Pentecost/Philip & Eunuch

            This lesson celebrates the birth of the Christian Church and the earliest baptisms and chrismations. The stories are in Acts 2 and 8 respectively.

Home Activities:

• Put the icon of Pentecost in your icon corner for prayers this week; point out each character, the flames, and the dove and discuss the meaning of each. 
• Sit down with your child and look at pictures of his/her baptism and chrismation (or your own).
• When your small child is bathing, let him/her feel the cleaning of the water and see the dirt washing away; compare this to the washing away of sin at baptism.
• Baptize and anoint a baby doll, discussing what is said and why.  With an older child, one could even discuss lay baptisms – practice an emergency baptism that can be done by any Orthodox Christian when a priest is not available.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, come and fill our hearts with your love and wash our hearts clean from every evil thought.

ANAGRAMS

How many 4-letter words can you make from the word:

HOLY SPIRIT

___________________                         ________________

___________________                         ________________

___________________                         ________________

___________________                         ________________

___________________                         ________________

___________________                         ________________

___________________                         ________________

___________________                         ________________

___________________                         ________________

Philip and the Ethiopian

Stephen, the first martyr

            The story of Stephen is in Acts 6 and 7.  After the blessing of Pentecost, it is hard to face the reality of death. 

Home Activities:

• Remind your child of older family members or friends who may have gone to be with the Lord; make koliva and celebrate a memorial service or visit the cemetery. 
• As you go for a walk, look for stones; might be a good time to begin a rock collection, but discuss what the stones did to Stephen as well. 
• With a small child, remember that he saw angels; sing “All night, All day”. 
• With a school-age child, this might be a good week to watch TV or movies with your child, specifically looking for instances of anger and violence and comparing them with the anger of the Jews.  What would he do in the same situation as the character?   Look for situations where you could stand up for Christ as Stephen did.

All night, all day
Angels watchin' over me my Lord
All night, all day
Angels watchin' over me

Now I lay me down to sleep
Angels watchin' over me, my Lord
Pray the Lord my soul to keep
Angels watchin' over me

Prayer: Lord bless all our family and friends who are in heaven and protect all of us on earth with your holy angels.

What did Stephen say as he gave up his spirit?

SAINT  STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR

THE STONING OF STEPHEN

Conversion of Saul

            This is a fun week! First read Acts 9. 

Home Activities:

• Color the picture of Saul; do the maze puzzle. 
• Go around the house blindfolded; play blind-man’s bluff. 
• With older children, try learning to read Braille (It’s a lot harder than you think.) or navigate with a cane.  Of course, after some experience with blindness, the child should appreciate sight all the more and be able to rejoice with Saul at the ministry of Ananias. 
• If you’re more ambitious, or your child shows special interest, visit the Maryland School for the Blind or the American Federation for the Blind right here in Maryland for a tour.
• Finally, review in the Scriptures or Bible storybook the many instances where Jesus healed the blind, just as Saul was healed. 

Prayer: Lord, let me see the way you want me to go, every day of my life.

CODED MESSAGE

Try using the Braille alphabet below to write a coded message. If you poke a pen point thru the dots, you can feel the letters as a blind person would. Can you write your own name?

Can you write: Saul was struck blind on the road to Damascus and was healed by the prayers of Ananias.

THE CONVERSION OF SAUL

PAUL’S VISION RESTORED BY ANANIAS

Peter and Cornelius

            Another easy week.  The story is found in Acts 10. 

Home Activities:

• Gather up your stuffed animals, or go to the zoo.  Read Leviticus 11; pick out the clean and unclean animals.  Discuss the Jewish law. 
• Or, try being kosher for a week; that will put any cook to a test!
• Visit an Orthodox Jewish synagogue; talk to some Jewish friends about being kosher.  Now, your child will understand more fully how Peter felt, after living all his life in a totally Jewish society, when God asked him to preach to and baptize a Gentile. 
• Sing “Jesus Loves the Little Children”:

Jesus loves the little children,

All the little children of the world.

