The Word Made Flesh Conference-
We are excited to announce that our second OCDA Annual Conference, The Word Made Flesh, will be taking place this April At St. John of the Ladder in Greenville, SC. We would love to see you all there!
More information will be shared soon.
You can register today using this link: OCDA Conference Registration
OCDA's Growth and Expansion
The Orthodox Christian Deaf Association (OCDA) has experienced significant growth over the past year. We are excited to announce that our membership has increased to over 350 members, and our social media following has now surpassed 4,600 followers.
Faith in Silence Conference – A Landmark Event
In January, we hosted our first annual Orthodox Christian Deaf Association “Faith in Silence” conference in Dallas, TX. This groundbreaking event within the Orthodox community in North America brought together hearing, Deaf, and hard-of-hearing individuals to engage in essential discussions on how to make Orthodox Church services more accessible for this group. Deanna Petal, a member of the OCDA Translation Team, wrote an insightful article detailing the conference and its significance. You can read more about the "Faith in Silence" conference here: Deanna Patel's OCDA "Faith in Silence" Article
Progress on Divine Liturgy Translations
A dedicated team was formed within the OCDA to focus on translating the Divine Liturgy. This team came together at the “Gathered as One Body: Disability, Accessibility, and Inclusion in the Orthodox Church” event in Boston, MA, sponsored by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. During a three-day working session, the team made significant progress in translating key liturgical terms. They are continuing their efforts to refine additional terms ahead of the Assembly of Bishops’ meeting in November, where they will present their work for approval. Once approved, Orthodox interpreters across North America will have access to theologically accurate signs for interpreting the liturgy. Two members of the translation team, Dn. Tigran Khachikyan and Hannah Mann have also shared their experiences in articles for their dioceses and parishes. Read them here:
Partnership with Ancient Faith Kids Ministries
We are excited to announce a new partnership with Ancient Faith Kids Ministries! Three OCDA interpreters are collaborating with the organization to create videos tailored for Orthodox Deaf and hard-of-hearing children across the United States. Once completed, these videos will be available on our website for everyone to access and enjoy.
Prayers and Support for Our Mission
As we continue our efforts to serve the greater Orthodox Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, we ask that you keep the OCDA and the Lexicon Translation team in your prayers. Your ongoing support is vital to the success of our mission, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to this cause.
