From Monachos.net

While Monachos.net is continually updated on a monthly basis throughout the year, the summer is traditionally a period when we update the web site with new systems, larger collections of new content, features, etc. Summer 2008 is no exception, and this summer's update includes a major upgrade to the core 'engine' that powers the site. This means that new features are on their way. As a 'sneak peek', these include:

• Clearer content organisation and menu systems
• New organisational tools, to sort articles and texts by your criteria
• Links on documents to create PDF versions, better printable texts, e-mailing links, and other text tools
• Documents generate live 'related texts' listings, to point you towards related content on the web site
• Do you find the text size too large or too small? The summer update includes the ability to increase/decrease font sizes throughout the web site, to save these in your settings for future visits
• Links on the main site to Discussion Community activity: see the most recent posts made to the forum in side-bar menus on most documents
• New design to main content areas: tabular sections allow for more elegant, organised, and connected content displays for the main areas (such as the Patristics Area, Monasticism Area, etc.)
• New footnoting system provides a more consistent, readable, and dynamic footnoting system to studies and academic texts across the web site
• New bible referencing engine provides links to bible texts cited in documents, including audible links enabling you quickly to listen to the passage being read
• New links cataloging system that is wholly integrated into the web site structure, allowing for easier submission of web links to organised categories
• A new 'What's new' area presents new materials in a more elegant and useful manner, linked to RSS feeds
• RSS syndication has been improved throughout the web site, allowing you to receive live updates of changes and additions in various sections of Monachos.net
• Live, in-line editing of Monachos.net content for volunteers assisting with the Monachos.net Library Project. You can now edit documents on-line in a completely WYSIWYG graphical editor interface, for immediate publishing.
• For the future: the ability for all readers to log in to Monachos.net, to configure personal display settings, save favourite links, etc.

In addition to these updated web site features, this summer will also see the launch of a number of new materials and areas. These include:

• Updated versions of some core documents: some key documents that have been most read on Monachos.net have had upadated versions, written to coincide with the summer update of the web site itself
• A new 'Patristics Wiki', for collaborative study of patristic themes, persons, developments and history
• Monachos.net blogs: if you would like to have your own Orthodox / patristics blog, it will be possible to do so via Monachos.net
• New liturgical resources area, with new content on the divine services

...and considerably more.

All this is forthcoming this summer. We do not yet have a specific timeline for the rolling-out of the summer update, but it will likely take place in mid-August. Watch this space!