Imagine someone walking into the art museum to do this to the Mona Lisa! They'd be arrested for graffiti, at a minimal I'm sure! Imagine the state of shock that Leonardo di Vinci would be in at such altercations to his masterpiece...., as if the way he created her is just not good enough!  Yet everyday around the world, millions of young girls, college students, middle aged moms, and aging grandmoms apply lipstick, paint their nails, apply haircolor, enhance their body with implants, pierce their ears and endure the pain of getting a tatoo all to look more "beautiful" or just a bit young ..read more

"Oh, I get it" replied a small girl. "The Saints are like stain glass windows because the light of Christ shines through them." For another easy and creative project, use your traced transparency sheet icons to make beautiful stain glass windows of the Saints. With a pack of tissue paper and glue, layer multiples colors and shapes behind the transparency, and secure them easily with a touch of glue. The more layers, the better really, if you begin with the lightest colors first. Be sure to have a few references to copy for accurate vestment colors, etc. Here's a sample with St N ..read more

Our world is in a very sad situation. Let us try to see it from this perspective that a wise ascetic has communicated to us: If God is allowing this right now, without intervening, it MUST be because the FAITH of the PEOPLE as a whole has become lukewarm and WE MUST ALL REPENT. The simple prayer Kurie Eleison (Lord Have Mercy) is for all of us as one united creation. So it is a personal responsibility to repent for our own sins and the sins of the world, our country, our neighbor and to pray. There are some faithful who will make a great effort to find an Orthodox place to worship God without ..read more

(A prophecy from Geronda Vasileios of Kafsokalivia, an assessment by Archimandrite Savvas Agioreitis, and followed with supplementary comments from this Gregory Decapolite channel) PLEASE CONNECT YOURSELVES WITH SPIRIT-FILLED TEACHINGS OF TRUTH As lay people, we must search and discern where the Truth is being perserved. Let us reply to our Bishops that we will NOT wear masks in the One, Holy, Apostolic Orthodox Church! This webpage is https://www.orthodoxtalks.com/section-one/ A Spiritual Pearl from the Psalms of King David “Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he will nourish thee; He will nev ..read more

Here is a step by step guide to the Proskomedia (Offering) which is completed during Orthros or Matins before the Divine Liturgy begins. 1. After strengthening himself through a few prayers and venerating the icons, the priest enters the Holy Altar and kisses the Gospel and Altar Table in preparation to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. 2. Next, he puts on his full set of vestments, blessing and kissing each item while reciting a matching Scripture verse. 3. The priest then washes his hands, thus expressing his desire to be more cleansed of his sins, while reciting Psalm 26:6-12. "I will wash ..read more

"Do not neglect to uproot from the hearts of children the tares of sins, impure, evil and blasphemous thoughts, sinful habits, inclinations and passions; the enemy and the sinful flesh do not spare even children; the seeds of all sins are to be found in children too; show them the danger of sin on the path of life; do not hide sins from them lest through ignorance and want of comprehension they should be confirmed in sinful habits and attachments, which grow stronger and stronger and bring forth corresponding fruits when the children grow up." - St. John of Kronstadt As parents and youth wor ..read more

If you and your kids/teens are looking for a great hands-on project to occupy a weekend, consider making these very easy fleece blankets. They're a fantastic service project to pass out to homeless folks along the streets as the temperature drops, or donate to another charity of your choice, and the best part is that we get to be creative doing it! Here are a few easy steps to follow with no sewing required! • Visit the fabric store with your kids/teens to pick out and purchase fleece. You can vary the design by picking two different colors or patterns. The size of your blanket is up to you ..read more

Here are several handouts for a lesson on St Photini, who earned the title "Equal to the Apostles." The Church celebrates her life this Thursday and on the Sunday of the Samaritan Women during the Paschal season. Her encounter with Christ is so very important to us because we find Christ clearly declaring Himself to be the awaited Messiah. ~ There is no longer any question about His identity ~ Therefore, begin by reading this encounter in the Gospel of John 4: 1-30 or page 12 in the recommended book by Dr Maria Khoury "Christina's True Hero's" (see previous post on resources for the Saints ..read more

This Sunday the Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Gregory Palamas during Great Lent, and it might seem like a difficult example to draw a lesson from. If you are wondering how to make this Sunday relevant, consider teaching about the subject of monasticism since the Saint spent several years living and praying within a small cave outside of Thessaloniki, Greece. It can be a great opportunity to introduce to our youth the actual daily routine of an Orthodox monk or nun. Even the fact that in our tradition, we have monks and nuns! In Greek "monos" literally means alone. Hence the word "mona ..read more

Christ said that “every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven” (Matthew 12:31)  In today's time, consider the position that wearing a mask inside God's One, Holy and Apostolic Orthodox Church which is consecrated by God as His House on Earth for us His militant Church is a denial of His protection and blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. When Chernobyl hit...not an ounce of radiation was found anywhere inside the Orthodox Church although prevalent outside in every other sample... Swabs have been taken directly from Holy Icons with th ..read more