Orthodox Christian Education

Lady Sarakosti Poem & Coloring for Great Lent

2012-02-08T06:50:00.000-08:00

Quiet Lady Sarakosti, is a custom from long ago,
Our grandmothers used to make her, out of flour and H2O.

She wears a simple nun’s dress, with a cross upon her head, her hands in prayer without a mouth, to keep the fast with mostly bread.

Her feet teach us how to count, the weeks of Lent are seven, we cut one off each Saturday, until Pascha and the new heaven.

**If you make a better translation of the original Greek poem, please share it! This is also my version of a more Monastic Lady Sarakosti drawing with a prayer rope in hand and head veil**

Lady Sarakosti Recipe

2-2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2-2 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
water (as much as needed)
* Not to be eaten! *

Combine flour, salt and cinnamon in a medium sized bowl and gradually add enough water to form a stiff, but flexible dough. Roll dough out to 1/2" thickness. With a sharp knife cut out the figure as shown above. Cut out two long narrow strips for arms and join at shoulders (wet surface to which arms will be applied). Make slits in dough for fingers. Mark closed eyelids and noise with pointed object. Wipe entire figure down with a lightly dampened cloth to make shiny. Bake in moderate oven until golden.

Why God Became Man?

2011-12-24T02:42:00.000-08:00

“You must understand why it is that the Word of the Father, so great and so high, has been made manifest in bodily form."

“Christ has been manifested in a human body for this reason only, out of the love and goodness of His Father, for the salvation of us men”

“It was our sorry case that caused the Word to come down, our transgression that called out His love for us, so that He made haste to help us and to appear among us.

“…the human race was in process of destruction… what then was God, being Good, to do?”

“It was unthinkable that God, the Father of Truth, should go back upon His word regarding death in order to ensure our continued existence.”

“…corruption could not be got rid of otherwise than through death”

“For by the sacrifice of His own body He did two things: ' He put an end to the law of death which barred our way; and He made a new beginning of life for us, by giving us the hope of resurrection.”

"The word became flesh (that is, man), that the flesh might become God by grace; and He became like us in all things, that we might become like the Word in all of the virtues."

Quoted from 'On the Incarnation' by Saint Athanasios the Great. Read the whole treatise here at this link. The above theology has been adapted for a curriculum located for free at this link.

My Favorite Orthodox Encyclopedia

2011-12-11T12:36:00.000-08:00

I have to say, I am so excited and enthused again by one of the very special and very fat books on my nightstand that it made me get out of bed to convey its value to the rest of you. At 8 months pregnant, trust me, I am not getting paid in any way to tell you these things! I truly enjoy reading theology books of all kinds, and books about the Saints as much as any of you...but one book that has NEVER FAILED ME is this one.

Every time I want to access more info on an upcoming Saint or about relics or history I reach for "Evloyeite." by Mother Nektaria McLees. I don't think there is quite any book or resource like it. No Synaxarion, or compilation of the Lives of the Saints, offers what this book does.

Detailed stories from the lives of the Saints
Maps and directions to venerate holy sites
Miracles from the Ecumenical Councils
An index of Saints with their corresponding feastdays and location
Rare pictures of monasteries, relics, special icons
Chapters dedicated to islands, including Mount Athos!
Saints from many Orthodox ethinc backgrounds - not just Greek
Factual historic information about battles, and Emperors
Modern day healings and miracles
Actual quotes from the Saints themselves
Several Apolytikion hymns to the Saints in English
Simple language that is an absolute joy to read

This is NOT a mere travel book. This is an extremely valuable resource for our families.

Tonight I thoroughly enjoyed the chapter on Corfu and Saint Spyridon. The author took the effort to include the actual words of Saint Spyridon at the First Ecumenical Council as he stood up to explain the Holy Trinity with a clay brick in his hand. This is the famous miracle of the brick exuding the three substances it was made of - fire, water and clay. A miracle that returned hundreds of Arian heretics back to the Church....all by a simple humble Bishop of the 3rd-4th century. Or, did you know that today they process the incorrupt relics of Saint Spyridon through the island four times a year UPRIGHT, seated on a Bishop's throne? Pretty cool stuff!

This book makes a fantastic gift. Send it to everyone - your Orthodox friends, a godparent, priest, etc. You'll find it for sale in many places.

From my nightstand to yours, I hope it brings you the same joy as it has brought to our family!

Orthodox Ornament Exchange

2011-12-08T13:25:00.000-08:00

If you're not familiar with the idea of an "Orthodox Christmas Ornament Exchange" like the one hosted by Sylvia at www.orthodoxmom.com, be sure to check it out and initiate an exchange in your circle of friends!

This fantastic idea has encouraged Orthodox pen pals amongst our children across the globe, and I can honestly say, our 3 year old seems to comprehend the idea, and is quite enthusiastic about it! Pictured here are our ornaments this year. We found things around the house, and used our own very hands to glue, glitter, string beads and weave ribbons! All of which were good practice in the realm of eye-hand coordination skills!

Who would have thought those plastic balls from the ball pit jungle gyms could suffice as Christmas bulbs? And the best part - they are light weight to ship and no risk of breaking!

So, off to the post office we go tomorrow, to send our small packages of love from Germany ~ We look forward to adding to our tree the new ornaments from your homes. Thanks to everyone who participated, and to Sylvia for organizing.

Christmas Coloring & Symbolism

2011-12-04T05:01:00.000-08:00

It seems the most common thing families are looking for are Orthodox coloring icons! So here are the ones I have for the Nativity Christmas season. (Potamitis Publishing has others for sale.)

Also a few talking points for the icons
St John Chrysostom reminds us of the odd behavior of such a star that led the Magi from the east. It appeared in daylight! It acted like no other by coming down from the heavens to practically eye level. It disappeared while in the presence of Herod, and reappeared afterward.
Also, the magi themselves were well trained in the behavior of stars - this was their daily work! Traveling far, their ethnicity symbolizes that the Gospel will reach the Gentiles and people of the East. Their gifts are full of meaning - gold for the King of all ages, frankincense for God of all, and myrrh for His three days in the tomb as fully man.
Sometimes we ask why is Joseph turned away? The theological answer is often because he shows us he is not the father of Christ, and others say he is deep in thought, contemplating the virgin birth. In various icons, a grim figure is depicted tempting Joseph with harmful doubts.
Important also for our children to understand -Christ was born more likely in a cave than a barn (I cringe at such incorrect images) The cave and the Mother of God are the offerings from the world, as the hymns proclaim. Light has been born into the darkness!

As the Magi, we too offer something to the new-born Christ. Mankind offers Panagia, the Mother of God to be used for His purpose and His work of salvation. The Earth, well, it offers the cave as a dwelling place for Christ. Even the animals....the gather around Christ to offer their very own warmth of breath, as heat in the coldness of the cave!
The swaddled clothes around Christ signify His burial cloths as well, if you remember, when St Joseph of Arimathea and St Nicodemus wrapped the body of Christ is a white linen cloth for the tomb.
The shepherds, lastly, are all of us. The simple, the unlearned, the lost sheep - called from our daily tasks to come and worship the Lord. After such an encounter, one's life can never quite be the same!

Saint Nicholas of Myra

2011-12-01T13:45:00.000-08:00

(Initially posted in 2009)

Here is a small book compiled on the life and miracles of Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra. It is my first attempt to extract scenes from "vita" icons of the Church's beloved Saints in order to bring them to life with simple stories for children and teens. I hope this idea can extend into a series, maybe one day even a published collection, to build our libraries with illustrated books for years to come ~ May it be of some small use to you and your families.

A PDF file can be downloaded
from the Scribd.com Orthodox Education Collection here.

Teen Lesson for Christmas - Scavenger Hunt

2011-11-29T23:22:00.000-08:00

In response to those of you who asked for more teen resources, here is a lesson that I believe our teens are capable of grasping. Often, we don't give them enough substance - so get ready to challenge them!

Using the text "On the Incarnation" by Saint Athansius, you can lead your group to a deeper understanding of why God needed to come in what we celebrate as the feast of the Nativity. By drawing out important quotes and asking the right questions, we can essentially tackle the messages of creation, salvation, and theosis with them.

If you so choose, make a scavenger hunt of these hidden quotes from the lesson plan alone to lead them through the lesson! Cut in strips, and hide them around your Church - taking them from places like where we enter our spiritual journey (the door) to where we find refreshing drink (the water fountain) to a reflection in the mirror to better see mankind's position to God. Regroup at the end to compile and discuss the quotes by gluing them in order to a larger poster.

I've broken this down into three possible sections for the month of December.
This can be used at a retreat or over three consecutive Sundays.

Did God need to become man? (CREATION)
How could God act to save us? (SALVATION)
Why can man now become god or god-like? (THEOSIS)

To read and print this Lesson Plan "On the Incarnation" in a PDF format click here: or visit http://www.scribd.com/doc/74236030.

If you have feedback, additions, corrections or comments, feel free to send them. As always, my work is in progress with room for improvement. As you teach this lesson, you may find other topics arise which will be helpful to share.

Also, don't forget about the previously posted "WHY CHRISTMAS" worksheet located at this link.

"May it be blessed"

New Book for Orthodox Children

2011-11-27T07:32:00.000-08:00

Introducing the first book, "Our Hymn to the Mother of God" as part of a full-color hard bound Orthodox children's series now available for purchase by the Sisters of All Saints Greek Orthodox Monastery in Calverton, Long Island, New York. It has been a joy to work with them to publish this special project, as their idea of using the hymnology of the Church to retell the story to children just couldn't be more appropriate!

The spiritual poetry on each page is matched with wonderful original illustrations by Sister Theonymphi in the style of Byzantine iconography, which means you won't find anything theologically wrong like a cartoon image of Christ! The heavenly scenes will inspire all children to contemplate our Almighty God.

Here are a few sneak peaks, and the information for ordering: The sisters hope to soon make their copies available through Amazon online, as well as parish bookstores, etc.

ISBN Number: 978-0-9835602-0-3

All Saints Greek Orthodox Monastery
1676 Middle Road
Calverton, NY 11933

Order by Phone: (631) 439-5603
Order by E-mail: hagionpanton@gmail.com

The next books already in process are titled,

"Our Hymn for the Nativity" and

"Our Hymn for Holy Pascha"

Pre-orders are already being accepted.

Theotokos: Her Life in Mosaics

2011-11-18T00:51:00.000-08:00

(Re-posted for the Entrance of the Theotokos feast approaching Nov 21)

Did you know that in the history and tradition of the Orthodox Church we have more scenes depicted from the life of the Theotokos than anyone else? You might be surprised to learn that there are over 16 different mosaics to teach us about Panagia's life at the Church of St. Savior in Chora (Kariye Camii) in Constantinople, Turkey.

This Church was once part of a monastery, but is now Museum, and has one of the best-preserved collections of Byzantine mosaics and frescoes. Here are just a few of the scenes depicted:

**A PDF of most of the Mosaics with short descriptions has been posted here on our Scribd Orthodox Group. Please take a look - it is a valuable teaching tool**

1. Joachim's offerings at the Temple
2. Annunciation of Saint Anne (the angel of the Lord announcing to Anne that her prayer for a child has been heard)
3. Meeting of Joachim and Anne
4. Birth of the Virgin Mary
5. First seven steps of the Virgin
6. The Virgin given affection by her parents
7. The Virgin blessed by the priests
8. Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple
9. The Virgin receiving bread from an Angel
10. The Virgin receiving purple wool to weave the curtain for the Temple
11. the High Priest Zechariah praying
12. Zechariah calling widowers together to place their staffs on the altar, praying for a sign showing who the Virgin should be entrusted to
13. The Virgin entrusted to Joseph
14. Joseph taking the Virgin to his house
15. Annunciation of the Virgin
16. Joseph departing the Virgin for a trip; when he returns, she is pregnant

Click Here to read more about the Church in Chora and to view several of the mosaics.

For several online virtual tours of the Church of Chora click here

Saint Andrew - First Patriarch of Constantinople

2011-11-15T05:20:00.000-08:00

With the feast of Saint Andrew approaching on November 30, I figured this would be as great of a time as any, to introduce our young people to our Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the once glorious city of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople. Especially considering that most people today only know it as Istanbul. Here you'll find a coloring icon of Saint Andrew, links to nice video footage, and a map of the Saints missionary travels.

As an Apostle of Christ, Saint Andrew was tasked to preach the Gospel in Asia Minor (Now Turkey), Macedonia, Romania and even as far as Russia. He is considered the founder of the Christian Church in Constantinople, as each and every ordination of a Patriarch, a Bishop, a Priest or Deacon can be traced back to the original Apostle Andrew. The liturgical act of laying on of hands in the Orthodox Church with the grace of the Holy Spirit is the transfer of the original Christ-given authority to the Apostles.We call this Apostolic Succession. Because of this lineage, we can truthfully say that the Orthodox Church is the Ancient Christian Church, over 2000+ years old.

Please visit www.patriarchate.org to learn more and view photos.

Here is a nice interactive timeline http://www.patriarchate.org/patriarchate/timeline

The program "60 Minutes" on CBS broadcast a series on the Pariarchate:
Visit these links to watch:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6754652n

On Cappadocia
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6001620n&tag=segementExtraScroller;housing

Question and Answer page on the Patriarchate
http://www.patriarchate.org/patriarchate/faq

Here is my personal photo of the relic of the "X" cross that St Andrew was martyred on, which can be venerated along with the Saint's skull at this giant cathedral in the port of Patras, Greece on the Ionian Sea.

The Way We Worship

2011-11-12T14:48:00.000-08:00

On the feastday of St John Chrysostom tomorrow, we'll not only discuss his life and contributions but we're planning to introduce our children to the way we worship and more importantly, why we worship the way we do in the Orthodox Church. Below are some talking points for the lesson, as well as a coordinating activity or craft.

1. When we enter the Church, we try to leave behind the cares of the world. School, Homework, Chores, Tomorrow, What's for dinner....etc. Beginning in the Nave (like a boat in the "Navy") we travel closer and closer to God during the service.

2. Each week, we worship the same way and celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom from the 5th century. The word "liturgia" literally means "work of the people." By attending the Divine Liturgy, we are choosing to give back this time to God. This is our "work." We offer our gifts to Him - our time, our attention, our prayers, our voices. and more tangibly the wine and bread, made with our own hands from the very gifts that God has given us - grapes and wheat.

3. Everyone in the Church is united by a common Baptism and confession of faith. We are a family, surrounded with the Angels and Saints in heaven. We worship God in the Orthodox Church with all of our senses in order to fully participate with our mind, body and soul.

