Museum to Feature Sacred Texts and Icons from the Ancient Orthodox Tradition

Contact: Autumn Black, 212-408-1433; Lisa Dierbeck, 212-408-1436

NEW YORK, Oct. 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- To commemorate the upcoming U.S. visit of the spiritual leader of the Orthodox church, the American Bible Society will highlight an exhibition of sacred texts and icons celebrating the history of the Orthodox tradition that was organized by the Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA) opening on Oct. 30 and continuing through Jan. 24, 2010.

For more than seven years, the American Bible Society has worked alongside the Orthodox Church, publishing Bible literature consistent with its faith and doctrine, including: The Orthodox Children's Bible Reader, a collection of Bible stories for children with Byzantine illustrations, which has been published in Greek, English and many other languages. Also, the first ever Military New Testament has been developed for the more than 25,000 active Orthodox personnel serving in the United States armed forces around the world. This New Testament includes: prayers and meditations, icons of Christ and the Virgin Mary, daily devotionals and prayers, and an Orthodox Bible reading guide.

Honoring His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's concern for ecumenism and the environment, the exhibit will feature icons, volumes of sacred Scripture, a liturgical Psalter, maps and rare architectural portraits of Constantinople. The exhibit will also highlight the cultural legacy of the Orthodox Christian Church, as well as a photo and video display of the Ecumenical Patriarch's environmental work.

Recognized by TIME magazine as one of "The 2008 Time 100," Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, also known as the "Green Patriarch," has expressed concern for the environment. He has led and organized seminars that convene both religious and scientific leaders to address environmental issues. The Ecumenical Patriarch is in the U.S. to convene the Eighth Religion, Science and the Environment Symposium, and to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the enthronement of Archbishop Demetrios of America as the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

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. http://americanbible.org/

About the Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA):
The Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA) celebrates and interprets art related to the Bible and its cultural legacy in Jewish and Christian traditions through exhibitions, education and scholarship.