July 31 - August 1
† Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord (1164)

These next few days are the fulfillment of our "Orthodox Quiz!" On July 31, each year, the actual Holy Cross of Jesus, which had been kept at the imperial palace in Constantinople, would be taken to the altar of Saint Sophia's Cathedral.
Then on August 1, the Holy Cross would be carried around inside the cathedral, and taken through the streets to consecrate the area so that the faithful could venerate the Cross daily until the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos on August 15.

The Church also commemorates the Righteous Joseph of Arimathea (1st c.) on July 31. The "noble Joseph" was a secret follower of Christ and a wealthy member of the Jewish Sanhendrin (ruling council); it was he who provided Christ's tomb. When his faith became known he was driven from the Sanhendrin, from the synagogues, and from the Holy Land, and traveled through many lands, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. According to some accounts he eventually reached England, where he reposed in peace.

"Watered-down Orthodoxy is not attractive to youth precisely because it is easy. All human beings understand that only those things which require struggle and effort are worthwhile."

The Challenges of Orthodox Youth Ministry,
by Protopresbyter David Cownie
http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/youth_ministry.aspx

Orthodox Pop Quiz

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Here's the first of my new monthly "Orthodox Pop Quizzes"

Who can tell us where the saying and superstition
"Knock on Wood" comes from?

good luck!

Take a Close Look

Since we're on the theme of self-image, and coming to know what it means to be made in God's image....I decided to post one more activity for kids or teens to get them thinking a bit more about being living icons.

Start by gathering reflective objects in your home

Scratched CD's - compact mirrors - spoons - curved glass - metallic vases - platters, etc.

The idea here is to come up with a range of distortions where a face could be flipped, re sized, stretched, or hard to make out because of tarnish, cracks, and stains. If you're a Macintosh user, there is even a setting on the built in camera to play around with these types of funny images.

Next, gather your kids and ask them to pick up the items, observing their own reflections in each. What happens to the way they look? Which item shows them in the worst form and in the truest form? How might these objects be considered like other things in the world that alter our God-given form? (Here is the chance to further the discussion according to the responses.)

Possible examples that might arise:
* not taking care of our bodies
* an over concern for how we look to others
* the altering of our outer beauty through make-up
* the distortion of ourselves through drug and alcohol use
* eating too much or too little
* body piercings and tatoos
* slander and gossip (to damage someone else's image)
* promiscuity (tarnishing our purity in pre-mature relationships)
* a general build-up of everyday sins

Read together this quote from 1 Samuel 16:7

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Discuss together how our Lord intends to purify our souls to be radiant in the world, but many things can get in the way. For each person, the struggle is personal. First and foremost however, each of us is charged with the responsibility to care for God's image within ourselves, as our bodies are the living temple of our Lord. We are united with Him, so whatever we might do to ourselves or to others, we are essentially doing to Him. (I try to emphasize this with teens especially, since too often they inwardly hope a parent or friend will rescue them from a harmful situation, relationship, or decision, when in the end, it must be their own voice that chooses the path of holiness.)

Lastly, use the analogy of a bathroom mirror. Ask the kids what happens to the mirror when we shower?Explain, if this mirror represents our souls, which can become clouded by the things we mentioned above, how will we be able to see God's image in ourselves again, and reflect it to others? How do we clean the crud, build-up, and dirt from our souls?

Our answer is through the Holy Sacrament of Confession. Through God's grace, and the prayers of our spiritual fathers, our souls are wiped clean. But just as the mirror needs frequent attention, so too, does every soul. Therefore, may we be encouraged to follow in the footsteps of the Saints - who were sinners that simply never gave up trying.

Becoming Living Icons

"Christ, be with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every one who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me.
Christ is every ear that hears me.

Salvation is of the Lord, Salvation is of the Christ,
May Your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us." Prayer of St Patrikios

It can be difficult today for young people to develop their personhood and understand their self-worth in a world where the rich and famous are given the most attention. This is why for Orthodox Christians, the Saints are our best role models! One creative exercise to boost their confidence or healthy Christian self esteem is to pair them up, and ask them to draw each other's icon.

Each of us is a living icon of Christ, since we bear His image within us. We are becoming saints with a small "s" and strive each day to resemble Christ more and more in our thoughts, words, and actions.

Our tradition of Byzantine iconography is full of rich symbolism and contains within itself a prayerful system of identifying Saints with certain virtues. Do you know the first color layed down in an icon? It is the color of clay or earth, since all are taken from the dust and to the dust we return until the Resurrection. An icon is also written in opposite order than a typical painting, because the darkest layers are put down first, until layer after layer, the light radiates from within the Saint. Lastly, no icon is complete without the name, for God calls each of us by name, as we are written in the Book of Life. So too do we approach the Holy Chalice by name, and are baptised by name.

See the key below, and ask your children to look hard at one another to find the spiritual gifts that they are blessed with. No two icons will come out the same!

Tall Forehead – Wisdom
Cross in Hand – Martyr
Clothed in Armor – Soldier
Holding an Icon – Defender of Icons
Small Lips – Few Words
Bottle of Potion – Medicines
Crown – Royalty
Big Ears – Good Listener
Clothes – Altar Boy, Chanter
Scroll – Writer
With Others– Trial Together
Hand – Resisted Persecutors
Gospel – Teacher of Faith
Animals – Harmony with Nature
White - Purity
Gold – Heaven & Eternity
Blue – Humanity
Red – Divinity
Purple - Royalty

Remember: We're all a work in progress!