Activity - Ask the children to correctly match the ways we worship God with our senses- if possible, they can make the drawings themselves on colored paper, or you can cut and paste from pictures

Ears - We hear the word of God in the Gospel and Epistles readings
Voices - We chant the praises of the angels
Hands- We form the sign of the life-giving Cross
Nose - We smell the incense as an offering of our prayer rising to heaven
Body - We bow our heads, bend to the ground and kneel to worship God
Eyes - We see the light of Christ in every candle and focus our prayers to the windows of heaven, the icons.
Mouth - We taste the very Body and Blood of Christ

4. Lastly, let us not forget that the Divine Liturgy is for the whole world, and through this special service, God helps and saves His creation. We not only say prayers for the weather, for our food and crops, for our protection from danger and for a faithful life, but we pray for the "peace of the whole world." Although our local Church may not offer a Divine Liturgy everyday, don't forget that in monasteries around the world, the Divine Liturgy is being offered daily, without stop, as a constant prayer to God.

"A Russian priest was speaking with a minister of another denomination one day. The later spoke at great length about all the wonderful things that his church did for the poor and the environment through service projects, soup kitchens, volunteering, and the likes. Then he asked the Russian priest what the Orthodox people do? And the Russian priest paused quietly for a moment, and simply responded, we do the Divine Liturgy."

Christmas Orthodox Craft Ornaments

2011-11-08T05:01:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share our small craft that we'll be doing with kids ages 3-12 for Christmas. We've ordered these very reasonably priced wooden photo frames, which includes a latch backing and clear photo protector. The children will decorate with glitter paint, markers, pencil, beads, crayon,sparkle stars and more...and we will insert an icon of their choice from the Nativity selection.

Here is the site to order the ornament frames and other craft goodies
http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=15805&keyword=ornaments&scategoryid=0&CategorySearch=&Brand=&Price=

We're either considering printing various icons ourselves, to ensure the proper size, or we may even have the children color their icon first.

If you are also planning a craft idea or lesson, please do share!
The beginning of our fast begins before you know it. How time flies~

Greek Prayer Worksheets

2011-11-03T05:15:00.000-07:00

Download and print these very simple worksheets to practice special phrases of our Orthodox prayer life! They are intended to assist our children and teens with reading and writing the Greek alphabet. Some handouts have the text in place to practice tracing, and others are blank for a tougher challenge. The "Our Father" prayer would be the most difficult of course.

One need not be of Greek nationality to try these!

This first page includes "Christ is Born, Glorify Him!" and "Most Holy Theotokos, Intercede to Save us!" The second page has "Holy Saint Nektarios pray for us!" and "Lord Jesus Christ, Have Mercy on Me." Lastly, the third page lists the full "Our Father" prayer.

Church Craft with Icons

2011-10-31T10:52:00.000-07:00

What to do with icon catalogs and paper icons? Here's a quick craft to decorate with your Orthodox kids and religious education classes while offering a small lesson. Print out the black and white drawing of the iconostasis or icon screen, and glue icons to match your local parish. Look and discuss where special icons are. Help each child to properly place them in order, Christ always being to the right of the royal doors, and the Mother of God with Christ to the left.

Your parish may even have the Annunciation scene depicted on the royal doors, or the Mystical Supper above. St John the Baptist has a fixed position next to Christ. The Patron Saint of the Church is next to the Mother of God.

This can also be an opportunity to discuss how for us Orthodox Christians, the altar is Paradise, the holy of holies, where the greatest miracle on Earth happens - our offering of bread and wine becomes the Holy Body and Blood of Christ our God. It is our tabernacle with manna, our food from heaven, along with the word of God, the Holy Gospel. Archangel Michael stands guard at the left door, as he was positioned after the fall with his sword to protect Paradise - Here, the priest always exits the Altar, making his procession, and at times, entering back into Paradise (the Altar) through the door on the right, which bears the Archangel Gabriel who re-opens Paradise to all repentant believers through the Annunciation.

These are just a few talking points, as you may elaborate and decorate your iconostasis differently according to the age you are working with. Hope this small project inspires you!

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Pre-Christmas Parties

2011-10-25T01:11:00.000-07:00

As Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Pre-Christmas parties are approaching with great popularity, for us, it is a frequent reminder to "stay the course" and focus on the calendar of the Church. We are Orthodox Christians living in secular societies, and although these conversations can be challenging with other PTA moms and co-workers, I thought I'd share how we at least try to respond. It's not worth it to get into debates about whether or not such activities have pagan roots, or if they are simply harmless celebrations of costumes and candy, of turkey, family and football.

The only question to ask is:
Are we giving our children the best chance for a holy life?

We often go digging through trash to find a spark of something good to hang on to, especially, in order to justify our participation in events that our consciences speak otherwise about. This struggle can leave us troubled in our thoughts and souls, wondering if we did the right thing. I like to remove all doubt, and try to set up our kids for the best possible chance of success towards a holy life.

My spiritual father helped me realize this, after I myself wrote an article that was published by our Archdiocese Education office, about Harry Potter. There I was trying to find "Christian" messages amongst what is not-Christian, or truthful, but rather fantasy and fiction. Why struggle so hard just to turn something around?

What we have learned is to pretty much pay little attention to activities that we chose not to be part of. Giving more attention, subsequently, to the Church calendar and It's Saints. By doing this, we hope our children will grow to understand that as Orthodox Christians, we live out our faith without making exceptions here and there to fit in. We "fast" when others are "feasting", we look to the Saints as our super-hero's, and celebrate the Divine Liturgy instead for the feasts below:

Oct 28 - Agia Skepi, Protection of the Theotokos
Nov 1st - Cosmas, Damianos, their Mother, also St. David of Euboia
Nov 15 - Fast begins - Big day in our home!
We begin decorating and start our 40 Day Calendar
Nov 21 - Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple
Nov 25 - St Katherine the Great
Nov 26 - St Stylianos, Patron of Children
December is full of great Saints up until Christmas and beyond...

I ask myself...who has time for everything else with so many truly "holy days" approaching!

(Please remember, this post reflects the opinion of my husband and I, and since it is a personal blog, it may conflict with the published materials of the Archdiocese - however, I remind you readers that not always has the stance of certain Church leaders been correct, and therefore over time, the Holy Spirit has corrected the errors that man has made so that the Truth may be preserved - an example of this is iconoclasm. Even under exile, many Saints patiently fought for the Truth from within the Church rather than abandoning it.)

Looking for Something?

2011-10-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for an idea to spark your lesson, a craft, or activity, along with additional free Orthodox resources, check out the list of "labels" now available on the left side of this blog to quickly sort through the past posts.

Sometimes, we might feel we have covered the same lessons over and over again with our kids. I hope through our online communication though, we can share news ideas and inspire one another to keep teaching! There is always something to learn!

Godparents Gift and Poem

2011-09-05T10:47:00.001-07:00

This short poem was written for a small memory book to be given to my goddaughter on her Nameday. If you would like to also use it in some way, the words can be interchanged from "Bishop" to priest, or use your patron Saint's name instead for example. I hope she likes it on September 26th this year!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Me and My Nouna

This is the story of my Baptism,from many years ago,when I received my guardian angel,as my Nouna tells me so.

Together we went to Church one day,with everyone who loves me, my Mom, my Dad, Yiayia and Papou, Thea and the Bishop too!

In the Narthex we lit a candle, and began to say our prayers, to God they dedicated me, with all my worries and my cares.

My Nouna confessed the Creed, and chanted softly in my ear, the Bishop blessed the water and the oil, as I watched without any fear.

Then they changed my clothes, and into the water I went, three times, covered in oil, with my guardian angel whom God sent.

The Bishop said aloud my name, “Euphrosyne” he called me, in Greek, a name I share with my Yiayia, after a special Saint, who was kind and meek.

As a sign of my Orthodox faith, I was given a cross to wear,
blessed with myrrh, and in four spots the Bishop cut my hair!

After hearing the Gospel, I received Communion dressed in white, in the arms of my Nouna, who prays for me day and night.

Last of all, we went to celebrate, with favors and yummy cake, for all who witnessed me become, an Orthodox Christian for heaven’s sake.

Holy Friday for Teens and Children

2011-04-06T00:57:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for ideas for Holy Friday in your parish, here are two of my favorites.

One idea was posted back in 2008 which leads young people to the Sacrament of Confession, often for the first time. Another idea is to teach our young people about the miracle of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem.

1) CONFESSION ACTIVITY
http://orthodoxeducation.blogspot.com/2008/06/weight-of-our-sins.html

Pair everyone up (with same gender) for a "piggy-back" contest.
For younger ones, use backpacks and add heavy items like staplers, stones.

The idea is to get them to try carrying around a lot of weight, to see how long they can go...before needing to release the "burden of our sins" They are not moving around, but rather standing in one place in one large room.

During the time period, you could ask various teens to read aloud the Gospel accounts of Christ's judgment before Pilate, Crucifixion, and burial in the Tomb. After the final pair has surrendered to sitting down, you discuss how it felt, what their thoughts were, how heavy was the weight for them, and at what point did they want help? What delayed them surrendering? Often, it is our pride that keeps us away from God, because we want to go about life on our own, until we finally accept God's help because we have reached or limit.

Explain that Confessing our sins is exactly this same concept...of finding relief in the sacrifice that Christ made once and for all. When we experience the weight of sin in our lives,
there is nothing to help us remember God's love for us better than experiencing Confession.

When I did this activity, I showed them the Prayer of Absolution from the Sacrament of Confession, where our priests, through the grace bestowed on them from their ordination, with the stole over our head, and us kneeling, absolves our sins.

This activity lead into a personal reflection time to prepare to confess their own sins troubling them. See the 10 Tools for preparing, or print this reflection list located here...http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/selfexam.aspx. Ask if your priest is available during the afternoon to hear their confessions. I would encourage everyone to go to a personal Confession, however, even if only 5 teens go, it's absolutely worth it.

During down time, young people could help decorate the Tomb with flowerings and crawl under it
in the shape of a cross (which is an old custom)

2) HOLY FIRE IN JERUSALEM

A second idea is to watch a collection of videos of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem. That miracle is one many of our kids have never heard..and the miracle continues each year!

On the Eve of the Resurrection, inside the tomb of Christ in Jerusalem, the Holy Fire descends on the Patriarch of Jerusalem from within the Holy Sepulcher and believers pass the light around to all the faithful, who usually hold 33 candles bound together, to signify the 33 years of Christ's ministry on the Earth. The fire is miraculously given but also miraculous in nature, because it does not burn, just as Moses and the Burning bush. Believers have proved this by passing their hands through the fire, and faces...as many photos show. It's color is different than normal too, with more of a white-blue hue. The Holy Fire also bounces around like no light show ever manipulated by machines! Pilgrims have seen the Fire ignite unlit oil lamps on It's own.

There are many articles available as well, some better than others...

http://www.holyfire.org/eng/

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-04-07-holyfire_N.htm

Search YouTube for videos and compile the best clips for your own presentation.

I hope one year to have the great blessing to be there in person - since I have only heard firsthand experiences from friends. The faith of the person has also contributed to many miracles that some see and others don't. Glory to God!

4th Sunday of Great Lent Curriculum

2011-04-03T11:30:00.000-07:00

This is an example of how I will compile our lessons from the Sundays of Great Lent 2011. I regret not doing it sooner, but so many ideas came forth from actually teaching.

Click here to download the PDF for free: 4th Sunday of Great Lent Curriculum

May it be of some assistance to you next year!

Please see the corresponding Great Lent Curriculum Chart and Great Lent Workbook containing the coloring icons.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome,

E-mail me if you prefer.

Orthodox Bracelets

2011-04-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

Our Sunday lessons have sure been full of surprises this Lenten season! After Pascha, I sure hope to post all the creative ideas and lessons tips that blossomed according to each theme. Sorry that it's after the fact, but at least it'll be on the web for future years :( Here's one idea that we'll be using tomorrow based on the Gospel reading from Mark 9:17-31.

We'll be making bracelets from the powerful verse "All things are possible when you believe in God." Printed on glossy photo paper, I cut these into strips and will use a white label to close them around the wrists of the children. You could use stickers or tape.

I'll use this as the closing activity, after they have heard the re-telling of the Gospel, and have unscrambled the words of the memory sentences (see the Great Lent Lesson Chart).
A special bonus is that these memory bracelets help to reinforce the message with their parents when they return home. You could adapt this for other special verses from Holy Scripture as well.

"Kali dynami" as we finish the second half of the Great Fast.

Orthodox Coloring Books for Lent

2011-02-17T05:28:00.000-08:00

The time has come for Great Lent 2011 - here are some extra resources to challenge your young ones! We have compiled a printable PDF workbook available for free at this Scribd link. It contains coloring icons, games and craft activities to accompany the Sundays during Lent as well as Lazarus Saturday and Holy Week. Please do not reproduce or sell this for profit in any way - it is simply available for parish and home use only.

To purchase other fantastic resources available in many languages visit http://orthodoxchildrensbooks.com. Potamitis Publishing has extremely reasonable prices which include even the cost of shipping! They have informed me that the workbooks
have nice explanations on each page in both Greek and English for example.

I wish you all a fruitful journey this year, with many blessings and illumination for a glorious Pascha celebration!

BINGO for Great Lent

2011-02-17T05:06:00.000-08:00

Introducing a fun way to get your youth involved in service projects. On this BINGO card are listed 20 ideas for Great Lent that will enhance your spiritual journey to Pascha. Mix up the squares and distribute, or have each child draw from a bag to play. There are various ways to adjust this game, but the main idea is to establish 5 goals with your children to accomplish over the period of 40 plus days.

Here is the file posted on Scribd. If you would like the Word document to mix up the squares for different BINGO cards, just email me at eleniemarie@gmail.com.

Have fun, and if you want to share another idea for a box, please post a comment.

Icon Family Tree

2011-02-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

We just made our "sample" family icon tree and it was great fun for my 2 year old to help with! First we printed out the tree design and colored it, then we trimmed and added our icons of the Patron Saints for each member of the family. We cut the icons out of old catalogs and calendars we had. An icon of Christ was centered in the trunk of the tree, as we added the words of Christ in Greek - "I am the true vine + Ye are the branches" below. We had a little too much fun with the glue and glitter, then mounted it on construction paper, with two holes and string at the top. It hangs as a sort of a tapestry in our home. If you'd like, you could also write at the top "God bless the _______ Family."

For us, it has been a joy for our children to learn who they are named after. We have the habit of asking our kids, "Who has the name from Agios Vasilios? Who has the name from Panagia? From Saint Helen, and Saint Stefanos"

We hope our tree will continue to grow out and spiritually upward!

Orthodox Coloring Pages

2011-02-07T05:08:00.000-08:00

Good news! There are more Orthodox icon coloring pages and activities available for free at the website http://katixitis-zografies.blogspot.com/. If you click around you will also find Old Testament iconography coloring pages, as well as the Nicene Creed broken down into icons to color. Although the headings are often labeled in Greek, that is easily changed for children who speak English.

Great Lent Curriculum

2011-02-03T06:40:00.000-08:00

For those interested, I'm posting my lesson plan chart and soon to follow workbook pages for Great Lent 2011. The lessons are designed for each Sunday leading up to Holy Week, for a brief 1/2 hour immediately after the Divine Liturgy. Since other adults will be present to help in our situation, we're teaching the same lesson to kids ranging from 2 to 10 years of age.

