Fathers & Fruits

Consider bringing the story of the 3 Great Hierarchs into your home tomorrow with the following lesson and activity.

Begin by asking your kids or teens to select three favorite Fruits.
* Announce the fruits out loud and discuss why they were picked.
* What do your kids like and dislike about each one?
* What are their respective qualities and characteristics. Is one sweeter than another? More tasty, too bitter, or bland?
* Can they agree... "Which is their favorite?"

If you're working with a youth group, divide the room according to the choices. Can you create a small uproar amongst the groups? Ask one to try convincing the others to change their selection. Lastly, ask the groups to come up with a "name" that would associate them with their favorite fruit. (i.e. Kiwians,Appleanians, Orangins)

Then, ask everyone to close their eyes. As the adult, use three voices to introduce yourself on behalf of each fruit, being a bit silly, and arriving at the final conclusion that a fruit salad is the best way to enjoy all three since God made each one of you, and although you are uniquely tasty in your own way, God considers you equally delicious!

Then introduce the story of the † Three Holy Hierarchs †
St Basil the Great, St Gregory the Theologian, and St John Chrysostom

You might say, "If you had a difficult time agreeing on a favorite fruit, can you imagine how divided the people of Constantinople were in the early 12th century when they argued over who was greatest among the 3 Hierarchs?" Three groups formed, calling themselves the Basilians, Gregorians and Joannites. At last, desiring to restore peace to the City and the Church, the three holy hierarchs themselves appeared to the monk John Mauropus; they revealed to him that they stand together in harmony and in equal glory before the heavenly throne, and instructed him to compose a common service for the three of them. Saint John (Mauropus) obeyed, and chose January 30 as the date of the commemoration, since each of the three hierarchs is commemorated separately in January. (abbamoses.com)

Since the feast falls on a Friday this year, finish the lesson off by enjoying some fruit together, laughing over their qualities, and enjoy coloring this icon together. Xronia Polla~

Geronda

Below are 3 recordings of the Blessed Elder, Paisios of Mt. Athos, with English subtitles. It is the actual voice of this Saint.

Elder Paisios - recording in his cell part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkV9r2vuMr8&feature=related

Elder Paisios - recording in his cell part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vJRVPzn6R0&NR=1

Elder Paisios - recording in his cell part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-a9i8ZmS8o&feature=related

The Jesus Prayer

I am convinced that our kids and teens need to hear this prayer more than any other. It's called the Jesus Prayer and whenever we use it, we call upon Christ as the Holy Scripture says, keeping Him on our minds, in our hearts, and on our lips with every minute of the day. This short but powerful prayer sanctifies whatever task we are doing!

Fold the laundry ... and say this prayer

Drive to the grocery store ... and say this prayer

Say it in any language, say it in short or long form...

but whatever you do, keep praying and let your kids hear you!

The Jesus Prayer has even been put to a simple melody in order to sing it. I have heard it in two different forms, and love both! It's great to use on long car trips, because everyone can participate. Take turns offering the first name of someone you'd like to sing the Jesus Prayer for, then complete the song on their behalf.

We say, "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on ______, your servant."

Sometimes we include all the poor, the hungry, the orphaned, the priests, all monks and nuns, those with a handicap, etc. Before you know it, you and your family will have prayed for the sanctification of the whole world!

"Indeed, our true task is always the same and is always accomplished in the same way: to call upon our Lord Jesus Christ with a burning heart so that His holy name intercedes for us." -

-Hesychios the Priest: On Personal Holiness

February Activity

As you and your families prepare
to celebrate the Presentation of Christ,
I share with you the following Word Scramble.

Click, Print and Enjoy

Four Loves

Love.

One of the nicer four letter words in our English language, but how accurately are we using it? How about our kids and teens?
Often we hear and say...

I love my family,
like I love my new sneakers,
and love that new television show.
A mother loves her children,
a teen has a first love,
and then there's the love of God
and love for one's "god."

It's a word that can be used as a noun or a verb, but more commonly we think of it as an emotion.If you check out the word "love" in the Greek language, however, you'll actually discover four words to choose from.
Here they are:

Filia - is designated for friendship love.

Eros- is a more passionate love that one is willing to die for, like that of the Martyrs. This is commonly associated with physical lust, but it need not be.

Storyi - is the parental affection of a mother or father for their child.

Agape - is the perfect divine love that God has for His creation.

As Orthodox Christians our aim is to imitate God's agape, but only He loves us perfectly. Our love for each other falls short of the mark because of our fallen human nature, and inevitably we hurt one another. Think about it. Sometimes our so-called love is tainted with selfishness, worry, doubt, control of the other, jealousy, and worst of all pride. For example, when we think we deserve to be loved by everyone or criticize the way others "love" us.

I think one of the most important things we learn from the Holy Scriptures is that love is an action. It is not merely an emotion or feeling.

"This is how we know what love is:
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." 1 John 3:16

This February, challenge your families to ACT in love for someone else or for God...even when we don't "feel" like it.

And when we need a small reminder of the love God has for us, remember this prayer:

"I am loved by God the Father Who created me out of nothing. I am loved and redeemed by God the Son, my precious Jesus, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I am loved by the Holy Spirit, God;s power and presence within me. Blessed Trinity, glory to You. Amen."

The Heart

"It is according to Christ that the human heart has been created;

like an immense jewel case, it is vast enough to contain even God.

That is why nothing here below can satisfy us...

For the human soul thirsts for the infinite..

the desire of the heart is to run toward Christ."

A quote from Nicholas Cabasilas, The Life in Christ, pg 96

The Orthodox icon is titled "Mother of God-Softening of Evil Hearts"
Tatiana Vodicheva

Available on CD

On the Upbringing of Children -
Homilies by Bishop Irenaius

Never in the history of mankind has there been such a plethora of advice available to parents on how to raise their children. Regrettably, most often these books focus entirely on the child's adjustment to this world and blithely ignore his moral and spiritual development. There is precious little available to help Orthodox Christian parents prepare the child to become a citizen of Heaven. But what other goal of child-raising can even take a close second to this paramount objective? These 10 homilies of the late Bishop Irenaius of Russia (published in 1901) offer timeless, solid guidance on how to raise your child for the Kingdom of Heaven.

2 CDs totaling 1 hour & 52 minutes

Available at http://www.stpaisiusmonastery.org/music.htm

70 Girls - Homeschooled at a Monastery

Recently, there seems to be an increased interest for lay families in America to involve their children in programs run by various Orthodox monasteries. I have discovered week-long spiritual youth camps and small schools forming, then I came across this opportunity in Arizona which was a pleasant surprise.

Since 1995, the sisterhood of St. Paisius Orthodox Monastery, a women’s coenobitic community, has welcomed teenage girls who wish to live at the monastery while continuing their studies through a home-school curriculum. Almost 70 girls have lived with them, ranging in age from 10 to 17, coming from homes all over the country.

Check out http://www.stpaisiusmonastery.org/hphs.htm

Has anyone ever visited this monastery?

I'd love to hear about your experience.

Sharing Resources

I've come across a few excellent resources to pass along.

The first is a link to an Orthodox website containing everything and anything...
It is http://www.orthodoxlinks.info

The second is a nice series of articles on "Smart Parenting"
by Fr. George Morelli.

http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles5/MorelliParenting.php
http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles6/MorelliParenting2.php

~ Hope they are useful to you ~