If you'd prefer to print and use a prepared hand-out for this activity,click here

Orthodoxy & Evolution

If your teenagers or children are enrolled in public school, chances are, they're learning about evolution - and more specifically, that we, as humans, evolved from apes, monkeys, and chimps. What is your response as parents? Does this discussion arise in your homes? Yesterday, on our visit to the Zoo, I was discussing this with an 11 year old boy, from a devout Orthodox family...but, he was pretty convinced that this "theory" he learned in school was factual. Here are a few ways to tackle the challenge:

1. If monkeys evolved into humans, why are there still monkeys in the world? It doesn't make sense that some monkeys would become human over time but not all of them.

2. If humans were once monkeys, who do we say our Lord, Jesus Christ was and is? Was He too once a monkey?

(This is crazy and quite blasphemous, but should get the point across) The answer is, of course not! Jesus became man, like us, while remaining fully God. In this way, He shows us what it means to be perfect and made in God's image without sin, revealing to us our potential to share in His holiness.

The animals, although created by God for man, were not made in the image and likeness of God. Rather, as St Basil writes in his Oration on Creation, we are called to work in harmony with the animals, with love and thankfulness for the assistance they provide us. For example, there is a reason a horse can run faster than us, or that animals have fur for the winter, and claws for food. We need them, as they need us. For more examples, look at the lives of St Gerasimos and the Lion, St Herman of Alaska and the bear, or St Mamas the lover of animals. You might be surprised to discover experiences of deer entering the Church, birds singing the Divine Liturgy, and a lion who appeared to bury St Mary of Egypt.

Lastly, our rich Orthodox tradition teaches that before the fall, the animals lived without fear of man, aggression against one another, or violence. It was only after the fall that man witnessed animals scurrying away from them. Even so, we can find God's all-powerful authority over His creation and in return, the obedience of the animals to Him, through examples like Jonah and the whale, David and the Lions, Christ and His choice donkey, and God's taming of the animals at the feet of our Orthodox martyrs during their sufferings.

*Clarification* Yes, it is true, the world and its state continues to evolve, adapt and change. Man arrives at new theories, various species are being discovered and cloned, and medicines developed. However, to Orthodox Christians, God is central to the equation, always, as Creator and Lord. Our anthropology, or understanding of the human, is defined by Christ and perfected in Christ alone. We understand who we are, by understanding who He is.

Hide and Seek

The Crypto-Christians once hid for their life underground, and had to secretly celebrate the Divine Liturgy.* In this version of "Hide and Seek" ask your kids/teens to do the same, while you hunt them down as the "Persecutor of Christians." Whoever is found could be put to trial, may be asked if they believe in Christ, and could face the threat of death if they do not renounce their faith. A variation we played was whoever was caught had to help catch others!

*Early persecutions of Christians lasted until Saint Constantine the Great issued his "Edict of Milan," shortly after A.D. 312, and proclaimed freedom of religion throughout the Empire. However, Christians met again the threat of death under such ruling forces as the Turks in Asia Minor and Communism in many countries.

Calling All Witnesses

“Therefore I will be brought to trial before you again, says the Lord; and I will be brought to trial before your children's children." (Jeremiah)

An excellent activity to introduce our children and teenagers to the lives of the Orthodox Christian Martyrs is through a mock trial. This activity is one they'll never forget! Read together a few examples, like the story of the 40Martyrs of Sebaste, the stoning of St Stephen the first-martyr, or the fierce persecutions initiated by the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, where eyewitnesses describe the trial of a group of Christians in a town in North Africa. Of particular interest in this final example are the testimonies of two Christian martyrs, Saturninus and his son Felix, who defend their participation in readings from Holy Scripture and the Eucharist. (A.D. 304)

Assign Characters
• Judge (parent or adult)
• The Accused
• Defense Lawyers
• Prosecutors
• Witnesses to be called to stand
• Jurors (3-4)
• Court Reporter to announce case
• Audience

Premise
One of your friends/siblings is on trial and is accused of being a Christian during a time when Christianity was illegal. What evidence will prove that he/she is a believer, what evidence will be used against her/him? For example, has someone witnessed this person serve in the altar, make the sign of the cross, or light a candle? How can you help to defend your friend? What could be the consequences if your friend is convicted? Who makes the ultimate decision? Is there another chance?

Outline of Trial
1. Bring Session to order
2. Opening argument from both sides
3. Call first witness to stand
4. First questioning, Cross Examination, Rebuttal
5. Call next witness, repeat…
6. Presentation of evidence
7. Final witness & questioning
8. Call “The Accused” to the stand
9. Closing argument
10. Jury is dismissed
11. Judge’s deliberation
12. Sentencing

Conclusion
Wrap up the activity by discussing the trial. How did the different characters feel?What was most difficult? Was the final ruling just? (As the judge, you can make explain that often clients ask for justice - but what they really want is mercy. However, mercy is something a court has no right to give them. The only One who has the right to give mercy is God.) Lastly, discuss the miracles that our Lord has worked through the faith of the Christian Martyrs and through their relics. Look together at various icons that contain smaller martyrdom scenes.

Orthodox Music for Kids

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This post is in honor of all the brave souls who have recorded their voices for the rest of us to enjoy! We have so many Orthodox CD's out there, from all jurisdictions...which are your family's favorites? I've found folksongs, along with more traditional feast-day hymns. The recording from the Makarios Seminary in Kenya -has always been a favorite of mine. The Africans sing with great joy to the beat of a drum in Swahili, Greek, and English. The Eikona sisters have put out great hymns in English, and "Panagia with Us All" includes the Jesus Prayer put to song as well as "O Heavenly King" - Glory to God for such resources! Please post your reviews too.