center [OCPC] are listed, while the ability to order on-line has been enhanced.

The complete texts of the daily readings from the Gospels and Epistles, as well as daily Old Testament readings, have been added.

“Advertisement” banners now allow the concurrent display of multiple events and encourage visitors to visit other areas of the site that they have yet to discover.

A clear statement of the Orthodox Church in America’s mission and vision has been added.

A new series of devotional articles by the Very Rev. Vladimir Berzonsky, “Thoughts in Christ,” has been added, together with an archives of articles dating back to 2002.

Viewing photographs and galleries has been enhanced with the addition of a customized viewer assuring easier navigation and access to past events.

The viewer for the daily feasts and saints has been enhanced. A customized viewer with easier navigation between commemorations has been added.

A new “In Memoriam” section has been added.

Searching the site will be easier with the ability to search the entire site or limiting a search to a specific section.

Popular features, including the Very Rev. John Breck’s “Life in Christ” series and the “Question and Answer” service, which enables enquirers to receive answers to their questions on Orthodox Christianity within 24 hours, if not immediately, have been redesigned and greatly expanded.

Numerous technical improvements, including enhanced graphics, easier navigation and universal style, the ability to view multiple site updates from the homepage, and printer-friendly pages, have also been added.

Funding for the OCA web site is provided from voluntary gifts to the Fellowship of Orthodox Stewards. Donations may be sent to FOS at PO Box 675, Syosset, NY 11791. On-line donations are also being accepted by visiting our SUPPORT FOS page.