Red and yellow, black and white,

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to love all your people just as You do.

THE VISION OF ST. PETER

Council of Jerusalem

The first “business meeting” of the early church is found in Acts 15.

Home Activities:

• Role play the council with Peter, Paul, and James. 
• Do you have a family decision to make this week? Have a family “council” and pattern it after the Jerusalem Council.  Is everyone satisfied with the decision?  Was Paul fully satisfied either?  How do families and the church make decisions?

Prayer: Lord, guide us in every decision we make, just as You have guided your Church.   

Council of Jerusalem Crossword

Across

4. people who are not Jews

5. the disciple to the Gentiles

7. where the decree was sent

9. his Law obeyed by Jews

10. bishop of Jerusalem

12. people who follow the Law

Down

1. Paul's companion who went to Antioch

2. abstain from gifts offered to them

3. where the council was held

6. symbol used by Christians

8. not required for Gentiles

11. one of the Twelve, who was present

THE COUNCIL IN JERUSALEM

Spread of Gospel

            This is probably the “busiest” week of the year. 

Home Activities:

• Review the stories of one or two disciples each day. Where did they go? What did they do?  There’s lots of drama here; the stories are exciting. 
• Take a map of the world (or a globe) and mark all the countries the disciples reached. 
• Get some books out of the library or search the Internet and look at pictures of these countries; what are they like today? 
• Include Matthias; how was he chosen in Judas’s place?  Can you make a decision this week by casting lots? 
• Finally, what is evangelism? Color the picture of the 4 Evangelists. Have your child try telling a friend about Jesus at least once during the week and inviting a friend to church; is it easy?

Prayer: Lord, help me to spread Your Good News to all the world just as Your disciples did.

LIVES OF THE APOSTLES (IN BRIEF)

            Where did they all go, these men who followed Jesus so closely?  Let’s look quickly at their lives after the Ascension and Pentecost. Try to follow the trips on the map:

            St. Andrew, the first-called, a fisherman by trade and brother of Peter, traveled to Scythia, Greece, Byzantium (later known as Constantinople), and finally to Russia.  He is the patron saint of Russia and finally died on an X-shaped cross, preaching the whole time he was on the cross.

            St. Thomas, better known as “Doubting Thomas” because of his doubts about the Resurrection, surely had no doubts after he saw Jesus with his own eyes.  He traveled to far-off India to spread the good news of his faith and there, he died.

            St. Bartholomew also is believed to have traveled to India and begin the Christian Church there.  He then traveled to Armenia where he preached for many years.  Finally, a wicked king named Astyages ordered Bartholomew killed.

            St. Simon (the Zealot) left Palestine and traveled first to Egypt to preach about Jesus.  St. Jude left Jerusalem after Pentecost and traveled to the land of Mesopotamia.  In and around the city of Edessa he preached the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.  Finally, he went to Persia with St. Simon and there in Persia both of these courageous apostles died for their faith.

            St. James the Greater, son of Zebedee and brother of St. John the Beloved, traveled to Spain the preach; he is the patron saint of Spain to this day and is known there as Santiago (Our own San Diego is named for him.).  He returned to Jerusalem to try to influence the Pharisees to accept Christ.  But, the Jews still hated the Christians and begged King Herod Agrippa to put James to death.  James was the first of the apostles to die and the second martyr (after Stephen).

            St. Philip married and had three daughters who also became Christians.  He traveled to Phrygia in Asia Minor.  There he preached to the people of Hierapolis.  These people worshipped a huge snake; Philip prayed and the snake died.  Many of the people then believed in Jesus, but some were so angry they put Philip in prison.  When Philip would not deny Jesus, he was crucified, head down, and went to heaven to be with his Lord.

            St. Matthew remained for many years in the land of Israel, teaching the Jewish people about Jesus.  He wrote the gospel of Matthew to tell the story of Jesus to his people.  Finally, he traveled to Ethiopia to preach and was killed by those who hated Christians in that far-off land.

