Show & Tell from the Altar

A Very Popular Activity
Using the handout below, consider introducing your young people to many of the items from the altar that they rarely get to see. Start with pictures if you'd like and ask your local priest to invite the kids for a close-up encounter! Can they find those items on the page? He can remove them and bring them to the Solea, or kids can stand at the royal doors and point to objects they'd like to see.

Here are a few items to identify and DISCUSS! (If you need more on the meaning of an item, its location in Scripture, or its name in Greek, please e-mail me as I have a great reference book of these things!)

The Altar itself as Paradise and the Holy of Holies
Tabernacle
Antimension cloth to serve Liturgy on
Identify the Place of oblation Prothesis
Lance - Knife, double-edged spear which the soldier pierced Christ with on the cross
Star - placed over the Disk, as star which stood over Bethlehem at birth of Christ
Paten or Disk manger for Christ
Spoon - as the Angel used tongs to take the live coal to touch Isaiah's lips to take away his sins
Sponge - to dry chalice, but also as it was filled with vinegar for Christ on the Cross
Zeon - vessel for boiling water, as water and blood came from Christ's side, also our warm faith/zeal
Blessing Cross - always with right hand like Christ
Fans of Seraphim & Cherubim Angels surrounding God's throne

Any relics in reliquary?
Hand Censer -often without bells
Full Censer - Used by Aaron in the temple (1 Chronicles 23:13) Today with 12 bells for Apostles
Incense (smell!) Often handmade, for our prayers to rise to heaven
Holy Altar Table Made of stone (see 1 Cor 10:4), wrapped in clean white cloth as Christ was, and contains relics of Martyrs inside. Is also Golgatha where Christ sacrificed Himself, and His tomb)
Gospel (Find the 4 Evangelists) Christ, the Word, whom came into the world
Bishop's Throne
Bishop's Crown

Iconostasis – the curtain which divided the Tabernacle of the Old Testament into two parts, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Remember it was torn in two at the Crucifixion of Christ?

Vigil Lamp with oil- The oil symbolizes the peace and mercy of God. The lamps in front of Saints show how they became the “light of the world”

Priests Vestments - another activity with so much meaning! The cuffs, the stole, the girdle!

Have fun - and ask a small quiz all together to see who can remember the names of the items!

Click Here for the Altar Game Handout

My Favorite Orthodox Encyclopedia

I have to say, I am so excited and enthused again by one of the very special and very fat books on my nightstand that it made me get out of bed to convey its value to the rest of you. At 8 months pregnant, trust me, I am not getting paid in any way to tell you these things! I truly enjoy reading theology books of all kinds, and books about the Saints as much as any of you...but one book that has NEVER FAILED ME is this one.

Every time I want to access more info on an upcoming Saint or about relics or history I reach for "Evloyeite." by Mother Nektaria McLees. I don't think there is quite any book or resource like it. No Synaxarion, or compilation of the Lives of the Saints, offers what this book does.

• Detailed stories from the lives of the Saints
• Maps and directions to venerate holy sites
• Miracles from the Ecumenical Councils
• An index of Saints with their corresponding feastdays and location
• Rare pictures of monasteries, relics, special icons
• Chapters dedicated to islands, including Mount Athos!
• Saints from many Orthodox ethinc backgrounds - not just Greek
• Factual historic information about battles, and Emperors
• Modern day healings and miracles
• Actual quotes from the Saints themselves
• Several Apolytikion hymns to the Saints in English
• Simple language that is an absolute joy to read

This is NOT a mere  travel book. This is an extremely valuable resource for our families.


Tonight I thoroughly enjoyed the chapter on Corfu and Saint Spyridon. The author took the effort to include the actual words of Saint Spyridon at the First Ecumenical Council as he stood up to explain the Holy Trinity with a clay brick in his hand. This is the famous miracle of the brick exuding the three substances it was made of - fire, water and clay. A miracle that returned hundreds of Arian heretics back to the Church....all by a simple humble Bishop of the 3rd-4th century. Or, did you know that today they process the incorrupt relics of Saint Spyridon through the island four times a year UPRIGHT, seated on a Bishop's throne? Pretty cool stuff!

This book makes a fantastic gift. Send it to everyone - your Orthodox friends, a godparent, priest, etc. You'll find it for sale in many places.

From my nightstand to yours, I hope it brings you the same joy as it has brought to our family!