Save My Sinful Mother

The Great-martyr Phanurius and Newly Appeared of Rhodes is a fantastic Saint for kids to learn about. Most of us know him for his intercessions when we lose something! But did you know about the great faith he had to pray for the salvation of his mom? What a beautiful son and example for our children. This is a story all kids should hear!

Here is a brief description of his life from www.abbamoses.com

"Little is known of the holy Martyr Phanurius, except that which is depicted concerning his martyrdom on his holy icon, which was discovered in the year 1500 among the ruins of an ancient church on Rhodes, when the Moslems ruled there. Thus he is called "the Newly-Revealed." The faithful pray to Saint Phanurius especially to help them recover things that have been lost, and because he has answered their prayers so often, the custom has arisen of baking the Phaneropita ('Phanarius-Cake') as a thank-offering."
  There is a tradition that his mother was a great sinner, and that he was unable to convert her in her lifetime. After her death he prayed more for her salvation than for his own. As he was being stoned to death, he prayed: 'For the sake of these my sufferings, Lord, help all those who will pray to Thee for the salvation of Phanurius' sinful mother.' So, in Egypt, where he is much revered, many Christians pray 'O Lord, save Phanurius' mother and help me, a sinner.'


Phaneropita Recipe

4 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup olive oil
1 cup sugar, plus
2 tablespoons sugar
2 oranges, juice and zest of, plus enough extra
2 cups fresh orange juice, in total
1/2 cup brandy or water
1 cup golden raisin
1 cup walnut, roughly chopped, toasted

Directions
* Preheat oven to 350°F.
* Butter and flour a 12-inch, round cake pan or a 9x13x2
* Mix the flour with the spices.
* In a bowl mix the oil, sugar, orange juice, brandy and orange zest.
* Mix well.
* Add the flour, the raisins and the walnuts.
* Mix well.
* Pour batter into prepared pan.
* Bake the Phaneropita for 45 min to an hour
* Insert a toothpick to see if it's ready

Allow to cool and decorate with powdered sugar if you'd like.
The Phaneropita is offered on either the eve of Aug 26 for Vespers, or for the Saints' feastday on August 27th. After the blessing, this special treat is divided for everyone to enjoy.

May our kids someday intercede for our souls with the same fervor!

Interactive Opportunities

There is a new interactive resource online from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America located at http://games.goarch.org/ Click and give this a try with your kids~

The Orthodox Alphabet

In need of a good road trip game or ice breaker for your youth? Try playing the "Orthodox Alphabet Game." This works with all ages and is a creative spin on the traditional game, "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing with me...apples, bananas, chips, donuts...etc "

Take turns adding to the alphabet something related to our Orthodox faith. Ask each person to repeat the previous letters until the whole alphabet is memorized. Get creative and have fun, without worrying about having the right supplies!

A is for ...? (Altar Boys)
B is for ...? (Beeswax)
C is for...? (Chanter)
D is for ... ?
E is for....Ecumenical Council (yes, one boy really said this!)
F is for... ?
G is for... ? (Great Schism)
H is for... ?
I is for... ? (Icons)
J is for... ?
K is for... ? (St. Katherine)
L is for... ?

Push the envelope by not repeating any answers, and only accept Church related words. Consider the books of the Bible, Orthodox Saints, our history, the Sacraments, liturgical words and even items. Feel free to post your list when you've completed the game, or share your most original answers. If you get stuck, check the comments for a few suggestions!

Prayer Warriors

"The person who belongs to Christ turns everything into prayer" - Elder Porphyrios

The question of today's post is:

How can we form our children to become Prayer Warriors?

Elder Porphyrios approaches the subject by saying, "The children should learn to pray. And in order for children to pray they must have in them the blood of praying parents... It is not sufficient for the parents to be devout. They mustn't oppress the children to make them good by force. We may repel our children from Christ when we pursue the things of our religion with egotism... The secret is to be good and saintly and to inspire and radiate. The life of the children seems to be affected by the radiation of their parents."

I've found these 3 things can make a big difference-

1. Be consistent with prayer times
2. Get the kids involved
3. Show them first, then allow them to imitate you

Also, a project that can be very meaningful is to try a "Family Prayer List" which will offer the children the opportunity to pray for others. This could be as simple as a piece of paper, or you could enjoy decorating and creating something more elaborate with small icons and symbols. Each evening ask the children to add first names only of the people they want to pray for. As Orthodox, you can even include the souls who have reposed on a separate list.

Through this small gesture, we allow God the room to work in their hearts so that our kids come to understand the importance of praying for others more than for themselves. The power of prayer is great, very great, especially when done by many together. Do you remember the freeing of St Peter the Apostle from prison when prayer was made by the Church without ceasing? (Acts 12:5)

Elder Porphyrios said "it is preferable for us to help people from a distance with prayer, because in this way, we help them in the best and most perfect manner."

This post was prompted by the current conflicts in Georgia, Russia, and Serbia where Orthodox Christians, Churches, and Monasteries are being destroyed. Although we may be geographically far from these countries, they must be included on our family prayer lists!

Please don't hesitate to share other ideas for developing "Prayer Warriors"

August 15 Activity

.

FeastDay Word Scramble

Click the worksheet for a printable version for your kids & teens

Metamorphosis According to Webster's

.




.



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 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 possibly likened to the average looking catepillar, is transformed into something glorious and radiant, like the butterfly, glowing in the light of the Holy Spirit. As the definition above barely does justice,
"a striking alteration in appearance" happens - unexplainable really, in human words.

Then a voice from within the cloud of light speaks - it is God, the Father bearing witness to His Son. With awe and fear the Apostles fall to the ground, unable to even maintain eye contact. Then as they turn again to look, Christ is transformed back into the catepillar we know so well, as one of us.

Today, the Church calls our attention to the words of Saint Peter in his second epistle, first chapter, so that we don't think in today's terms, that maybe this didn't really happen but instead is some sort of parable. Rather, we read, "We were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory,saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain."

If we look deeper, we even find the path to our own "metamorphosis" spelled out...

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world..."

From the constraints of the cocoon, we can be set free, no longer as hostages, but rather as inheritors of eternal life in the perfect freedom of His love.

~ I wish you all a blessed feastday! ~

Transfiguration Journey

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.

Explain that God had a very important message for the disciples before His crucifixion, just like Moses who climbed Mt Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments. Like them, you have ascended to a high place to learn about Christ. How did it feel trusting the leader? Are they ready to see why they've taken this journey?



Ask one of the children to read out loud Matthew 17:1-9.

Next review the icon together and identify why each person was there: Moses, represents the Jewish Law, Elijah, represents the Prophets, Peter, James and John, represent all those alive in Christ. The Holy Trinity is also present. Can they identify how? The Father speaks, Christ is present both fully divine and human, and the Holy Spirit is the Holy Light surrounding Christ.

Complete the discussion by asking the children to draw out the important lessons they have learned about God. What did He want to teach us?


* That Jesus is fully God and fully Man

* That Jesus is the bridge of the past, present, and future:
by having present Moses, Elijah, and the new disciples

* That God is the Holy Trinity

* That we too can become like Christ, transfigured and
radiant with the Holy Spirit

Along your journey back, chat with the kids/teens about the timing of this event in Christ's life and explain that the Transfiguration happened right before Jesus was to be crucified. For us today, we can feel equipped with the Truth and prepared for the trials ahead of us, as the disciples did entering the Lord's Passion.

Please e-mail eleniemarie@gmail.com if you would like to receive the Word Scramble handout on this lesson or the icon larger which includes the journey up the mountain together and back down.