Homeschool Conference

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

Icon School & Guatemala

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

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

"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

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"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

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

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

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