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As you and your families prepare to celebrate the Presentation of Christ on February 2 I share with you the following activities. Page 16 of 39 in this Orthodox coloring book has the icon  to print & color https://www.scribd.com/doc/14024263/Orthodox-Christian-Icon-Coloring-Book Click, Print and Enjoy!

For the feast of Theophany, this free lesson and handout on Scribd or here at GoogleDocs for Orthodox Christians reaches back to the well known story of the holy Prophet Noah and the ark to understand God's plan for our salvation. You may ask your students to cut around the components of the icon to glue and create their own festal icon with the blue Jordan river and barren desert as you read aloud the Gospel text. The discussion for the lesson should lead to God's revelation of the Holy Trinity, 3-in-1 and 1-in-3. In fact, if our students only learn the Troparion or festal hymn for the feast of Theophany they will see that it encompasses the complete theology of the Church in that the Holy Trinity existed before all time! Wishing your families and students a blessed illumination for 2019!

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 blesse...

NEW: Introducing a free weekly curriculum to create Orthodox Christian Kids Journals about our  faith! Each week, come back to this website and download the handout to print yourselves. The handouts cover a topic from the Church year including quotes, miracle stories, maps, troparions, icons and Orthodox art. As we discuss the components of the lesson, students are actively listening while they color, cut, and glue a memorable resource to keep for the rest of their lives! Often, students contribute stories they have heard, or if they have that particular Saints' icon at home, or if they have ever venerated a relic, traveled to that country etc. This method proves to be a wonderful tool to create lasting beauty as students develop a greater understanding for the Orthodox Church year in the midst of open dialogue. Join with us and share ! CLICK HERE Here are the files currently available: Journal Curriculum Calendar Journal Intro page handout  Journal Lesson on the Cross...

The sayings of the prophets are now fulfilled! Use this study to learn the prophecies of the Old Testament with your children and teenagers. (Download the free printable PDF file here, in color or black/white.) All verses are weaved into the hymns of the Orthodox Church and chanted during the Christmas services. The richness and depth of the season is remarkable!      Complete this "Root of Jesse Tree" by first gluing the Mother of God in place, and adding a prophet as you study them with the verses below. The tradition of this icon can often be found with an image of Jesse reclining at the bottom of the icon as the root - the Mother of God becomes the "rod" who springs forth the "fruit" who is Christ (2nd century Bishop Irenaeus of Lyons, St Ambrose of Milan, and 8th c St Cosmas) Here are the memory verses: A shoot will come forth from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. ( Isaiah 11:1) Her womb was foreshadowed by the burning ...

********REVISED********** Click on the crossword puzzle to the right for a little Christmas trivia! Located for free download here. Hopefully, it will be challenging for parents and kids of all ages. "Make ready, O Bethlehem: let the manger be prepared, let the cave show its welcome. The truth has come, the shadow has passed away..." Sticheron at the Royal Hours by St Sophronius of Jerusalem

Each year, we begin decorating our home on November 15, as we begin the 40 day fast for Christmas. It's beneficial for all to begin seeing the transformation around us and within us.  Here are the 40 days in icons. We're aiming to cut them out, and create an ornament for each day until Christmas. If you follow the old calendar, I can post January as well. Enhance this activity by chanting the troparion for each day, or paste a short story from the Saints' life on the backside of each ornament. At this link, many Orthodox ornaments are sold, and you can get a few ideas: http://www.easterngiftshop.com/Category/CO Paste each icon in the center of a star or snowflake if you wish!  gold star After you're finished, that's forty ornaments! Plenty to fill a tree!

The 12 disciples are seen in the icon of Pentecost gathered together waiting for the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit. The hymns of the Orthodox Church remind us that the Apostles are anticipating this moment with joy and gladness.  "I am with you, no one can be against you." (Kontakion of the feast of the holy Ascension) Often, kids ask who is this man depicted in a crown, and what is he holding? He is the figure of the whole world, "O Kosmos"and he bears the twelve scrolls signifying the message of God's salvation that will go to all the lands through the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ. Some of the Apostles will write the Gospel account. Find them with your children Sts Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the icon as they hold Gospel books. The other Apostles will write letters to be sent to the first Christian Churches, thereby holding scrolls in the icon. Lastly, identify the symbolism of the Holy Spirit which descends as tongues of fire upon each he...

If you are looking for ways to keep "Christ" in your celebration of Easter, consider making an Orthodox Pascha Basket instead of the typical egg & candy overload! Each of the following traditional foods has a symbolic and spiritual significance . We focus on saying "Pascha" which encompasses our spiritual journey to the Resurrection of Christ , and is our "passage" from the Hebrew "pesche, or passover from death to life."   Each year, the Church follows the same sequence of events - and one can't happen without the next. I encourage you not to skip right to the Resurrection without going thru the Cross. Living each component in correct Orthodox theology is truly "Orthobiosi"   ...Christ raising Lazarus, Christ's Entry to Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), Christ's arrival to those anticipating Him (Bridegroom) the Passover (Christ's Mystical Last Supper on Holy Weds and His washing of the disciples feet) the Crucifixion, Bur...