Each session will include either a craft, coloring page, memory words, activity or hymn to chant. Every child will create necklace name tags on the first day, and decorate folders with fasteners inside that will become their workbooks. They only take home their craft each Sunday, as I will hold on to their folders until the end and add pages for Holy Week with Pascha.

So far, I'm really looking forward to creating the "Family Icon Tree's" and Mummy Wraps with toilet paper for the raising of Saint Lazarus! If you have other ideas I can include, please pass them along! I'll be converting this whole chart to Greek as well if anyone needs that.

Stay tuned for a follow-up PDF and SCRIBD link to download the workbook pages.

UPDATE: I've recently added a sentence scramble activity for the older ones in the group. Basically, seal envelopes with words from at least two memory phrases and ask the kids to work in groups to put the phrase together. This will work well on the Sunday of St John Climacus.

Sunday Gospels for Children

2011-01-30T14:07:00.000-08:00

Here's a very nice resource to add to your weekly preparation
for the Divine Liturgy. At this link, you will find illustrated handouts for each Sunday's Gospel offered at five levels with discussion questions. The schedule is according to the Antiochian Orthodox so confirm it with your jurisdiction. For the icon coloring pages alone, it's beneficial! Just be sure to treat these as holy images, and never throw icons away in the garbage!

A Parent's Place to Hide

2011-01-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

I usually avoid sharing anything personal on this blog - but this post might just relate to other Orthodox parents out there, so here goes.

As a mother of two boys, the day passes fast. With diapers and meals, I just about manage to say their prayers with them, in front of their iconostasis'. Each room it seems has its' share of breathtaking and inspiring icons, but something was missing I felt. Or was I simply making excuses for skipping out on my prayers? To be honest, a space just for me was the perfect solution.
So here it is. Our glorious utility closet. That's right...and it's perfect. The kids don't even know it exists!

Sure, you might say I'm surrounded by buckets and tennis rackets, ironing boards and boxes, but these are the items of our daily life. There is nothing 'unholy' there, and I sort of feel the presence of God and His Saints sanctifying even this space!

It has reminded me that despite singing spiritual songs with our children, reading Bible stories, and quietly saying the Jesus Prayer, nothing can replace the one-on-one time we need with God. A place to shut the door, empty our hearts and be faithful at any hour of the night, without anyone knowing we're there (well of course except you now! Shhhh, don't tell my kids!)

Spiritual Counsels of the Blessed Elder Thaddeus of Serbia +2002

2011-01-17T03:50:00.000-08:00

"The spirits of evil interfere with children's minds ... and try to disturb them. A child should be taught obedience, especially before the 5th year; because that is the period in which the child's character develops. In this manner, learned character traits remain for the rest of the child's life. Parents should teach their children absolute obedience during that period. When a parent says something, the answer should be, 'Amen.' But today, unfortunately, parents do not know this, and teach their children quite the opposite. And so they grow up ..."

Theophany Activity

2011-01-02T09:49:00.000-08:00

http://www.hamatoura.com/GreetingCard/Greetings.php?subject=Theophany%20of%20Jesus%20Christ&link=07JesusTheophany-En

Come and Follow Me

2010-12-01T05:59:00.001-08:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

New Icon Book for Young Girls

2010-12-01T05:52:00.001-08:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Pascha Poem & Orthodox Craft Idea

2010-03-24T04:20:00.000-07:00

With a long white piece of paper, we made three folds and created our very own accordion Pascha card with original poem to accompany the Passion and Resurrection of Christ icons cut out from Orthodox catalogs. This simple craft turned out to be a nice way to reinforce the meaning behind each day for young and old. Especially for godchildren and penpals far away, it helps us stay in touch spiritually since we will not be able to celebrate together. Here are the words to our poem:

To Christ our God, Who raised Lazarus from the dead...
You traveled to Jerusalem with the people you led...
Teaching all to be servants rather than trying to get ahead...
Your Body and Blood for eternity us you fed...
Then nailed to the Cross, You shed Your blood for three days dead...
As we wait to proclaim with our eggs dyed red...
"I am the Resurrection and the Life,
he who believes in me shall never die." Jesus said.

Holy Week for Kids

2010-03-13T12:50:00.000-08:00

Anyone with kids knows that Holy Week can be a challenging yet extremely rich experience! Although the night services postpone bed time, we try to remember, it's just for one week, and nothing else quite seems to matter. Yes, the services can be long, so this post is dedicated to the "something special" in each night that makes it all worth it for young and old. Here's our list of things not to miss with your kids and teens ~

Palm Sunday Morning- Find the kids worshiping Christ in this icon and hold your palms proudly like them for the procession

Palm Sunday Evening - Kneel for the Procession of the icon of Christ as the Bridegroom

Holy Monday- Light a candle in the dark serenity of this service

Holy Tuesday- Memorize beforehand and listen for the verse "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh in the middle of the night, and blessed is that servant whom He shall find watching"

Holy Wednesday/Thursday Morning- Draw near to receive the Holy Body and Blood of Christ while commemorating His Last Supper and the beginning of this Life-giving Sacrament

Holy Wednesday Evening- Count 7 Readings or 7 Candles, Receive Holy Unction, (Some Priests also wash the children's feet)

Holy Thursday- Take the chance to bow before, kneel and kiss our Lord on the Cross

Holy Friday Afternoon - Royal Hours - Witness or participate in the taking down of Christ from the Cross, identify in the icon who was involved. Observe a period of silence

Holy Friday- Chant the memorable melody of the Lamentations, Join the Procession outside the Church, Pass under the Tomb, take home a flower, prepare your red eggs

Holy Saturday Morning - Ring a small bell and throw the bay leaves, save one in your book! Chant the words of the 3 Youths (Shadrach, Meshach and Abendago)

Holy Saturday Evening - Experience a great celebration at Midnight - See the Church go dark, and witness the light of Christ illuminating all! Share your light with others - Plan to receive the Holy Eucharist of the Resurrected Christ after midnight

Holy Sunday - Ask to read the Gospel in a different language

Bright Week - Practice saying "Christ is Risen" in as many languages as you can learn!

If you parish plans other additional opportunities for the youth, please share! I have witnessed Holy Friday Retreats with activities and lessons, Holy Week Scrap booking , others ask the children and teens to decorate the Epitaphion (Tomb), in some parishes, girls of innocence and purity dressed in white sprinkle rose petals during the procession with the Tomb, others show a video from the Miracle of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem , and an all time favorite, one parish taught the children the hymn for Palm Sunday and the children lined up to create a passage way for the Entrance with the Gospel chanting and waving their palms!

How precious it is to see them involved! Our kids may not be awake, but they can still go home smelling like incense, which in some small way, reminds us of the unseen blessings we all receive just by being in there.

Free Bi-Lingual Curriculum

2010-02-26T06:50:00.000-08:00

Over 1000 pages and 8 years of curriculum content has been made available free of charge by the Holy Monastery of the Mother of God Pantanassa of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. Glory to God!

Visit their website http://www.pantanassamonastery.org/resources.html to download both Greek and English lessons on Holy Scripture, the Great Feasts, the Parables of our Lord, the Divine Liturgy, Vestments, History of the Church, and more!

Take a look also at the welcome video located here: http://www.pantanassamonastery.org/welcome.html it is breathtaking and inspires me to visit Australia someday!

If you die before you die

2010-02-25T06:32:00.000-08:00

There is a sign above the entrance of a Monastery on Mount Athos that reads:

"If you die before you die,
than when you die, you will not die"

Not only is it clever but it reminds us all that the Kingdom of God, which is within us, is meant to be experienced here in this world. Elder Porphyrios also taught this to his spiritual children saying,

"Struggle to become immortal from now, by dying here on the earth to your bad self. In this way, you won't be sad, but you'll be very glad, living together with Christ."

Canon of St Andrew

2010-02-14T23:56:00.000-08:00

If you are feeling that the Great Fast snuck up on you this year, and you are hoping to get into the "zone" fast give the Canon of St Andrew of Crete a try this week! Over the course of the first four days of the Great Fast, Great Compline is read in the evenings with a portion of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

The Canon is also read in its entirety on Wednesday evening of the 5th week so that we may approach the conclusion of the Great Fast again with a proper spirit.

You can access and download an overview handout on The Canon of St Andrew of Crete here or for each days portion visit this link.
St. Andrew of Crete (c. 660-740) was born in Damascus. He became a monk at Mar Saba and served later at the Holy Sepulchre. Around 685, he was ordained a deacon at Hagia Sophia. He also ran a refuge that took in orphans and cared for the elderly. He ended his days as Archbishop of Gortyna, a position to which he was elevated in 692, on the island of Crete. He wrote homilies that display great oratorical skill, as well as formal public speeches later used in written form of the saints.

Wishing you and your loved ones the true spirit of repentance and forgiveness.

Infant Martyrs

2010-01-22T03:50:00.000-08:00

A Prayer to Jesus to deliver us from the sin of abortion

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who – at the 6^th hour of the day – didst shed Thy precious Blood upon the Cross for the salvation of all mankind: receive the souls of all the innocent pre-born babies, who have been, are being, or will be slaughtered today in the hospitals and abortion chambers throughout our Nation. And as their untimely deaths have prevented them from receiving the grace of Holy Baptism, I entreat Thee to accept their innocent blood as their Baptism (as Thou didst with the early Martyrs); so that they can share eternity with Thee.

To the doctors, nurses, parents and hosts of accomplices responsible for this infanticide, grant tears of repentance; so that they can run to Thee for forgiveness and healing, and thus avoid the eternal death of their souls. I believe that all things are possible with Thee, O Lord. Therefore, I entreat Thee on this day – through Thy divine grace – to convince at least one mother in every state to cancel her abortion and bring her child to full term; and to convince one doctor in every state to repent of his actions, and never again kill a child in the womb.

Receive my prayer, O Lord, even though it is offered to Thee from such a sinful and unworthy servant; and unite my entreaty with those of all the other brothers and sisters that are crying out today on behalf of all Thy little ones, who are now being formed in the wombs of their mothers. Deliver us and our Nation, O Lord, from this shedding of innocent blood! Forgive us! Heal us! Save us! Amen.

Elder Paisios on Marriage & Parenting

2010-01-13T03:16:00.001-08:00

“One day a man came to my kalyve (hut) and told me he was very worried because he was not of the same mind with his wife. I saw, however, that there was nothing serious between them. He just had a few rough edges, his wife had a few others, and they couldn’t deal with one another. They needed a little sanding. Take two planks of wood before sanding them. One has a knot here, the other has a knot there; if you try to join the planks there is an empty space left between them. If, however, you sand one a little here and the other a little there, using the same tool, they join perfectly. *

…When spouses have different personalities it helps in the raising of children even more. One spouse wants to put on the brakes a little, but the other says, “Give the children a little freedom.” If they both are overbearing they will lose their children. If however, they leave them on their own, again their children will be lost. Therefore, when the parents have different personalities, the children enjoy a certain stability.”

**The Elder means that this work is done by the spiritual father and it is effective, only as long as the two spouses have the same spiritual father, in order that the sanding happens using “the same tool.”**

Abbreviated from the “Orthodox Heritage” pg 30, vol 7, Issue 07-08

Proskomedia in the Orthodox Eucharist

2010-01-09T09:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a step by step guide to the Proskomedia (Offering) which is completed during Orthros or Matins before the Divine Liturgy begins.

1. After strengthening himself through a few prayers and venerating the icons, the priest enters the Holy Altar and kisses the Gospel and Altar Table in preparation to celebrate the Divine Liturgy.

2. Next, he puts on his full set of vestments, blessing and kissing each item while reciting a matching Scripture verse.

3. The priest then washes his hands, thus expressing his desire to be more cleansed of his sins, while reciting Psalm 26:6-12. "I will wash my hands among the innocents, and so will I go around Thy Altar, O Lord..."

4. Next, he bows 3x before the Prothesis, or table used for the Proskomedi, and prays "O God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me" (Luke 18:13)

5. The priest then selects one of the prosphora breads to hold in his left hand, while using his right hand for the lance. He touches the lance on the seal, elevating them both to the level of his head and says, "Thou hast redeemed us from the curse of the law by Thy precious Blood. Nailed on the Cross and pierced with a spear, Thou hast bestowed immortality upon mankind. O Savior, glory to Thee."

6. He makes the sign of the Cross over the Credence with the prosphora and lance saying "Blessed is our God, always, now and forever and from all ages to all ages." Then 3 x the priest makes the sign of the Cross with the lance over the seal, saying each time "In remembrance of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 11:24, Luke 22:19)

7. Next the priest cuts out a portion of bread from the central part (IC XC = Jesus Christ prevails) of the prosphora's seal in the shape of a cube, called "Amnos" or Lamb, which at first represents the Body of Christ and into which it later changes. Thrusting the lance into the right side of the seal (priest's left) he says, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter."

8. Then thrusting the lance into the left side, he says, "And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so He opens not His mouth."

9. The priest also thrusts the lance into the upper part of the seal, saying "In His humiliation justice was denied Him."

10. Finally, thrusting the lance into the lower part of the central square, he recites the word of the prophet, who contemplated the wondrous origin or lineage of the condemned Lamb; "Who shall declare his generation?"

11. Then the priest inserts the lance beneath the seal and lifts up the "Lamb" and places it on the center of the Paten saying, "For His Life is removed from the earth." This represents the separation of Christ from the flesh of the Virgin Mary.

12. Turning the "Lamb" downward, the priest makes with the lance a deep crosswise cut as a sign of Christ's death on the Cross and says, "The Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world, is sacrificed for the life and the salvation of the world" (John 1:29, 1 John 2:2)

13. Next, the priest turns the "Lamb" upright and pierces it with the lance on the right side, marked 'NI', saying "One of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he who saw it bore witness and his witness is true" (John 19:34)

14.The priest then pours wine and water into the Chalice; the he blesses them saying, "Blessed is the union of Thy Holy Gifts, always, now and forever and from all ages to all ages." This symbol of the blood and water which poured forth from Christ's side is what later becomes His Blood.

15. Additional portions are cut out in memory of the Saints, placing these pieces beside the "Lamb" on the Paten, since the saints had a burning desire to be everywhere with their Lord. The first triangle portion is in memory of the Theotokos, saying "In honor and memory of our most Blessed and Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, through Whose intercessions do Thou O Lord, accept this Sacrifice upon Thy Heavenly Altar." This portion is placed on the right side of the "Lamb" (the priest's left) with this prophetic recitation, "On Thy right hand stood the Queen, clothed in vesture wrought with gold and arrayed in many colors" (Psalm 44:10).

The priest then cuts nine additional smaller triangles in memory of:

    1. The Archangels and Angels
    2. The Prophets
    3. The Apostles
    4. The Holy Fathers
    5. The Martyrs
    6. The Holy Ascetics
    7. The Holy Unmercenaries
    8. The Ancestors of our Lord, Joachim & Anna, Saint of Day
   9. Saint whose Liturgy is celebrated

All these portions are placed in three columns on the left side of the "Lamb."