            St. James the son of Alpheus, also known as James the Less and brother of St. Matthew, traveled after Pentecost first to the city of Eleutheropolis and then to Egypt.  There he preached and performed miracles with great success and churches were founded.  Finally he was killed in the town of Ostracina, being crucified by pagans.

            St. Matthias was chosen by casting lots to take the place of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.  He had been one of the 70 men sent out by Jesus to preach and perform miracles.  He was with the other 11 disciples at Pentecost and preached in the land of Judea.  Then he traveled to the land of Cappadocia and began the church there.  He also died for his faith.

           St. John, the Evangelist, spent most of his ministry in the city of Ephesus. We will study him in more detail later. 

            There are 3 other very special apostles, even though they were not part of the first 12 chosen by Jesus.  One of these was St. Mark, the Evangelist.  Mark, or John Mark, was probably the young man who ran away naked when Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Later, the first church in Jerusalem met at his home.  He traveled with Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary voyage and left after part of the trip to go home to Jerusalem.  Barnabas took Mark with him on later missionary trips to Cyprus and joined St. Paul in Rome.  He also spent time with Peter in Rome and here he wrote down the gospel of Mark what Peter told him about the life of Jesus.  After the deaths of Peter and Paul, Mark helped begin the church in Alexandria in Egypt.  He became bishop of Alexandria and finally was martyred under the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.

            St. Barnabas was actually named Joseph; the apostles changed his name to Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement”.  We see glimpses of his work in the book of Acts.  He was one of those who sold all he had in the early church in Jerusalem.  Next we see him leading the newly converted Saul back to Jerusalem to meet the other Christians there.  He was sent by the church in Jerusalem to Antioch, where believers were first called Christians.  After a year in Antioch with Paul, the two set out on their first missionary journey.  Barnabas also traveled with Paul to Jerusalem for the first church council.  But, when Paul refused to trust John Mark to come on his next journey, Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus.  They preached there together for many years until Barnabas was stoned to death in Salamis.

Finally, St. Luke, the Evangelist, was also an early companion of Paul.  He was a Roman citizen and physician from the city of Antioch.  He traveled with Paul through Asia Minor on his second missionary journey.  He wrote down all they did and all he learned about the life of Jesus; we can still read these today in the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Luke.  He painted an icon of the Virgin Mary which he gave to the Theotokos herself; this is still a prized possession of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.  Luke lived to be an old man and died in Thebes at the age of 84.

John/The Revelation

 Home Activities:          

• Review the life of St. John.  Where was he at the calling of the fishermen? the Transfiguration? the Last Supper? the Crucifixion? Find him in the icons of these feasts.
• Color the picture of the lampstands and of the Archangel Michael.
• You can read parts of the Revelation; smaller children will be most interested in the word pictures in the Revelation of angels and thrones. 
• Make paper angels. 
• Watch a movie or TV show about angels. 
• But, don’t forget the Last Judgment; look at the parables of Jesus about the sheep and the goats, those on His right and left hands, the Foolish Virgins, etc. 
• Read C.S. Lewis’s “The Last Battle” out loud with older children. 

Prayer: Lord, send my guardian angel to keep watch over me.

October 31                  All Saints’ Party

After vespers in the Church Hall, dinner and party for costumed adults and children, dressed as saints.  Choose your saint, possibly one we’ve studied or your name saint or another favorite.  There will be games and fun for all.  Only those in costumes are invited – that way no one will laugh.

The Churches of Asia from the Revelation

Across

2. Be faithful unto death

5. You allow that woman Jezebel

6. I have set before you an open door

Down

1. You have those who hold the doctrine of Balaam

2. You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead

3. You have left your first love.

4. You are neither cold or hot; you are lukewarm

ST. MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL

Paul and Journeys

            There’s a lot to cover on Paul, so he has 2 consecutive weeks. Paul’s journeys can be found in Acts 13-14, 16-28 – lots of reading.  