Kali Fotisi / Καλή φώτιση ~ Wishes to you for a "Good Enlightenment" on the holy Feast of Theophany, or Ephiphany. If you are looking for a lesson, try splitting apart the icon, and using it as a beginning. We color and create puppets to retell the story of Christ, St John the Baptist, the Angels, another for the waters, and especially the Dove or Holy Spirit.  Here are some talking points: In this feast, we find each person of the Holy Trinity fully present and our God is revealed to us. Can you find the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? (The Father's voice is heard, the Son is seen as perfect man, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit is witnessed as a fluttering light, much like that which resembles a dove) The light has appeared to all men ! We learn that baptism is not only necessary for the cleansing of our sins, but for the regeneration of our souls and for a life in communion with the fullness of the Holy Trinity. We are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit...

  For the feast of the Cross on September 14, our classes have enjoyed putting on a skit re-enacting how St Helen found the Cross of Christ. It does not need much planning ahead of time, and most items you have at home! You'll need: An icon of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Dark blanket for the earth/dirt Three large crosses cut from cardboard One shovel or more, plastic from sandbox will do A crown for St Helen, colored paper taped round If you choose, second crown for St Konstantine A Bishops' garment -drape a cloth around the neck and pin Fresh basil, found at site of buried crosses Extra: a cardboard coffin / tomb Assign the parts: St Helen and her entourage on the pilgrimage to Jerusalem...those who will dig! St Konstantine, her son the King, who was not present actually, but part of history Jude, the secret Jewish man, who helped find the way to Golgotha A child for the corpse in funeral passing by Bishop Makarios, Archbishop of Jerusalem, who will exalt the Cross and l...

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...

Start with an apple. A whole, clean, delicious apple without bruises or blemishes, just sweet and ripe.This apple is going to be the example. If it happens to be red, then we will liken it to she who fittingly is clothed in red, the Most Holy Theotokos, at the END of our lesson.  Next, present this apple as a body, one with an inner part, the flesh which is like the soul. Ask what color this inner soul is? Of course, we all know it to be white, the cleanest and most pure of colors. If this apple were us, we could consider the course of its' life. Let us say that when the apple was 8 years old, it began to say mean things to its sibling....(with a knife, slowly begin to take small bites from the apple)...then as the apple grew older, it experienced a fight on the soccer field, and hurt another player (another large chunk taken away) Then, at age 15, the apple began having bad thoughts everyday for a whole year about a teacher at school....(yet again, more wounds) and...

   Dormition icon from http://www.archangelicons.com  For excellent photos of the Tomb of the Panagia click here! A full story of the Dormition and Funeral procession can be found here.

UPDATE: WORKSHEETS & ICON available here for free download  For this activity, you'll need a few blindfolds, a Bible, an icon of the Transfiguration, and a lot of trust! Our goal is to lead the children or teens on a journey to understanding God better. Remember, Peter, James, and John were still not able to identify Christ as God before the Transfiguration happened on Mt Tabor. We say that their eyes were yet to be illumined... To begin, consider your surroundings: your home, a park, the Church? Where might you hide the icon of the Transfiguration, so that you can lead the children or teens to it? Can you climb up stairs, while holding hands blindfolded, to simulate ascending Mt Tabor? Can you convince them to trust you, while they are uncertain where you are going, and why? When you arrive at your destination, only then can the blindfolds be removed, hands let go, and the story revealed. ASK: Who do you say I am? ANSWER: Come with me, and you will see Explain that God had a ...

From ages 8-18, many questions arise in our youth...especially what are the differences between your students and their friends at school, etc. Catholic vs Jewish vs Protestants, etc... This can be a very influential period in their growth. Absolutely try an anonymous question box in your classroom! Encourage students to submit short strips of questions and pull from the box often for discussion! Here are two curriculum paths to consider: FOLLOW THE YEAR  with "The Incarnate God 1 and 2" Two volumes from SVS Press with beautiful pencil drawings to match each chapter. Would photocopy nicely for the classroom, not watered-down theology! Discover a deeper Orthodoxy with: "What the Church Fathers say about..." Short lessons with opening prayer, Scripture references, and quotes for discussion on topics like fasting, war & peace, the veneration of icons, the gift of sex, being born again, anger/gossip, what makes a Christian, etc I'd love to hear from others as...

. . Main Entry: meta·mor·pho·sis Pronunciation: \ˌme-tə-ˈmȯr-fə-səs\ Function: noun ___________________________________________________ Etymology: Latin, from Greek metamorphōsis, from metamorphoun to transform, from meta- + morphē form. Date: 1533 1a: change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means 1b: a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances 2: a typically marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching ___________________________________________________ If you've ever put two and two together, today's feast which we call the Transfiguration in English, is called "H Metamorfosi" in Greek, and what true beauty lies within this word. Imagine, for a brief moment, what Saints Peter, James, and John had the opportunity to witness. Without expecting anything, suddenly before them, Christ...

It can sometimes be a very frustrating task, getting kids to cooperate at daily prayer times..beyond just meals that is. I'm sharing the bare bones of our morning/evening routine with you, so that we might encourage each other in the daily struggle to teach our kids to pray with their whole   mind, body and soul: to learn that communicating with God is an ongoing relationship and gift of love that requires effort, attentiveness and sacrifice. Here is what we do....please comment and post your tips for others. May God strengthen and illumine us as parents! MORNING PRAYERS - before breakfast and school Stand and make the sign of the Cross or bows to begin Light individual candles at vigil lamp (vigil lamp is constant flame in our home in front of our icons using olive oil as our continuous offering to God for His presence and blessing. A big void is noticed if this light goes out. Try it for a month and see!) "Through the prayers of the holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God,...

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 ca...