Next, the priest cuts a big portion of bread out which he cuts little particles for living persons: The Archbishop, bishops, priests, deacons, etc, and for those names offered with the prosphoras. Also for the departed, praying for the remission of their sins. Lastly for himself, saying "Remember, O Lord, my unworthiness and forgive all my sins, both voluntary and involuntary."
These pieces are placed below the "Lamb" on the Paten.

Finally, the priest goes back in time to Christ's Birth, remembering when the star shone above the Child and the wisemen offered to Christ the incense, in order to bless the incense with this prayer, "Incense we offer Thee, O Christ our God, as an odor of spiritual fragrance. Do Thou accept is at Thy Heavenly Altar and send down upon us the Grace of Thy Holy Spirit." He censes the Asterik, which he places on the Paten saying, "And the star came and stood over the place where the Child was." (Matthew 2:9)

The priest continues to incense 2 small veils, one for the Paten and one for the Chalice, then the large veil over both, reciting "The Lord is reigning, He is clothed with Majesty; The Lord has clothed with strength wherewith He was girded Himself." (Psalm 93) "Thy virtue, O Christ, has covered the Heavens, and the earth is full of Thy praise. Cover us under the shelter of Thy wings; drive away from us every enemy and adversary; give us a peaceful life; O Lord, have mercy on us and on Thy world, and save our souls, for Thou art Good and Compassionate. Blessed art Thou, O our God, Who art thus well pleased; glory to Thee, always now and forever and from all ages to all ages."

The Proskimidi is concluded with this prayer

"O God, our God, Who has sent us the Heavenly Bread, the Food of the entire world, our Lord and our God Jesus Christ, to save us, to ransom us, to do us good, to bless and sanctify us; do Thou Thyself bless this offering and accept it at Thine Altar above the Heavens. Remember in Thy Goodness and loving kindness both those who brought this offering, and those for whom they brought it; and keep us blameless in the celebration of Thy Holy Sacraments; for Holy and glorious is Thy name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, always, now and forever and from all ages to all ages. Amen."

The Chalice and Paten are uncovered as a sign of the Resurrection of Christ just before the worshipers recite the Nicene Creed during the Divine Liturgy. The Holy Gifts are later consecrated separately because Christ's Body and Blood were separated in His death upon the Cross.

After the Lord's Prayer is recited, and the people proclaim "One is Holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen." the priest then breaks the Lamb which by this time has become the Body of Christ into four pieces. This signifies the Lord's suffering and bruising on the Cross. The four pieces are arranged in the form of a cross. He takes the portion marked "IC" makes teh sign of the cross over the chalice, and a s a symbol of the reuniting of our Lord's soul and body at the time of the Resurrection, he places it in the chalice saying,
"The fullness of the Cup of the Faith and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

The priest blesses the container of boiling water, adding hot water to the Chalice saying,
"The ardor of Faith, full of the Holy Spirit. Amen." He partakes of the Body still on the Paten and then drinks the Blood saying "This hath touched my lips, and shall take away mine iniquities and purge away my sins," before adding all portions into the Chalice to distribute to the faithful baptized Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared. Prayers of thanksgiving are read by not only the priests afterward, but properly so, by everyone who received.

May this text taken from a small book by Rev. Father Nicholas Elias be fruitful to all who read it. If you have the opportunity, ask your parish priests to invite the children to surround a small table for the Proskomedi Service, outside the Altar as part of a Teaching Liturgy.

Purity,Chastity,Virginity

2010-01-04T11:55:00.000-08:00

With great pleasure I share this new PDF resource provided by the Teens of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian ArchDiocese of North America. Their main goal for January 2010 and beyond is to
"educate, remind, and preserve young adults’ beliefs about the Orthodox Church’s position on Purity, Virginity, Chastity and Forgiveness." What a necessary initiative from teens for their fellow peers.

They have included strong resources and boundaries for discussing:

what defines sexual purity
abortion, right to life
homosexuality
virginity
caution - before you text message

Although these topics aren't easy, teens are often waiting for someone to discuss it with them. They want to know more, and need to know more about the path of forgiveness in God's love.
Consider spending some time alone with just the girls or just the guys in your home parish or youth groups. Have these difficult heart to heart talks. I promise, it'll be something they never forget.

Thine Own of Thine Own

2010-01-03T12:53:00.001-08:00

Saint Vladimir's Press and Jane G. Meyer were generous enough to send me a copy of their recent book, "The Woman and the Wheat" so that I may share my thoughts on this blog. In some ways, I feel very unqualified to do so, not having a literary background. Therefore, I can only speak as a mother who happens to have studied Theology in order to better teach my own children, if God so wills.

"In the “Woman and the Wheat”, Jane G. Meyer introduces to adults and children the phrase from the Divine Liturgy “Thine Own of Thine Own we offer unto Thee.” With poetic rhythm and soothing illustrations, the book preserves the ancient art of baking prosforo as a joy-filled offering to God to be consecrated and received back again in the Holy Eucharist. It captures the cycle of God’s blessings, through hard work and prayer for one’s self and one’s neighbor, encouraging all of us to a fuller experience of the liturgical life."

Because the book touches on very important elements of Orthodox theology, I would strongly suggest following up on certain points with your children and families. For us, it was a bit unclear how many loaves in fact the woman was offering. This led into a fruitful discussion about the differences between Prosforo, Artoclasia, Andithoro, and normal dinner table bread.

Jane also chose to use the word "myrrh" however she is referring to the moment when the priest censes the Holy Gifts with incense during the Proskimidi. This point of clarification can lead to a more detailed lesson about the Proskimidi itself. For example, the "Lamb" and Wine remain separate, even as they become the Holy Body and Blood of our Lord at the time of the Consecration until the priest receives the Eucharist himself, and unites the two for us to receive from the chalice by the spoon. Stay tuned, I find this an important topic to write about in a future post!

In closing, I would like to commend Jane and St Vladimir's for taking on such a challenging topic in a children's book. Nothing Orthodox ever seems easy or simple, but it is certain to enrich our lives.

St Basil: At a Time of Need

2009-12-31T03:02:00.000-08:00

Ayios Vasilios bears a title that few Saints share with him. He is known as "Saint Basil the Great." Some attribute this title to him because he organized cenobitic monasticism, or because he was a warrior-bishop who preached thunderous sermons throughout Caesarea to defend Orthodoxy against the heresy of the Arians. Below, however, I share why he is considered "Great" in my mind.

Two things convicted the heart of St Basil during his formative years. The first was when his younger brother Naucratius, died, and then second was the influence of his elder sister Macrina, whose rock-like faith led her to join a community of religious women who served the poor, owned no personal items, slept on the ground, ate only enough to sustain them, and lived completely for God.

Saint Basil followed this example and experienced himself the ascetic life, before being ordained and recruited to defend the Church.

He went on to address the rich "who let their wheat rot, while men die of hunger" during a time of great famine and natural disasters in this way. He said,

"You refuse to give under the pretext that you haven't got enough for your own requirements. But while your tongue excuses, your hand condemns- that ring on your finger silently declares you to be a liar! How many debtors could be released from prison with one of those rings! How many ill-clad people could be clothed from only one of your wardrobes? And yet you turn the poor away empty-handed."

Saint Basil spared no one....he said

"You are poor? But there are others poorer than you. You have enough to keep you alive for ten days - but this man has only enough for one...Don't be afraid to give away that little that you have. Don't put your interests before the common need. Give your last loaf to the beggar at the door, and trust in the goodness of God."

To inspire us all, here is a miracle story that follows the advice of Ayios Vasilios told by the humble priest Father Stephanos K. Anagnostopoulos and abbreviated from his book.*

On March 24, 1942 an aunt of mine lived in the city of Drama in Northern Greece with her five children. Then they were under Bulgarian occupation, and in a state of deprivation, disease and famine that reached dreadful proportions. Her husband had been killed, and there remained only a very small amount of olive oil and a handful of corn flour.

On this the eve of the Anunciation, her eyes fell on the snuffed out vigil lamp which hanged in front of the icon stand. She was in a dilemma: Should the oil be given to the hungry children or remain in the icon stand with the icon of the Annunciation? With a sense of determination she made the sign of the Cross and told the All-Holy Mother of God:

"My all-Holy Mother! I shall light the vigil lamp because the day which is breaking is of great significance to our faith; however, You take care and feed my children."

She took the very little oil and lit the vigil lamp. Its joyous light illuminated the shabby home and her heart was filled with serenity. This sense of peace accompanied them in their nightly prayer, their sleep, and throughout that unforgettable night.

The next day, after the Divine Liturgy, my aunt opened the kitchen cupboard in order to get the meager flour and she remained speechless. What did she see? The "oilcan" filled with oil all the way to the top, as well as two bagfuls of flour and spaghetti!

The woman made the sign of the Cross many times, praising and thanking God and the Theotokos for this great miracle, but she did not say a word to anyone."

+ + +

Life & Quotes of St Basil from **Evloyeite! A Pilgrim's Guide to Greece; Mother Nektaria McLees. St Nicholas Press, 2002 available here**

Miracle taken from **Experience duringt he Divine Liturgy: Protopresbyter Stephanos K. Anagnostopoulos. Piraeus 2008. Available for purchase in Greek and English here **

Christmas Worksheet

2009-12-20T00:08:00.000-08:00

Here is an Orthodox Christian Worksheet and Lesson on the Nativity that includes a bit of theology we often overlook. Although it might be for older ones, I hope it offers details that the younger ones can comprehend as well.

Click here for the PDF Lesson available at the Orthodox Christian Scribd Group.

Wishing you and your families a blessed Nativity and Twelve Days of Christmas beginning with the birth of our Lord.

Nativity Animation

2009-12-19T22:54:00.000-08:00

Here is an excellent way to teach the Nativity and meaning of Christmas in an Orthodox Christian animation for your children and teens. It is brief, but rich with iconography and hymnology in three languages!

Visit the link below and even send it as a greeting card.

http://www.hamatoura.com/GreetingCard/Greetings.php?subject=Nativity%20of%20Jesus%20Christ&link=06JesusNativity-En

The hymn proclaims the Kontakion:

Today the virgin giveths birth to Him
Who is the Servent in Essence
and the earth offereth a cave to Him
who is unapproachable
Angels with shepherds give glory,
with a Star the Magi do journey,
for our sake a young Child is born,
who is pre- eternal God.

Orthodox Coloring Workbooks

2009-11-30T12:59:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for more activities to keep your young ones engaged, click here for printable pages of Orthodox Christian games, puzzles and mazes to compile an Orthodox Workbook. (View sample above.) They are generously offered online by the Holy Theotokos Monastery to help Orthodox children ages 4-9 learn more about their Faith.

If you're in need of a visual way to explain the history of the One Holy Orthodox Christian Church, or to answer the question on how and why there came to be so many "churches" calling themselves Christian, print out these helpful timelines shown below at this page.

Another Orthodox coloring book titled "We Worship God" is available
for free PDF download here

Lastly, for more spiritual nourishment in English online, visit http://www.pigizois.net/arxodariki/In_English.htm

Orthodox Jeopardy

2009-11-21T12:22:00.000-08:00

Gather Orthodox Christians of all ages for a fun and interactive game of Orthodox Jeopardy. Created in Microsoft Powerpoint, you'll sing along to the familiar theme songs of the television gameshow while testing your knowledge of the faith. Create teams or play individually. Even set up a laptop and projector screen to host this game at Youth Night or Retreats with popcorn and sleeping bags!

The questions range in difficulty and topics include: The Saints, Art & Architecture, Music & Hymnology, The Bible, Faith & Traditions, Miracles...plus more!

Click here to download this file from our Orthodox Scrib Group or better yet please e-mail eleniemarie@gmail.com for the most accurate Powerpoint Layout since it's distorting quite a bit thru the web. Best results have been had by downloading and opening it in Powerpoint itself.

This activity is also very customizeable for local traditions, languages, levels of difficulty, etc. Hope you enjoy it~

An Inspiration: Elder Iakovos

2009-10-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

In the past few days I cannot seem to put this book down. The life of Elder Iakovos Tsalikis of Evia has inspired me more than I can express, and it's been awhile since I've come across such a book. So, if anyone out there is in search of a simple but profound life story, I highly recommend this gem, and this remarkable holy man of our time.

Some of my favorite moments from the book are during his youth, which really offer us parents much to think about. From a child, he kept the oil lamps lit in the small church of St Paraskeve each night, and chanted the hymns zealously and barefoot during the Divine Liturgies because in his times, everyone was poor, but Iakovos was even poorer.

On one occasion he and his brother were sent to take the family pig to the local butcher to provide for the family, but along the way, a jealous old man cast a demon into the pig which caused it to fall down immediately and foam at the mouth. Little Iakovos acted quickly. He ran to fill a can with water from a nearby stream, grabbed fresh basil from a garden and stopped by an icon of St Demetrios to pray and take some of the oil, then returned to the animal. He knelt down, recited a prayer, crossed the animal with the oil, and sprinkled it with the basil. After a short while, the pig got up and continued the trip (pg 26).

But this is just the beginning. With such innocence he grew in faith and ascetic struggles, truly attracting the grace of God, witnessing to those around him a life beyond this world. Upon request, the elder would carry the holy head of St David to surrounding villages to venerate. During one 5 hour walk, a treacherous storm approached and the relic was under the threat of becoming drenched. He held the relic tightly, speaking to it and hurrying his pace. Nevertheless, not even a single rain drop came within a meter all around him. He and the holy head arrived completely dry! (pg 78)

Another time, the Elder was saved from scorpions while keeping vigil in a cave by drawing a circle around himself with a stone, and commanding these creatures not to come any closer!

The miracles and encounters with Saints during his life will catch your attention, but the personal sacrifices of Elder Iakovos will inspire you. I am certain that his example, if shared with our kids and teens, will dramatically change their lives. This book is suitable for all to read!

O Holy Elder Iakovos, pray for us sinners

Here is one location to purchase the book.

Swap Seats

2009-10-25T05:02:00.000-07:00

Here's another fun game for kids and teens that can be tailored to our Orthodox faith and gets everyone moving! Begin by creating a circle with chairs facing in and totaling one less than the number of kids you have, including yourself. Then start by having everyone take a seat, except you who begins in the middle. Explain that a question will be presented by the person in the middle, and if it applies to them, they are asked to swap seats. Whoever is left standing without finding a seat, becomes the person in the middle.

For example...

"Whoever is wearing a cross around their neck...." Go!
"Anyone who has been baptized an Orthodox Christian..." Go!
"Whoever has white socks on..."
"If your Patron Saint is in September..."
"If you own a Bible..."
"Anyone who has brown hair..."
"If you know what Theotokos means..."
(be sure to follow up by asking for the answer)

If anyone leaves the group, you'll have to remove a chair. Remember, no sharing seats, and no one can take their same seat if asked to move. This game can even be played with large groups.

