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There are a lot of apps available today, but none has proved to be more helpful for the souls in our family that this one: ORTHODOX SYNAXARION   (click the link to the left ) I somehow found it while searching GREEK APPS and it has become our custom to drive to school, or conclude our morning prayers by listening to the chanted troparions with icons of the Saints celebrated each day. The story of the Saint of the day is included, and words of the troparion as well. You can easily change the date, find extensive collection of prayers. There are even audio files of the PSALMS to play and texts from the Canons for many popular Saints. You simply download this app, and press play! It's that easy! We have used this app to look up dates for feastdays, we also have played AGNE PARTHENE (the popular hymn by St Nektarios) that is an audio file to put our 4th child to sleep since he was born two years ago! It has been an invaluable resource to us !!! It doesn't matter which language you...

I have been meaning for some time to share this excellent resourse for you and your parishes or families available on AMAZON here. The format is a small black and white coloring booklet that can be used for quiet sit-still reflection time, or even a daily challenge to remember the quotes. Sometimes, we even test each other by playing "Name that Quote" as in, who said it? Many thanks to the very talented individuals , C. Gann (Author), A. Holt (Author), M. Adams who have collaborated to offer this resourc...

For the 'Apostles fast' in the Orthodox Church, and here's an activity to assemble the icon day by day until the feast on June 29/30. On the first day, the children will cut out and glue the icon of Christ in the center of the Tree, learning the memory verse, " I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." from John 15:5. Each day(s) to follow, focus on one Apostle at a time, reading their life, learning their experiences and placing them on the icon. Each has a troparion as well to chant! Click here to download the smaller icons Click here for the tree document.   Once the tree is colored by the children, it can be laminated, along with the icons.  We have placed velcro on the backsides, and the children re-attach the icons each year during the fasting period.   Saints Peter & Paul celebrated on June 29 (fast ends) Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles, celebrated June 30 ...

Christ is Risen! But then what? The story continues of course, with more exciting details and events to engage our young listeners. Christ spends the next 40 days displaying His physical Resurrection. He appears in the upper room to the Apostles twice when the doors are sealed shut, granting them peace. He is seen along the road to Emmaus, but unrecognizable to Luke and Cleopa, until He breaks bread with them and is known essentially in the Eucharist (see the lesson plan here ). Then at the fortieth day on Mt Olivet the disciples with the Mother of God, stand in awe as Christ is taken up before their own very eyes into the sky with the angels at His side on His return to the Father (The Ascension). What could possibly come next for the followers of Christ.....they must wait ten more days! “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” Click this link for the printable lesson: Pentecost Worksheet & Kneeling Prayers The great feast of Holy Pentecost- "peninta...

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...

While enjoying the light of  Pascha for 40 days, don't forget that there are still many great Saints on the calendar to learn about! Coming up Thursday April 23rd is the great martyr Saint George, who bears the title trophy-bearer in English. The Dragon Traveling on a white horse (Saint Demetrios is on the red horse), the soldier Saint George met a young girl, a local princess chosen by lot, who was about to be offered as food for the hungry dragon who threatened a certain town in Libya. He encouraged the maiden to have faith in Christ whom she did not know yet, and dropped to his knees in prayer, asking God to use that opportunity for others to believe in Him as the One True God. Upon meeting the dragon face to face, he made the sign of the cross, and the dragon fell like a meek puppy at the feet of the Saint. He instructed the girl to take her belt off and use it as a leash for the dragon His Suffering The Saint openly confessed himself as a Christian, and for that faced many tor...

Give a try at writing a new language! Ask your students to write "Christ is Risen" with the appropriate responses. Print the letters inside the white spaces of the following foreign languages inside this beautiful illustration: Greek at the top, then Arabic, English and Slavonic. It's also a fantastic design for your Pascha basket covers if you know how to cross stitch or screenprint. Kalo Pascha to your families!