Ft. Lauderdale (July 13, 2007) - Fr. Christopher Metropulos, executive director of OCN, announced today that several local Orthodox parishes have started enjoying their customized versions of OCN's internet radio station called The Ark.

This marks a wonderful day in media ministry here in the United States as local parishes partner with OCN to harness the power of media to reach out to their local communities.

Here is a partial list of parishes that have received their customized version of the Ark:

Saints Constantine & Helen Orthodox Church - Palos Hills, OH

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral - Charleston, WV

St. George Greek Orthodox Church - Bethesda, MD

St. George Greek Orthodox Church - St. Paul, MN 

St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church - Boca Raton, FL  

And more parishes are on the way!

These customized stations will allow these local parishes to keep their faithful informed about special events, upcoming important dates, and even the Sunday sermon, if they wish. These stations will allow internet-savvy young people to be able to stay connected with their home parish while they are away at school or camp. And spiritually seeking Americans from all walks of life will have a "safe" place on the internet to discover the rich beauty of Orthodox Christianity right in their own homes.

OCN is making these customized versions of The Ark internet radio available to any parish that becomes a Share The Light parish in supporting OCN's vision of creating a national, sustainable, and effective media witness for our Orthodox churches.

It is a sign of genuine growth and vision that the oldest Christian faith in the world is on the cutting edge of technology in communicating the timeless faith of Orthodoxy to our modern world. To learn how your parish can get its own customized version of The Ark internet radio call 877-273-2348.

Orthodox Christian Network (OCN), is an agency of SCOBA, the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, and develops effective ways to use modern media to raise awareness of our Orthodox faith in the minds of the general population and to be an "assistant" to local parish priests in keeping our faithful attached to the Church between worship services. OCN produces the nationally syndicated radio program Come Receive The Light and the 24 hour internet based radio ministries of The Ark and The Rudder. For more information, go to http://www.myocn.net/.