Orthodox Flash Cards

2009-10-06T01:32:00.000-07:00

If you and your kids enjoyed the
"Orthodox Alphabet Game"
here is a set of flash cards to
build your vocab.

Some letters proved a bit challenging so I'll graciously
accept other suggestions for "X, Y, and Z!"

For older kids, maybe it's best to
leave off the word on the front
and have them find the correct
word on the back.

Both PDF files have been added
to the Orthodox Education Group
on Scrib.com. They were set up for
standard 3x5 notecards, or you
can print 4 to a letter size page.

For younger kids, I've placed these cards within an
inexpensive photo album to help them turn the pages like a book.

2009 Orthodox Events

2009-10-05T13:22:00.000-07:00

There are several excellent Orthodox events happening around the U.S. this fall. I encourage everyone to check the list recently posted here for something near you, in the hopes that maybe you will be enriched spiritually in the great struggle for our salvation.

This has been passed on to me, and I share it with you.
Here are a few sample topics:

Building an Orthodox personal life, home and parish
How to be a clergy wife and still go to heaven
Care for the severely challenged patient
Christ the eternal Tao
God's Green Earth: Ecology & Theology
Orthodox Thinking on other Religions
Being Orthodox on today's college campuses
Islam and Christianity
A Christian ending to our life
Salt of the Earth: An Approach to Peacemaking
Orthodox Holy Mothers, Women Martyrs and Women New-martyrs: The Consummate examples of Liberated Women

Once again, for more information click here
to view the appropriate contacts and websites affiliated

Photo Album of Saints

2009-10-01T01:48:00.000-07:00

This great idea comes from the Phyllis Onest website. We've found a simple photo album, this one bearing a Cross and Scripture verse on the outside, with standard plastic 4x6 pages on the inside.

Then we've added our favorite Saints to make a personal book to enjoy! It's a nice way to keep small icons protected and organized for fun learning. Plus it has encouraged us to be on the look out for more icons to add. The pages are easy to turn for little ones, and the older kids enjoy deciding who to put where. We kept the desert ascetics together, then the female martyrs, etc... with more room to grow, we've enjoyed this little book during challenging moments in Church, and on road trips. We hope it can be a useful idea to your families as well.

Coloring Icons with Tissue Paper Craft

2009-09-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

"Oh, I get it" replied a small girl. "The Saints are like stain glass windows because the light of Christ shines through them."

For another easy and creative project, use your traced transparency sheet icons to make beautiful stain glass windows of the Saints. With a pack of tissue paper and glue, layer multiples colors and shapes behind the transparency, and secure them easily with a touch of glue. The more layers, the better really, if you begin with the lightest colors first. Be sure to have a few references to copy for accurate vestment colors, etc.

Here's a sample with St Nektarios of Aegina.

When completed, tape these lovely projects in your windows to get the full effect! I couldn't bare to part with any of the ones our kids made. They were each beautiful in their own way, even the slightly unfinished ones.

I've also tried markers with this project but didn't like them as much. Hope you enjoy!

Making Orthodox Icons to Color

2009-09-19T00:29:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick and easy way to create your own hand drawn icons for various art projects and Orthodox coloring pages. Purchase a pack of overhead projector transparency film from your nearby office supply store, and a black sharpie marker with a thin tip.

Then, find all your favorite icons, preferably size 8x10, and begin tracing! For younger students, tape one sheet to each icon. It's best if the sheet is a bit bigger than the icon so that you eliminate the risk of drawing on the icon itself.

Don't forget to include the name of the Saint, since God knows each of us personally!

These sheets can easily be photocopied onto white paper to distribute to many students. Just look for the transparency setting on your photocopier and be sure to keep your original tracings for future use. Who knows, maybe this project could encourage the creative kids and teens out there to become iconographers!

Stay tuned for another creative project using this method!

*Special attention should be given to these wonderful creations! Be sure not to throw them into the garbage. The proper way to dispose of any icons on paper is to burn them and bury the ashes.*

Discovering Virtue

2009-08-20T23:44:00.001-07:00

Here is a new workbook on "Discovering Virtue" for our Orthodox youth, probably at a pre-teen or teenage level. I offer it with hopes that it will provide a basic framework to discuss the spiritual life and difficult topics like chastity, humility and obedience,along with activities, a craft, and quotes from the desert fathers.

The document can be viewed as a PDF by clicking here at our Orthodox Education Scribd Group

If you have ideas to develop this lesson further, please share them either through this website of by emailing me at eleniemarie@gmail.com

The icon on the cover is one of many beautiful crafts offered at the Monastery of St John Chrysostomos

"You have to struggle to increase your zeal for God. It should become for you a daily way of life. Struggle for perfection. If you can't gain a drachma, gain at least a tenth of a drachma. Virtues are not acquired easily. There is need of struggling. And know: if we acquire virtue quickly, we shall lose it quickly. Whereas if we acquire it with labor, it doesn't go away."

-Blessed Elder, IERONYMOS of Aegina +1966

Teenage Confessions

2009-08-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

A dear friend spent all of July again this year hearing the confessions of maybe 300 or so teenagers in America. A tough job? Sure, it must be exhausting, but for him and every other clergy, our good Lord sends strength, accountability, and compassion to offer just the right medicine to these wounded souls. And this is just what he discovered: wounded souls.

My clergy-friend and I both agreed, the devil is working overtime on our kids. What they are facing today is worse than we faced. It's more intense, more damaging, and
more in their faces than ever. I share with you a few of these findings.

For boys aged 11-18, they are simply bombarded with pornography. Our media has made this extremely accessible. But I liked my friends response- he explained that every time a young guy looks and deletes an image he is training himself to do this when the right one comes along, so therefore after a few short years of marriage, he will want to click "delete" and search for the next image of his satisfaction.

For girls, the same sad story was heard. A high percentage of girls confessed the desire to maintain their virginity, but when they thought the guy actually cared for them, she did it, for him, and then was "deleted." Also, most girls didn't consider oral activity as one in the same.... but no one can confess the name of Christ, and receive the Body and Blood with the same tongue that has been tarnished by such an unnatural act (without of course repentance).

In the end, our young people must be empowered to follow the examples of the Saints! They can learn that chastity is a tremendous virtue and we can model appropriate behaviors and healthy relationships for them. In those toughest moments, no friend or parent can come to their rescue. They must take it upon themselves to guard their bodies with great courage and determination knowing that we are behind them 100%!

If you have a special way you challenge your young people to set apart their lives for Christ, please post a comment. I've tried to include some other resources below

Here are some quotes on chastity

The Church's stance on pre-marital relations

Orthodox Video on Purity

Maidens for Modesty Blog

"by practicing virginity they have been espoused to the Word..."

- Methodius of Olympus (3rd/4th cent.)

Learning to Pray

2009-08-18T00:21:00.000-07:00

What are the things you do daily without thinking twice? We brush our teeth, we put on clothes, and we never leave the house to begin our day without a pair of shoes on our feet to equip us for the road ahead.

In the same way, we can strive to see prayer as an essential part of our day, for the benefits are greater than fresh breath or comfortable feet! Let us teach our children to start small, with an icon of Christ and just five minutes, but strive for consistency. The goal is to remember, thank, and glorify God each and every day by coming to meet Him face to face. By doing this, we grow to rely on Christ and He becomes the center of our lives.

Remember, when we pray, we open the communication between us and God in a very personal way. There’s no one who knows us better than our Lord. He is with us each step of the way, and He knows exactly what we need. The Blessed Elder, IERONYMOS of Aegina +1966 encourages us in his writings "Do not leave off prayer. No matter how tired you are, you can pray for half an hour. Feed your body as if you were going to live a hundred years, but feed your soul as if she were going to die tomorrow."

In the Orthodox Church, we learn how to pray from the Saints who are illumined by God and who share in His glory. When we use their prayers that were written and passed on to us, we become like them and follow them into union with God. Certainly, we can also speak from the heart, but to rely on the words of the Saints for help is the most accurate way of reaching our Lord – for not every ship that sets sails reaches it’s destination.

Here are some prayers available online:

Print Your Own Pocket Prayer Book! Click Here

Transfiguration Orthodox Prayer Book
Orthodox Prayers
Orthodox Christian Prayers

Here are some of my favorite prayer books for children & teens:

Potamitis Prayer Book
Guardian Angel Prayer Book
Children's Prayer Book

Prayer is the greatest weapon we can equip our kids with!

Lamentations of Theotokos

2009-08-12T22:54:00.000-07:00

A beautiful tradition has been celebrated continuously in Jerusalem for over centuries, as well as in some of our local parishes. It is the service of the Lamentations to the Theotokos or Engomia in Greek which translates to "praises."

This breathtaking service of the Orthodox Church mirrors that of a vigil for Holy Friday or Holy Saturday Matins/Orthros. The same familiar melodies return to our ears and hearts to express the sorrow of earthly death while rejoicing in the joy of eternal life. In fact, the very first stanza repeats the same words we chant aloud for Christ... "Ei zoi en tafo" or "In a grave they laid you"

An Epitaphios of the Theotokos exists (like the one pictured here), richly embroidered with a cloth icon of the Theotokos reposed, and is used in a procession, although it is never placed on the Holy Table like the one for Christ.

For a copy in English of these special hymns, click here.

To view photographs in Jerusalem click here

Below are a few favorite stanza's:

All the earth sings glory
at your grave side, O Christ,
with all reverence, O Master, we also praise
the entombment of your Mother, ever Pure...

Now the Bridegroom calls you,to rejoice, Bride of God.
in a manner both divine and most beautiful
in the Bridal Chamber, holy and divine...

We your children offer
lamentations and love
unto you who are our Mother: accept our gift
which we offer from the depths of our souls...

Dormition Word Search

2009-08-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a word search and coloring activity for this year's feastday of the Dormition of the Theotokos on Saturday August, 15th.

For a tougher challenge, check out last years post at the bottom of this blog.

"O gracious Lady, raise thy holy hands towards thy Son, the Maker and Lover of our souls, that He may take pity on thy servants."

A Miracle

2009-08-06T02:42:00.000-07:00

Have you ever said to yourself, where are the miracles of today? Or wouldn't it be something if we were able to witness a miracle in today's day and age? What was it like to be in the presence of our Lord during His Transfiguration (which we celebrate today) or at His first miracle at the Wedding in Cana? Without a doubt, that water became wine to all who witnessed His first public miracle, and to all who called themselves followers of Christ.

Then it happened. This morning, as we knelt for the consecration of the Holy Gifts. We too witnessed a miracle. In fact, the greatest of all miracles. The same One who was capable of transforming water into wine, displayed His glory again and continues to do so for us in every Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church. He accepts the bread and wine from our hands, and offers us Himself in return. How? By miracle.

Just as the disciples, we too become eyewitnesses of His majesty (Peter 1:10-19)

Therefore, if you believe in the God who transformed the water into wine, and you have faith that He transforms the bread and wine into His body and blood, then do not hesitate to believe that He too can transform your sinful flesh into His glory.

"We shall walk, O Lord, in the light of the glory of Thy countenance: and in Thy name shall we rejoice all the day" (Psalm 88:16-17)

Orthodox Outreach

2009-08-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

Every Orthodox Christian must visit this link - then get to work for Christ!
FOCUSNorthAmerica.org

What an absolute blessings to see Orthodox Christians working together for the homeless, the orphaned, and those in need. If we're not involved, we should be.

Seat Swap

2009-07-20T04:28:00.000-07:00

Here's another fun game for kids and teens that can be tailored to our Orthodox faith and gets everyone moving! Begin by creating a circle with chairs facing in and use one less than the number of kids you have, including yourself. Then start by having everyone take a seat, except you who begins in the middle. Explain that a question will be presented by the person in the middle, and if it applies to them, they have to get up quickly and run to a new seat. Whoever is left standing without finding a seat, becomes the next person in the middle.

Here are some fun questions...

"Whoever is wearing a cross around their neck...." Go!
"Anyone who has been baptized an Orthodox Christian..." Go!
"Whoever has white socks on..."
"If your Patron Saint is in September..."
"If you own a Bible..."
"Anyone who has brown hair..."
"If you know what Theotokos means..."
(be sure to follow up by asking for the answer)

Remember, no sharing seats, and no one can take their same seat. This is loads of fun with large groups as well.~ Enjoy ~

Receiving the Eucharist

2009-06-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Whoso Eatheth My Flesh and Drinketh My Blood Hath Eternal Life

(quoted from pages 29-35 of Elder Ephraim's text linked below)

"So much has been said about this "controversial point" of the Holy Eucharist that the faithful wonder what they should do in the long run. Two questions mainly arise: a) how often and b) after what preparation may and should the faithful receive the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist?

The answer has been given by the Church, which has been guided, is guided, and shall be guided by the Holy Spirit "to the whole truth"...(read more here)

"...Fasting means continual temperance. In other words, we should not only fast on the set days of the year when we want to receive Communion and then eat so much for the rest of the year so as to replace in the shortest possible period what we had been deprived of on the days of our preparation for the Holy Communion...."

"...It is through this Sacrament that we define our relationship with Christ. According to the way we prepare ourselves and according to the frequency in coming to Communion, we are classified as ardent, or lukewarm, or cold in our love towards Him. Regular Communion means continual repentance..."

"If we come to our confessor with as much confidence as we go to our doctor we are quite certain that through him God shall make the most suitable suggestions for the solution of our problems..."

"In accordance with the preparations you make, you shall be given the grace of the Communion...receive regularly and do so as worthily as possible...'But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup.'

From the Holy Mountain

2009-06-25T12:08:00.000-07:00

Here's an excellent SHORT book in PDF format by Geronda Ephraim from 1991 - absolutely worth reading over and over again- (I had never seen it before it person )

If you don't have time for it all... scroll to the sections of interest to you personally!

Call from the Holy Mountain

Summer Camp

2009-06-12T11:58:00.000-07:00

What should the camping experience be like for our youth today? It's an interesting question because around the world the answers are varied. In some countries it seems the Church sponsored camps are still gender divided, so the issue of two piece bathing suits or sneaking out of cabins isn't a problem. The relics are plentiful in other places and the miracle stories are around every corner. What about where you live?

If you're involved in camping or retreat experiences, here's a link to the Pan-Orthodox Summer Camp Association website dedicated to sharing resources, activities, games etc that might come in handy for Orthodox Vacation Bible School Programs, for example, on the local or district level.

All in all, I'm a product of Orthodox Camping programs...and although they couldn't safeguard me from sins in my youth, I think God still worked through those experiences to nurture my faith and set aflame a desire to learn more. But I'd more conservatively say that today, I have tougher expectations from a camp. First and foremost, it must be a holy experience. What ranks important to you?

I've found that some camps do the "spirituality" better than others, so investigate before sending off your kids...and if you are looking for referrals, let's chat.

