Akathist from Alpha to Omega

This Akathyst "poem" to Panagia has been lost in translation! In many English uses, the first letter of each stanza no longer coordinates with the Greek alphabet, sadly.

Refresh your alphabet skills

Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, Eeta, Theeta, Iota, Kapa, Lamntha, Mee, Nee, Xee, Omikron, Pee, Ro, Sigma, Tauf, Eepsilon, Fee, Xee, Psee....Omega!

Go back, and re-look at your Greek versions for you will find the author (could be St Romanos) wrote this hymn with each stanza corresponding to a letter in the Greek alphabet. The first ode begins with Alpha, and the remaining continue in order, until the last ode which beings with Omega. Purposefully done, I'm sure, as our Lord used these letters Himself to show us He is the Beginning and the End.

At various Orthodox monasteries abroad, you may even find this famous and beloved hymn illustrated in Byzantine iconography. I've gathered and compiled a document to use with your parishes and youth showing just that. Click here to download the PDF for FREE. (Not to be sold or used for profit)

* Update: the Sisters of the Lifegiving spring Monastery in Dunlap, CA have published a breathtaking children's book on this very topic! Support them below:*

http://www.zoepress.us/life-giving-spring-monastery-products.html

Theophany Lesson Orthodox Journals

For the feast of Theophany, this free lesson and handout on Scribd or here at GoogleDocs for

Orthodox Christians reaches back to the well known story of the holy Prophet Noah and the ark to understand God's plan for our salvation.

You may ask your students to cut around the components of the icon to glue and create
their own festal icon with the blue Jordan river and barren desert as you read aloud the Gospel text.

The discussion for the lesson should lead to God's revelation of the Holy Trinity, 3-in-1 and 1-in-3. In fact, if our students only learn the Troparion or festal hymn for the feast of Theophany they will see that it encompasses the complete theology of the Church in that the Holy Trinity existed before all time!

Wishing your families and students a blessed illumination for 2021!

Orthodox Africa for Pentecost

This brings me so much joy! It doesn't matter what language you speak, the Truth of our Lord is joyously proclaimed in Africa and it convicts our souls to ALWAYS REJOICE in HIM!

In times such as this COVID-19 let us Orthodox Christians embrace what we have with much gratitude. I hope your families and the children  in your parishes and communities enjoy this as much as we did + Share on the feast of Pentecost and try a new language!

"Bwana hurumia"   Lord Have Mercy 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rU7E2prKf8