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GOARCH Unveils New K-12 Religious Education Curriculum
After two years of development, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has launched its first national K-12 religious education framework.
CLEVELAND, OH — The Department of Religious Education (DRE) of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOARCH) unveiled its long-awaited K-12 religious education curriculum during the 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress, fulfilling a commitment made two years earlier to develop a national framework for Orthodox Christian education. This was first reported by the Orthodox Observer.
Developed through a collaboration among the DRE, St. Spyridon in Loveland, Colorado, Orthodox Pebbles, and a team led by Dr. Drew Baker, the new curriculum aims to strengthen children's relationship with Christ and the Church through accessible, adaptable, and developmentally appropriate instruction. The curriculum's debut was accompanied by workshops introducing clergy, educators, and lay leaders to its structure and implementation.
In a separate session, DRE leadership highlighted the department's expanding portfolio of educational resources. His Grace Bp. Athenagoras of Nazianzos, director of the DRE, joined staff members and ministry leaders in presenting initiatives ranging from the Sunday Sermon Series and Holy Week resources to children's educational materials and the "In the Home" newsletter, designed to support family faith formation. The department also showcased its updated recommended reading list for Sunday schools, which serves as a foundation for the new curriculum.
Presenters in the curriculum workshop, including Dr. Drew Baker, Orthodox Pebbles founder Natalie Tzobanakis, Presvytera Maria Constantinides, and youth director Krista Loucas, demonstrated lesson structures, curriculum standards, and methods for adapting educational materials to various parish settings and age groups. Participants also reviewed sample lessons and explored digital resources available through the Archdiocese.
The sessions drew visits from His Eminence Abp. Elpidophoros of America, His Eminence Metr. Savas of Pittsburgh, and Grand Archimandrite Iakovos (Krochak), representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Abp. Elpidophoros presented commemorative gifts to Dr. Baker, his team, and Tzobanakis, praising their efforts to provide Orthodox Christians of all ages with tools to live according to the Gospel and the traditions of the Church.
Interested parties can find the curriculum laid out on the archdiocese's Sunday School webpage, as well as an introductory video here.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Abp. Elpidophoros returned to the United States in good health after an overseas pilgrimage.
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