Don't forget to visit the Children's Corner at Potamitis Publishing online for excellent printable activities to enhance your summer learning. All of the above images are wonderful samples of what you can find there. Our SCRIBD Orthodox Education group online also has a Camp Song Book to get you started as well as other lessons to download for free.

A Confession of Faith

2009-06-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

I'd like to solicit ideas as a follow up to the last post on secularism. Please share your ideas to the following:

If the Fathers of the Orthodox Church could safeguard the Truth by writing the Nicene Creed in AD 325 and 381, than it must be the answer we offer our youth for tomorrow's generation.

In what ways do you teach the Nicene Creed to your children and families?

A Secular Society

2009-06-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

"Secularism is more dangerous than communism. It is religion being ignored."

After some time away from this blog, and more reading on my part, there are things that I have not yet stated on this blog that are of utmost importance to the salvation of our children, who will grow up amongst a secular society. First, let's get them out there in the open...and then secondly we can figure out together how to make sure our kids understand these realities.

1. WE DO NOT ALL HAVE THE SAME GOD.
Anyone who denies the inseparable Trinity, One in essence and undivided cannot confess to believe in our God, who existed before all ages as the complete Holy Trinity. There are some who say we have the same God the Father, as in the Father of Abraham, however these people deny Christ and the Holy Spirit and therefore can have no commonality with Orthodox Christians.

2. SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES ARE NOT ALL CHRISTIAN.
Today, it is popular for many to seek out experiences of hypnotism, meditation, yoga, horoscopes and fortune tellers. These are all ways of opening ourselves up to spiritual demons that can do great spiritual harm to our souls. At first, they seem harmless or even holy and divine, but this is how we are tricked into participating, and later the darkness of these experiences will be made known. Some even go so far as to suggest that the Holy Spirit transcends all faiths - this is blasphemy. The Holy Spirit was given to the One Church established by Christ, and those outside of it, cannot be in communion with It.

3. NEVER JOIN IN FOR THE SAKE OF WORLD PEACE.
The time is already approaching when we will be led into the idea that for world peace it will be in everyone's best interest to use one bank, one food supplier, one currency, and one watered down idea of "god"... this trap will take many away from the Orthodox faith because people will not understand that they will be denying Christ and led into a system which does not recognize the One True God. We might be asked, "How could you be against the rest of us? Don't you want world peace?"

4. SIN HAS BECOME FASHIONABLE.
How sad but true this above statement is, which is why the persecution that our children will face will be that of ridicule, teasing, embarrassment, and the likes. Already...which teenagers can dress modestly, attend Church and keep the holy days holy, remain a virgin, and wear a cross without being made fun of? Despite what thoughts might sneak in to throw us off course, continue fasting, praying, and confessing the Orthodox faith - these things do matter!

5. NEVER ACCEPT AN INVISIBLE MARK.
Yes, it seems obvious right...isn't everyone familiar with what the Bible says? But look closely at the words of Geronda Paisios who personally wrote on this subject and insisted on the circulation of it in his own handwriting in 1987. He stated, "after the computerized numbering of everyone, (through the bar code, i.d. cards, credit cards, etc)...they can proceed quickly to say on television that someone took the card of so and so, and took out his money in the bank. They will advertise the perfect system, the marking on the hand or on the forehead with laser rays, which will not be discernible externally with the 666 the name of the antichrist."

Lastly, from the past week's Scripture readings, and words of St Paul, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers...I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock...So be on guard!" Acts 20:28-31

Having openly stated these things publicly, I anticipate that it may stir some feelings, reactions, remarks and possible disagreements. Please respond. Let's share resources and books to further our understanding of these issues so we can pass the Truth on to our children.

Корина

2009-05-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

Can anyone pass along information about a Saint Corina? (Корина) Could it possibly be common amongst Romanian, or Russian Orthodox Christians? This has stumped me.

Simon Says

2009-05-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

A really fun activity for little ones and big ones alike is to play the game of "Simon Says" with an Orthodox twist. Substitute out Simon for one of the Saints, Panagia, or Jesus and select actions that reflect our faith. Here are a few examples to get you started...

Panagia says...
1. Make the sign of the cross
Panagia says...
2. Find an icon in the room
Panagia says...
3. Give a kiss to that icon (venerate)
Panagia says...
4. Touch the floor (like a metanoia)
5. **Point your finger at another person in the room**
(oops, Panagia didn't say to do that!)
Panagia says...
6. Sing "Kurie Eleison" like the leader
Panagia says...
7.Give someone in the room a high-five
8. ** Cover your eyes**
(oops, Christ wants us to walk in His light not stay in darkness**
Panagia says...
9. Get down on your knees to pray
Panagia says...
10. Say Amen
Panagia says...
11. Give someone a hug
12. ** Tell your neighbor a secret **
(oops, Panagia doesn't want us to gossip)

Encourage actions that are related to good-behaviors and mix in a few un-Christian behaviors without asking them to hit each other for example! Have fun!

Preparing for Pentecost

2009-05-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

Christ is Risen! But then what?

The story continues of course.... with more exciting details and events to engage our young listeners. Christ shows what we would call "superhuman" qualities! He appears in the upper room to the Apostles twice when the doors are sealed shut. He is seen along the road to Emmaus, but in some sort of disguise to Luke and Cleopa, until He breaks bread with them and is recognized essentially in the Eucharist (see the lesson plan here). Then forty days later the disciples stand in awe as Christ is taken up before their own very eyes into the sky on His return to the Father. What could possibly come next for the followers of Christ?

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you”

Click this link for the printable lesson: Pentecost Worksheet & Kneeling Prayers

*** This year, I'm finally committed to bringing the prayers with me on Pentecost Sunday, because they are always in a language I cannot fully understand! ***

Orthodox Icon Coloring Book

2009-04-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

Just posted: A 39-page Orthodox icon coloring book full of images of Holy Week, other feast days, and Saints throughout the year for you to download and print to use with your families. Click here
for the printable PDF - select a few pages or print them all with minimal ink usage!

Once again, please do not distribute this for profit in anyway!

The Red Egg

2009-04-03T04:14:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at the pious custom of red eggs in the Orthodox Church for you and your families to enjoy. Where did the tradition come from anyway? It seems there are a few possible answers to this question...of which I prefer to believe in the miracle that God worked through His handmaiden, Mary Magdalene (whom by the way is often wrongly attributed as the prostitute who anointed Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair - See Orthodox Wiki for a well cited clarification).

Other symbolism, not as dogma, but as tradition includes:

*The egg as the new life in Christ through His resurrection

*Red for the color of our Lord's blood but also for His divinity

*The outer shell to be cracked as the doors of Hades are shattered

Since children enjoy decorating the eggs, why not encourage them to display their faith on them, as the picture shows! Be sure not to throw away any icons if you use them, but certainly include symbols like ~ icxc, fish, crosses, tree of life, the Trinity, 4 Greek Letters for Mother of God...etc

This worksheet is available in PDF format here

Scribd Orthodox Group

2009-04-02T00:50:00.000-07:00

Please forgive me that it has taken this long to find a good way to upload the Orthodox activities and lessons for you to download and print easily. I have just discovered www.scribd.com and begun a group called "Orthodox Christian Education" there.

You can visit this site, join the group, post your own resources, and read hundreds of excellent Orthodox articles from the Church Fathers and Saints that have been posted by other users. I hope to post other resources from Youth Camps, Retreats, and Family Nights very shortly there too.

~ Hopefully, this is just the beginning ~

Click this link to the Scribd Orthodox Christian Group

Wishing you "kali dynami" good strength for the remaining days of our Lenten journey to Pascha!

Homeschool Conference

2009-03-31T08:19:00.000-07:00

SAINT EMMELIA
ORTHODOX HOMESCHOOLING CONFERENCE

March 26-29, 2009

Antiochian Village - Ligonier, PA

For a Retreat Schedule, and a list of Speakers and Topics click here for the Conference website

Holy Week Scrapbook Craft

2009-03-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

For all you creative folks out there, consider putting your talents to use to create a Holy Week Scrapbook for your family or parish. Fill it with fun icons, Scripture verses, symbols, various languages, or photos as the week progresses. Use this as a learning tool, or a memory keepsake for 2009.

~ I'm sending this one off as a care package for my god daughter ~ with jelly beans and a pretty dress, who wouldn't love receiving mail!

Here are a few suggested "call outs" to use with the icons:

Entry into Jerusalem:
Can you find Zaccheus? Why is Christ seated side-ways on the donkey? Did you know in colder countries the faithful use pussy willows instead of palm branches?

Washing the Disciples' Feet:
How many disciples were present? Who asks Jesus to wash his whole body? What is so special about feet?

Mystical Supper: Can you find St John resting on the bosom of Christ? How about Judas? He's usually the only one reaching for the food and is shown in profile, which signifies his two-faced betrayal.

Christ on the Cross:
What were the last words of our Lord? Can you find the blood and the water that spilled out from Christ's side? Who was crucified with Jesus? What was written above His head? In which three languages?

Christ being taken down from the Cross:
Can you find St. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea? They cared for Christ's body and received permission to take Him down from the cross. Who is holding Jesus' head?

The Empty Tomb:
Which women were first to the tomb of Christ? What did they take with them? What is left behind where Jesus was laid?

The Resurrection:
Can you find Adam and Eve being raised from their tombs? How about those departed who are standing to the sides of Christ - Saint John the Baptist (right) and King David (left). Abel, the son of Adam (left) and the first man to die, is present and depicted wearing a shepherd's robe. Why are there keys and broken locks under the Cross?

Use google image search to save and print your own icons

For a FREE Journey to Pascha Handbook click here

Icon School & Guatemala

2009-03-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

Icons are the ‘Gospel in light and color’

Stumbling upon this website, I want to encourage others to also check it out for there are truly some beautiful icons being written~ I had never heard of this school, so it was a nice surprise to learn of their workshops, classes, and instructional DVD.

Maybe amongst our children will be the next generation of iconographers!

Also, be sure to watch the very short film on the progress of the Guatemala Monastery project. It is absolutely beautiful!

Here's the link Prosopon School

~ Visit the "Schedule" link to see if there is an event near you ~

Blessed Theophylact

2009-03-24T11:32:00.000-07:00

Check out the website of Chrysostom Press for selected Gospel Commentaries on the Sundays throughout Lent and Pentecost. These are from the Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid and Bulgaria. What gems available to us online! Thank you Chrysostom Press!

Bending the Heart

2009-03-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

"Unworthy as I am,
You will save me in Your great mercy and I will praise You continually all the
days of my life."

We have such little time to truly repent and come to know our own sinfulness. What a very difficult thing: to see ourselves as we really are, bare and without cover. How does this happen? I remember the Abbott of St Nektarios' Monastery in NY teaching us that our work in this life is really downward, into the heart to uncover the layers of dirt upon us. But a recent question I had was, what does it mean to have sinned? How do we actually "hurt" God? My spiritual father once explained the pain God feels when we sin against Him, as the deep sadness we would have if our own children would reject us, not wanting to communicate, spend time together, or accept our love. Can you imagine?

Great Lent and the prayers of the divine services help me to grasp this concept by literally "bending my heart" to touch my forehead to the ground in a full prostration. It is an opportunity to bow down before our King and our God.

Here is a section of one of the most powerful prayers of the *Great Compline* said by the priest.

**The Prayer of Manasses,** King of Judea

"...You, O Lord, according to the multitude of Your goodness, promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against You, and in Your infinite compassion appointed repentance for sinners that they may be saved. Therefore, Lord, the God of the powers, you have not appointed repentance for the righteous, for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who have not sinned against You, but You appointed repentance for me a sinner, for I have committed more sins than grains of the sand of the sea. My transgressions have multiplied, and I am not worthy to look up and see the height of the sky from the multitude of my iniquities, being weighed down by many iron chains, so that I cannot raise my head; there is no respite left for me because I have provoked your anger and committed evil before You, not having done Your will and not having kept Your commandments.

And now I bend the knee of my heart, beseeching Your goodness. I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned and I acknowledge my transgressions; but I beg and ask of You: Forgive me, Lord, forgive me and do no destroy me with my transgressions; do not be angry with me forever and keep my evils in me, and do not condemn me to the depths of the earth; for You are God, the God of those who repent, and in me you shall show all Your goodness; for even though I am unworthy, you shall save me according to the multitude of Your mercy. and I shall praise You without ceasing all the days of my life. For every heavenly power sings Your praises, and Yours is the glory unto the ages of ages. Amen."

Print the full *Great Compline* here
Or another translation without clergy Reader's Great Compline

The **Prayer of Manasseh** is a classic prayer of repentance attributed by tradition to Manasseh, a wicked king of Judah (2 Chr 33:11-13), who pleaded God's forgiveness for his many sins.

What is the Prayer of Manasseh?
Where does it come from?
Click here

----------------------------------------

"How Everyone Should Prepare for Confession"
This is a must read for all Orthodox Christians! By St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite

"And just as hunters are not satisfied with merely finding a beast in the forest, but attempt through every means to also kill it, likewise, my brother sinner, you should also not be satisfied with merely examining your conscience and with finding your sins, for this profits you little, but struggle by every means to kill your sins through the grief in your heart, namely, through contrition and affliction. And in order to acquire contrition, consider how much you have wronged God through your sins. In order to also acquire affliction, consider how much you have wronged yourself through your sins."

Another Preparation for Holy Confession: Click Here

Several more articles on Preparing for Confession Here

A Magnet

2009-03-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

In conjunction with the great and holy feast of the Annunciation, I like using the analogy of a magnet to communicate the message that the Lord was "with" Panagia. A magnet has the ability to attract, with great strength that which it is drawn to. But it also has the potential of repelling that which it does not want.

For Orthodox Christians, the Theotokos (Mother of God) by exercising her God-given discernment, repelled all doubt and distraction from the evil one, and clung to the will of God instead. In this way, she reversed the curse of Eve, and made possible the incarnation of God. Yes, God had a plan for mankind, but He never forced it upon anyone. We offer praise and our thanksgiving to Panagia because she made the choice that we all strive to imitate. Could it be that her "yes" was made possible through the numerous divine virtues she had attracted? (patience, humility, faithfulness, courage, chastity, gratitude, wisdom and ultimately love for God)

We can look to the upbringing and lifestyle of the Theotokos to understand just how God prepared her. Growing up in the Temple, and more specifically the Holy of Holies, she heard the divine Scriptures daily, and praised God with hymns of doxology from a young age. Dedicated in purity and virginity, she was focused on pleasing God rather than her peers. Even her activities were holy, for she like other young maidens, would spend their time sewing the curtain for the Temple. (We see the Panagia holding yarn in some icons of the Annunciation) In all things, she was attached to God!

Now, the tough question to ask ourselves:

What sort of magnet are we?

ACTIVITY

Experiment with small magnets to attract and repel various items.
Try to connect the results to our faith.

Metal Spoons & Cookware = our love of food
Computer Tower = time using technology
Coins (won't stick) = symbol of wealth
Keys = Our ideal cars, or the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven?

