"The solution is to be found through the sanctification of the parents. Become saints and you will have no problems with your children." Father Porphyrios , Wounded By Love

Monday, April 6, 2009

Icon Coloring Book


Just posted: A 39-page Orthodox icon coloring book full of images of Holy Week, other feast days, and Saints throughout the year for you to download and print to use with your families. Click here
for the printable PDF - select a few pages or print them all with minimal ink usage!

Once again, please do not distribute this for profit in anyway!

Friday, April 3, 2009

The Red Egg


Here's a look at the pious custom of red eggs in the Orthodox Church for you and your families to enjoy. Where did the tradition come from anyway? It seems there are a few possible answers to this question...of which I prefer to believe in the miracle that God worked through His handmaiden, Mary Magdalene (whom by the way is often wrongly attributed as the prostitute who anointed Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair - See Orthodox Wiki for a well cited clarification).

Other symbolism, not as dogma, but as tradition includes:

*The egg as the new life in Christ through His resurrection

*Red for the color of our Lord's blood but also for His divinity

*The outer shell to be cracked as the doors of Hades are shattered

Since children enjoy decorating the eggs, why not encourage them to display their faith on them, as the picture shows! Be sure not to throw away any icons if you use them, but certainly include symbols like ~ icxc, fish, crosses, tree of life, the Trinity, 4 Greek Letters for Mother of God...etc

This worksheet is available in PDF format here

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Scribd Orthodox Group


Please forgive me that it has taken this long to find a good way to upload the Orthodox activities and lessons for you to download and print easily. I have just discovered www.scribd.com and begun a group called "Orthodox Christian Education" there.

You can visit this site, join the group, post your own resources, and read hundreds of excellent Orthodox articles from the Church Fathers and Saints that have been posted by other users. I hope to post other resources from Youth Camps, Retreats, and Family Nights very shortly there too.

~ Hopefully, this is just the beginning ~

Click this link to the Scribd Orthodox Christian Group


Wishing you "kali dynami" good strength for the remaining days of our Lenten journey to Pascha!