Lastly, consider how a compass works with your kids and teens. Ask yourselves: In which direction is our needle drawn? Does our path lead to God and His Kingdom? If we see ourselves and the needle of our compass unsteady, may we cry out to the Mother of God for her help and intercessions before God, so that we too may respond to His call with courage and say, "be it unto me according to thy word" - St. Luke 1:38

"Today is the beginning of our salvation,
The revelation of the eternal mystery!
The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin
As Gabriel announces the coming of Grace.
Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, O Full of Grace,
The Lord is with You!"

Troparion (Tone 4) of the Annunciation

Red Envelope Day

2009-03-16T03:29:00.000-07:00

Here's an idea that I'm planning to participate in. Consider the impact it could make, and join in. Anyone who says this isn't an Orthodox issue is in denial. Life is the greatest gift God gives, and therefore we must pray not only for the protection of unborn children, but for the healing of all women who have painfully been deceived by the evil one. Let all come to know the great love our God has for those who turn repentant and seek His mercy. A broken and humbled heart God will not despise.

Here is the plan:

Get a RED envelope (from a place like Kinkos or a party supply store) and mail it on MARCH 31ST to the White House.

On the front, address it to:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington , D.C. 20500

On the back, write a short message of your choosing. For example:

"This envelope represents one of the 50 million children who were murdered by an abortion. ABORTION KILLS. CHOOSE LIFE!"

Here is a plea from a special Orthodox priest we are in contact with:

"I entreat you to consider taking part in this - hopefully - nation-wide effort to speak up for the pre-born child. It is time to do whatever we can in behalf of those innocent ones, who cannot speak up for themselves."

Visit this website for more details.
The more we send, the more powerful this symbol will be.

Orthodox Children's Coloring Worksheets

2009-03-14T04:24:00.001-07:00

You might recognize the resources available by Potamitis Publishing as they are starting to become more popular amongst Orthodox Christians worldwide, but if you haven't visited their website, check it out for printable connect-the-dot activities, online puzzles and coloring sheets. It's very kid friendly!

Here's the Children's Corner where you can print many activities!

To send a free e-postcard with Orthodox imagery
Click Here

Colors of Orthodoxy

2009-03-09T01:59:00.000-07:00

Now is a good time of year to pay close attention to color in the Orthodox Church, and how it's used to underline the moods appropriate to the season or special feastday.

Many changes have probably already occurred in your local parishes to signify the Lenten season. This is a good opportunity to review the significance of the colors with your teens and children to enhance their experience and understanding. On evenings like Forgiveness Vespers and Holy Saturday, the change of color can be seen mid-service!

In the Orthodox Church, there are typically six liturgical colors used: white, green, purple, red, blue, and gold. (Later, black vestments also came into use, and in various regions scarlet orange or rust as well) Most typikons/rubrics for our Orthodox jurisdictions seem to specify either "dark" or "bright" colors according to what the priest or parish might have available, but there are some common practices for the major feasts we can look at.

Changes can be seen in the priest's vestments, Altar table cloth, chalice and disc covers, sometimes the curtain in the royal doors, as well as the glass votives in the hanging vigil lamps in front of the icons on the iconostasis.

* White is used for Pascha, Christmas, the Transfiguration and Theophany (color of purity and God's uncreated light)

* Purple/Black for Lent (color of mourning and repentance)

* Green for Pentecost and feasts of the Holy Cross (color of plants and new life, renewal)

* Blue for feasts of the Theotokos and Salutation services in Lent (color of humanity, and also the heavens as we call Panagia's womb "More Spacious than the Heavens")

* Red for feasts of Martyrs, the Nativity fast, and also Pascha in some regions (color of martyrs blood, also color of divinity and royalty)

* Gold as the default (color of virtue)

-Click the images to print and use as handouts in your lesson-

~ Helpful Links ~

Russian Link

Antiochian Link

Interview on Vestments with Krista West

Fr Jerry Hall recording

Save This for Pascha

2009-03-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

Although we've only just begun our journey towards celebrating the Lord's Resurrection, I share with you a fantastic link with the Paschal greeting in 59 languages!

Pascha Languages

Be sure to print and save this one!

Monachos.net has other great resources available as well. Visit this link

St Ephrem the Syrian, Spiritual Psalter, 120:
'How many times have I promised...'

I am unworthy to ask forgiveness for myself, O Lord, for many times have I promised to repent and proved myself a liar by not fulfilling my promise. Thou hast picked me up many times already, but every time I freely chose to fall again...If a righteous man can barely be saved, then where will I end up, I who am lawless and sinful? If the path that leads to life is strait and narrow, then how can I be vouchsafed such good things, I who live a life of luxury, indulging in my own pleasures and dissipation? But Thou, O Lord, my Saviour, Son of the true God, as Thou knowest and desirest it, by Thy grace alone, freely turn me away from the sin that abides in me and save me from ruin.

St Ephraim the Syrian resources

Quote from 120th 'Psalm' in St Ephraim's Spiritual Psalter by our Holy Father St Ephraim of Edessa, the Syrian; excerpted and arranged by Bishop Theophan the Recluse according to the manner of the psalter of the Old Testament.

March Activity

2009-03-05T03:22:00.000-08:00

Click on the image to view and print this month's activity

Search horizontal, vertical,
and diagonal to find all
the words related to
Great Lent and Holy Pascha.

~ Enjoy ~

Triodion Online

2009-03-02T00:49:00.000-08:00

** We have available to us the holy words from the Lenten Triodion online in English.** What sweetness to pierce our souls! Visit this link to copy and paste the canons for use in your personal daily prayers.
Triodion Online

Keep this link as well for many liturgical texts
Anastasis.org

Made possible by the
** Community of the Holy Myrrhbearers **
R.D. 2, Box 188,
Otego, New York, 13825
(607) 432-3179
MRaphaela@aol.com

Mother Raphaela has given her blessing to distribute the texts for personal and church use but not for any kind of commercial use.

Parts of the Triodion are available in book form:
The Lenten Triodion by Mother Mary and Archimandrite Kallistos Ware Faber and Faber, London 1978

Sold many places One Link to Purchase It

The Lord consecrated and sanctified these
Forty Days of the Fast by fasting Himself for forty days.
Having entered into them, brethren, let us cry aloud: Blessing and exalting Christ forever!

Spring Cleaning

2009-02-28T13:23:00.000-08:00

"Clean up - Clean up,
everybody everywhere,
Clean up - clean up,
everybody do their share."

The lyrics to this catchy Barney song might have more use to our Orthodox faith than we've considered before because if there's one concept kids understand, it's cleaning! Whether they are imitating our motion with a vacuum or grumbling about household chores, kids can distinguish dirt from sparkle! Let us use this opportunity then on "Clean Monday" to introduce our families to the idea that Lent is a period of cleansing, and everyone benefits from participating. Because Clean Monday is a strict fast day, it should be kept holy thru holy activities. I'd say, tidy up the house only in conjunction with a lesson about cleaning both the outside of the cup, as well as the inside.

* A clean bedroom is inviting to the angels
(tidy up your icons)

* A clean body can be achieved through a clean belly
(observe the fast)

* A clean mind is able to think of God rather than other worries
(spend quiet time with God)

* A clean mouth is filled with sweet words
(sing together)

* A clean hand is one that has helped others
(pitch in on a group project)

* A clean conscience is achieved only through tears of repentance and forgiveness (learn to make a prostration)

and ultimately

* ONLY A clean soul can become a suitable place for our Lord to dwell (read Communion prayers before and after receiving)

As we embark on the most important "spring cleaning" of our lives over the next 40-days, let us remember that with each small effort we make, God is wiping away the layers of crud to make us radiant with His glory.

"Wash yourselves, and ye shall be clean; put away the wicked ways from your souls before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; diligently seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, consider the fatherless, and plead for the widow. Come then, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: and though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them white as snow; and though they red like crimson, I will make them white as wool. If then ye be willing, and obedient unto Me, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye desire not, nor will obey me, the sword shall devour you, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it." (Is 1:1-20, First Monday of Great Lent, the Sixth Hour)

SONG ACTIVITY "Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away, from Your presence O Lord, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me, restore unto me, the joy of Your salvation, O Lord, and renew a right Spirit within me."

CRAFT ACTIVITY There is a tradition in Greece to fly kites from the tops of hills on Clean Monday. Kites have traditionally been a handmade hexagon. Narrow strips of wood are used and tied together in the middle by string. A large piece of paper is then stuck to the hexagonal shape and individually decorated. Fringes and tails of colored shiny paper are then added and an extremely long ball of string attached. Complete this activity by discussing how we are like the kite - taking a journey closer to God.

Holy Photini

2009-02-23T12:35:00.000-08:00

Here are several handouts for a lesson on St Photini, who earned the title "Equal to the Apostles." The Church celebrates her life this Thursday and on the Sunday of the Samaritan Women during the Paschal season. Her encounter with Christ is so very important to us because we find Christ clearly declaring Himself to be the awaited Messiah. ~ There is no longer any question about His identity ~

Therefore, begin by reading this encounter in the Gospel of John 4: 1-30 or page 12 in the recommended book by Dr Maria Khoury "Christina's True Hero's" (see previous post on resources for the Saints)

Pay special attention to the way Christ transforms the understanding of St Photini. He truly reveals Himself to her, in a very gentle way, and afterward, her life is never the same. This is our calling. Once we experience Christ, we can no longer live in darkness for we have seen the light. This is true metanoia: to turn and go in the other direction. Like St Photini, we can openly share with others the many wonders God has shown us through His gracious mercy.

Search beyond holy Scripture, and discover her name, her life and witness, and her martyrdom also at a well. What special details that our Church preserves!

Play the game of Telephone to see if your children and young adults can pass along the message of Christ accurately, as did St Photini. Or print out her icon to color or decorate a small clay water jug with. Here is a nice online account of her life.

A CLOSING PRAYER

When through your inexpressible dispensation, Christ God, you appeared on earth, the woman of Samaria, having heard your word, full of love for mankind, left her bucket at the well and ran saying to those in the city: Come, see the one who knows the heart: is not this the expected Christ, who has great mercy?

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.-from the Vespers of Samaritan Woman

Lenten Boardgame

2009-02-19T01:18:00.000-08:00

Search the toy store aisles, and there's no Orthodox games to be found! So, let's develop our own ~ Just think of the possibilities! We could develop gamepieces in the form of Saints, and move along the board to get them from earth to heaven, encountering persecutions and wild animals along the way! Maybe a set back or two. It's the game of Life, only Orthodox!

For the Lenten season, here's a simple boardgame to follow along with, but there's room for you to make up the rules. Roll dice, develop cards, land on a dark blue square and do something charitable - land on a light square and memorize a Scripture verse.

For other Lenten resources check out the following links:

www.lent.goarch.org

Journey through Holy Week for Kids

Phyllis Onest Resources

Lenten Resources at Monachos.net

The Mind as an Airport

2009-02-18T18:38:00.000-08:00

(see the Philokalia)

A unique analogy within Orthodoxy and the writings of the Church Fathers is the idea that our mind is likened to an airport. The spiritual warfare that we, and our children, live amongst is as the numerous planes flying overhead at any given moment. These thoughts, or airplanes, can land in the mind, which is the entry point to our soul. Our task is not to allow the harmful planes to fuel up and stay parked at our airport! We must use the God-given discernment we have to dismiss the planes before they take root and darken our soul.

We do not blame ourselves strictly for the planes flying over us, for example, to say that anyone is created evil, or a bad person because of them. Rather, a person can be taken hostage to harmful ideas, which when rooted in the person, only then become their responsibility. This is what we mean when we say, a person has the capacity to sin, and fall to the passions. The passions themselves do not originate from within us. We were created good. We only live within a fallen world, and when we fall, we are offered the medicine of repentance and metanoia that only Christ's Church can offer us.

Simply put: Standing watch is being ready to tell those negative thoughts to fly away and we must teach our children to ignore them. Here's how I used this idea with a young girl.

During the Divine Liturgy one day, at the time of the holy consecration of our Lord's Body and Blood, a beautiful God-fearing young girl in our community was next to me and became quite frightened and distracted by the thought that she saw a spider. I am not certain if the spider was indeed there, but regardless, it took her and my attention away from our Lord for that brief moment.

So, I ask, was the evil one victorious in his attempt to steal our thoughts away from Christ? When explained, I believe this young girl understood. Not because of any extraordinary analogy, but because her mother has equipped her with the necessary tools for battle, and combined with the grace of God, she's prepared to struggle for the Kingdom.

Holy Numbers

2009-02-16T20:42:00.000-08:00

Learning to Count:
The Orthodox Numbers

For children learning to count, or even teens who need a good challenge, this activity opens our eyes to the many ways our Lord sanctifies numbers.

This idea was inspired by an Orthodox Saint who during his martyrdom, brought to mind something holy for each horrible act against him. While they cut off each toe or finger, he praised God according to the number, finding a way to glorify our Creator. Can anyone help me remember this Saint's name?

Here's how the activity works: Begin by explaining that as the adult or leader, you will call one number at a time, and ask for your children/teens to respond with a correlating event from the Bible, a Saints life, or element from our faith. You can go in order, or be more spontaneous. However, don't move on until your group has thought of everything it can for that number! Here are a few examples...

1 - One God, One Church, One Faith, One Messiah, One leper healed who thanked God, Prayers of 1st Hour

2 - Mary & Joseph, Paul & Silas, Two animals of every kind in Arc, Brothers James and John, Parable of Two Sons

3 - Holy Trinity, The Hebrew Children, Noah's 3 sons, 3 Fathers Abraham-Isaac-Jacob, 3 Angels visited Abraham, Days of Jonah in the belly of the whale, Days of Christ in the depths of hades, 3 Magi, 3 Stars of Panagia's ever-virginity, Prayers of 3rd Hour, Peter denied Christ 3 times, Christ breathed His last breath on the cross at 3:00pm, 3 Apples picked by St Euphrosynos, 3 Apples given to St Irene Chrysovilantou, 3 Daughters of St Sophia, Newly baptized child/adult receives Body & Blood 3 times in a row

4 - Gospels, 4 Corners of the Earth,Lazarus in the tomb for 4 Days

5 - Holy Virgins who made it into the Kingdom with enough oil, Jesus fed 5 thousand with 5 loaves

6 - Days to work, Stone Jars at Wedding at Cana, Prayers of 6th Hour, 6 Winged Angels

7 - Days of Creation, Sacraments, 7 angels 7 plagues, 7 Fruits of Holy Spirit,7th Day of Rest, 7 Ecumenical Counsels

8 - 8th Day after Pascha symbolizing eternity, 8 Byzantine Tones to Chant

9 - Lepers who didn't return to thank God, Prayers of 9th Hour, Holy Spirit descended at 9am, 9 months of Panagia carrying Christ in her womb

10 - Virgins waiting for the Bridegroom, # of Lepers cleansed, 10 Commandments

12 - Tribes of Israel, Apostles, Prayers of the 12th Hour, Christ crucified at 12:00 noon, Jews led out of Egypt at midnight, Maybe Christ would come as thief in the night at midnight, 12 baskets of leftover bread from miracle with loaves

40 - Days of Flood, Days Moses ascended Mountain, Years of Jews wandering the desert, Years of reign of King David, Days Elijah traveled until he reached Horeb, Years of Reign of Saul,Years of reign of Soloman, Days Christ was tempted in desert, Days Christ appeared after Resurrection before Ascension, Days of Fast before Christmas, Days of Fast before Pascha, 40-Days of mourning(Memorial Service), 40 Martyrs of Sebaste, 40 Day Churching of Baby

50 - Days after Resurrection for Pentecost

Millions - the Saints!

You can use this game to compete in small groups, with each answer earning a point, or just play for fun on a road trip! Either way, it should encourage our learning and hopefully remind us of the many wonders of our Lord and God. (tip: use a Bible search engine online for assistance)

Choosing a School

2009-02-15T12:38:00.000-08:00

Training Up a Child: Educational Options for Orthodox Christians

Excerpts from online article by
Bishop THOMAS (Joseph), Ed.D.,
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

"Before you examine the school’s ability to teach academics, however, it is absolutely necessary that you determine whether the school is Christian-friendly, Christian-tolerant or anti-Christian. If you find the school to be Christian-friendly and capable of teaching academics, you may want to utilize it as part of your responsibility to rear and educate your children. If, however, the school is merely Christian-tolerant or is anti-Christian, it behooves you to look for other choices. Let me stress that in raising your children, it is their eternal salvation which should be at the top of your priorities. This is your responsibility before God."

"Whatever teaching method you choose, Christ must be at the head of the classroom. The icon of Christ is what your children must view in you, in their teachers, on the screens of their computers, and in the faces of their peers."

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

*** Special thanks to Ashley who first posted this article ***

Uprooting Passions

2009-02-13T12:52:00.000-08:00

"Do not neglect to uproot from the hearts of children the tares of sins, impure, evil and blasphemous thoughts, sinful habits, inclinations and passions; the enemy and the sinful flesh do not spare even children; the seeds of all sins are to be found in children too; show them the danger of sin on the path of life; do not hide sins from them lest through ignorance and want of comprehension they should be confirmed in sinful habits and attachments, which grow stronger and stronger and bring forth corresponding fruits when the children grow up." - St. John of Kronstadt

As parents and youth workers we face a common task to raise the children that God gave us in a holy manner. But correcting bad behaviors, and offering discipline is one of the areas most difficult, especially when we ourselves are struggling with our own passions like anger, lack of compassion, and little patience.

The good news is that every child created in His image has His grace, which acts as a checks and balance system within the conscience. However, children who grow up without confirmation from parents or other adults can become very confused. They test the waters, but cannot swim in the deep end of the pool without a few lessons.

Elder Porphyrios taught that, "Our religion wants children to learn the truth from an early age." He stated, "You must tell the truth for a person to learn it. Otherwise you sustain him in ignorance... so to a child you must tell the truth and scold it so that it knows what it is doing is not good."
He offers these suggestions as well, "The medicine and great secret for children's progress is humility... The children who come from humble parents do not get angry when their error is pointed out, but rather they try to correct it and pray that God may help them not to become egoists...Children should learn to seek God's help in everything."
_________________________________________________________

For further reading, check out these 6 (edited) steps listed by St Tikhon in more depth at http://fr-d-serfes.org/orthodox/parents.htm

1. Remind them often of holy Baptism and that at that time they promised God to live decently and steadfastly, to serve Him with faith and righteousness, and to keep away from every evil and sin.

2. Repeat to them that we live not for this temporal life, for honor, glory, and riches in this world.

3. Let them understand Who is the God of Christians, and what He requires of us, that He hates evil and loves good...and to do what is pleasing to Him.

4. Enlighten their inward eyes as to Who Christ is and to our own sinfulness.

5. Teach them the Law of God, and tell them what the Law demands of us: That is, that we should love God and every man; and truly repent and correct ourselves for the day of Judgment.

6. Set before them the last things: death, Christ's judgment, eternal life, and eternal torment, that the fear of God may so abide in them and preserve them from every evil. Pour these and other things like milk into their young hearts, that they may mature in piety.
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"Lord Jesus Christ, give Your light to my children. I entrust them to You. You gave them to me, but I am weak and unable to guide them, so, please illuminate them." - Prayer by Elder Porphyrios

Graveyard Cleanup

2009-02-10T05:24:00.001-08:00

Most American cemeteries have maintenance workers, but I've been thinking that this would make a fantastic service project. Take your kids, your teens, or your youth group and go spend the afternoon amongst the tombs!(Especially if you know where many fellow Orthodox faithful are buried)Did you know the early Christians celebrated the Divine Liturgy underground with the bodies of the reposed alongside the worshipers.(catacombs) Can you imagine that!

Prayer for those fallen asleep is an ancient tradition of the Church. Since we believe that life continues after death, we say the members of the Church that have reposed maintain spiritual communication with those of us that remain on earth. As St Paul says in Romans 14:7-8, "Whether we live or die we belong to the Lord."

* Pick a Saturday or Sunday
* Copy prayers of Memorial Service
* Pack rakes,shovels,flowers,garbage bags
* Select an area of the graveyard to tidy up
* Spend time reading the tombstones
* Read the Trisagion prayers for the person buried there
* Teach the following (taken from a text by New Skete, Mt Athos)

The one, holy, and universal Church is divided into two parts: the Church Triumphant and the Church Militant. To the Church Triumphant belong all those who ended their struggle in earthly life victoriously; they await their crown of righteousness (the Saints). To the Church Militant belong all those still struggling on earth against sin in order to attain perfection.(saints, with a lowercase "s") It is by the love of Christ, which is eternal, that we are bound to one another as His creation.

St John Chrysostom stated, "Let us help these souls as much as we can, and offer them a small assistance. We ourselves should pray and we should ask others to pray for them. We offer charitable acts together with supplications for those departed so that they may receive consolation. For, if Job's children were cleansed by their father's sacrifice, then why doubt that the dead do not gain benefit from our prayers and charity?"

Lastly, if time permits, consider discussing the significance of Kollyva, the traditional mixture of boiled wheat and fruits which dates back to the 4th century and is usually offered on 40-Day and One Year Memorials. Get your hands dirty preparing this tasty treat if you can and end the day with this quote from St Simeon of Thessaloniki,

"The kernels of wheat and fruits of the earth show that human beings are also seeds. When they are cast down on the ground they want, with the power of God, to rise up again like grain, and after they manage to sprout up, then full grown and alive, they want to be offered to Christ. For just as what is now a seed will be buried in the earth and after that will germinate and come to fruition and bear forth its ample fruit, so too a human being that is now delivered to the earth on account of death wants to rise up again."

For Christ is the resurrection, the life, and the repose of all, and to Him do we ascribe glory, together with the beginningless Father, and the all-holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Lives of the Saints

2009-02-03T12:24:00.000-08:00

St. Clement of Rome wrote: "Come to the saints, for they who cleave to them shall be made holy."

There are no greater stories to share with our children and teens than from the lives of the Saints. No movie could compare! You want adventure, encounters with
wild animals, travels to foreign lands, superhuman feats, and miracles unbelievable to the human eye?
Look no further!

Unlike fictional characters, the Saints exist, and ARE real. Children never have to stop believing in them like the tooth fairy, santa, or the boogy man! The Saints, whom make up the Church Triumphant, serve the Church militant, us, who are still marching along in this world fighting against the passions. They illumine the way for us to follow, and when we share their lives with our young people, the same seeds of virtue will be planted in our souls. We will be drawn to imitate them with great conviction to change our lives according to a more holy path.

Take a look at these resources

Saints for specific needs

Online Lives of the Saints

www.abbamoses.com

OCA Saints

www.orthodox.net

Saints by Name & Month

www.orthodoxchristian.info

Father Serfes Saints

Greek Archdiocese Calendar

In Print Resources

Daily Lives Calendar (My Favorite)

A Child's Paradise of Saints

Christina's Hero's

40 Saints: Teachers Text

Prologue of Ohrid

St Dionysios (Others like this also available)

Synaxarion Series (Many volumes, but worth it)

"Our Church honors saints not as gods, but as faithful servants, holy men and friends of God." - St.Nektarios Metropolitan of Pentapolis (+1920)

Ticket for the Game

2009-02-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

Today, my husband used a great analogy while speaking with a new catechist. He explained Orthodoxy to him like this. We, in the true Church, have the ticket for the SuperBowl. However, we've still got to travel there and the journey is where we face the truest test. It's a narrow path and not easy to follow. (Anyone who struggles to fast, pray and give up worldly conveniences understands this)

We also don't know who else may make it inside. There will be others who show up, and get in at the last hour, or even others who come from around the world. This is up to our Lord.

But lastly, there are those with a ticket but they don't do anything with it. For them, having the title "Orthodox" won't be enough.

So, to all of us with tickets in hand, on the correct path of salvation, let us show up for the game, having worked diligently to get there. May our Lord in His great mercy grant us entrance. Kali Dynami

Fathers & Fruits

2009-01-29T12:46:00.000-08:00

Consider bringing the story of the 3 Great Hierarchs into your home tomorrow with the following lesson and activity.

Begin by asking your kids or teens to select three favorite Fruits.
* Announce the fruits out loud and discuss why they were picked.
* What do your kids like and dislike about each one?
* What are their respective qualities and characteristics. Is one sweeter than another? More tasty, too bitter, or bland?
* Can they agree... "Which is their favorite?"

If you're working with a youth group, divide the room according to the choices. Can you create a small uproar amongst the groups? Ask one to try convincing the others to change their selection. Lastly, ask the groups to come up with a "name" that would associate them with their favorite fruit. (i.e. Kiwians,Appleanians, Orangins)

Then, ask everyone to close their eyes. As the adult, use three voices to introduce yourself on behalf of each fruit, being a bit silly, and arriving at the final conclusion that a fruit salad is the best way to enjoy all three since God made each one of you, and although you are uniquely tasty in your own way, God considers you equally delicious!

Then introduce the story of the † Three Holy Hierarchs †
St Basil the Great, St Gregory the Theologian, and St John Chrysostom

You might say, "If you had a difficult time agreeing on a favorite fruit, can you imagine how divided the people of Constantinople were in the early 12th century when they argued over who was greatest among the 3 Hierarchs?" Three groups formed, calling themselves the Basilians, Gregorians and Joannites. At last, desiring to restore peace to the City and the Church, the three holy hierarchs themselves appeared to the monk John Mauropus; they revealed to him that they stand together in harmony and in equal glory before the heavenly throne, and instructed him to compose a common service for the three of them. Saint John (Mauropus) obeyed, and chose January 30 as the date of the commemoration, since each of the three hierarchs is commemorated separately in January. (abbamoses.com)

Since the feast falls on a Friday this year, finish the lesson off by enjoying some fruit together, laughing over their qualities, and enjoy coloring this icon together. Xronia Polla~

Geronda

2009-01-29T00:08:00.000-08:00

Below are 3 recordings of the Blessed Elder, Paisios of Mt. Athos, with English subtitles. It is the actual voice of this Saint.

Elder Paisios - recording in his cell part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkV9r2vuMr8&feature=related

Elder Paisios - recording in his cell part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vJRVPzn6R0&NR=1

Elder Paisios - recording in his cell part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-a9i8ZmS8o&feature=related

The Jesus Prayer

2009-01-26T06:12:00.000-08:00

I am convinced that our kids and teens need to hear this prayer more than any other. It's called the Jesus Prayer and whenever we use it, we call upon Christ as the Holy Scripture says, keeping Him on our minds, in our hearts, and on our lips with every minute of the day. This short but powerful prayer sanctifies whatever task we are doing!

Fold the laundry ... and say this prayer

Drive to the grocery store ... and say this prayer

Say it in any language, say it in short or long form...

but whatever you do, keep praying and let your kids hear you!

The Jesus Prayer has even been put to a simple melody in order to sing it. I have heard it in two different forms, and love both! It's great to use on long car trips, because everyone can participate. Take turns offering the first name of someone you'd like to sing the Jesus Prayer for, then complete the song on their behalf.

We say, "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on ______, your servant."

Sometimes we include all the poor, the hungry, the orphaned, the priests, all monks and nuns, those with a handicap, etc. Before you know it, you and your family will have prayed for the sanctification of the whole world!

"Indeed, our true task is always the same and is always accomplished in the same way: to call upon our Lord Jesus Christ with a burning heart so that His holy name intercedes for us." -

-Hesychios the Priest: On Personal Holiness

February Activity

2009-01-20T10:47:00.000-08:00

As you and your families prepare
to celebrate the Presentation of Christ,
I share with you the following Word Scramble.

Click, Print and Enjoy

Four Loves

2009-01-20T04:04:00.000-08:00

Love.

One of the nicer four letter words in our English language, but how accurately are we using it? How about our kids and teens?
Often we hear and say...

I love my family,
like I love my new sneakers,
and love that new television show.
A mother loves her children,
a teen has a first love,
and then there's the love of God
and love for one's "god."

It's a word that can be used as a noun or a verb, but more commonly we think of it as an emotion.If you check out the word "love" in the Greek language, however, you'll actually discover four words to choose from.
Here they are:

Filia - is designated for friendship love.

Eros- is a more passionate love that one is willing to die for, like that of the Martyrs. This is commonly associated with physical lust, but it need not be.

Storyi - is the parental affection of a mother or father for their child.

Agape - is the perfect divine love that God has for His creation.

As Orthodox Christians our aim is to imitate God's agape, but only He loves us perfectly. Our love for each other falls short of the mark because of our fallen human nature, and inevitably we hurt one another. Think about it. Sometimes our so-called love is tainted with selfishness, worry, doubt, control of the other, jealousy, and worst of all pride. For example, when we think we deserve to be loved by everyone or criticize the way others "love" us.

I think one of the most important things we learn from the Holy Scriptures is that love is an action. It is not merely an emotion or feeling.

"This is how we know what love is:
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." 1 John 3:16

This February, challenge your families to ACT in love for someone else or for God...even when we don't "feel" like it.

And when we need a small reminder of the love God has for us, remember this prayer:

"I am loved by God the Father Who created me out of nothing. I am loved and redeemed by God the Son, my precious Jesus, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I am loved by the Holy Spirit, God;s power and presence within me. Blessed Trinity, glory to You. Amen."

The Heart

2009-01-14T11:31:00.000-08:00

"It is according to Christ that the human heart has been created;

like an immense jewel case, it is vast enough to contain even God.

That is why nothing here below can satisfy us...

For the human soul thirsts for the infinite..

the desire of the heart is to run toward Christ."

A quote from Nicholas Cabasilas, The Life in Christ, pg 96

The Orthodox icon is titled "Mother of God-Softening of Evil Hearts"
Tatiana Vodicheva