Home Activities:

• Follow his journeys on your world map or globe.
• Do the puzzle.
• Make a small sailboat out of popsicle sticks and shipwreck it in a puddle or creek. 
• Visit the snakes at the zoo. 
• Again, get books from the library or research on the Internet Greece, Rome, and the areas of Asia Minor Paul traveled in and look at the cultures and geography of the lands involved. 
• Talk about earthquakes and how to prepare for them. 
• Paul was, by trade, a tentmaker; make a tent from a sheet and spend the night (pitch it in the house if it’s too cold to be outside). 
• Paul spent years in jail; make cards for prisoners and gather toys for their children. 
• Paul spoke about running a race for the Lord; go to the track and run some races or have a mini-meet in your yard for the neighborhood children (reminding them, of course, of the story of Paul).

Prayer:   Lord, let me live my whole life, every minute, for You as did Paul.

PAUL AND SILAS IN PHILIPPI

PAUL IN CHAINS GOING TO ROME

PAUL ON THE ISLAND OF MALTA

PAUL BEFORE THE EMPEROR IN ROME

Peter

Home Activities:

•  We’ve already met Peter several times; review the stories of Pentecost, of Peter and Cornelius, and of the Council of Jerusalem.
•  Color the picture of Peter and Paul; not only does each of these great saints have his own feast day, but they have yet another day together.  Place the icon in your icon corner.
• Look through your Bible or storybook and reread the stories of last year when we studied the gospels – the calling of the fishermen (Matthew 4), the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8), walking on water (Matthew 14), the Transfiguration (Matthew 17), the Last Supper (John 13), the denial (Matthew 26), the Resurrection (Luke 24).  Lots of bedtime stories here; your child should know and love Peter by the end of the week. 
• Look at pictures of bishops; Peter was the Bishop of Rome. 
• Play with your keys; Peter was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven by Jesus Himself. 
• Point out crosses and remind your child that Peter died on an upside-down cross. 
• “Quo Vadis” would be a great movie to watch with the whole family. 

Prayer: Lord, fill me with the same deep love for You that Peter had.

            Advent does not actually figure in our curriculum this year.  But, this is a wonderful opportunity to review the birth and life of Jesus.  Make an advent calendar, decorating it with tiny icons or stickers.  Review the entire Old Testament (studied 2 years ago) by decorating a Jesse tree with symbols of Old Testament characters.

How did Peter answer the lame man?

Dormition

Home Activities:

• This is a major feast, so put the icon of the feast in your icon corner for the week. 
• Color and mount a picture of the icon.  Again, review who is pictured in the icon, what they are doing there, what is happening, etc. 
• Pray again this week for members of the family who have passed away; make a list to give Father next time you bake Prosphora. 
• Koliva is great, so make it again with your child. 

Prayer: Most blessed Theotokos, pray for us.

The Dormition Double Puzzle

Unscramble each of the clue words.
Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number.

Mother of Mary

Father of Mary

Where Mary grew up

The "Announcement"

The angel who announced

Mary's husband

Where Mary lived later

Where Mary was buried

Disciple who was not there

Jew who tried to topple bier

What Thomas smelled

Persecutions

            This week we are focusing on the martyrs, especially in the days of the Romans. 

Home Activities:

• Many of your children will have the saint’s name of a martyr and you can review the life and death of these saints. 
• Any book on the lives of the saints will have multiple choices for bedtime stories; focus on the courage of the saint and not so much on the gory details. 
• Watch “The Robe” together as a family, complete with popcorn. 
• For older children, remind them that Christians are still being persecuted around the world; point out some of the countries on the world map or globe. 

Prayer: Lord, give me the trust and courage that you gave the martyrs.

Do you know the song to the martyrs sung at each wedding?

Rearrange the tiles to see the prayer.

St. Nicholas

            This lesson should be scheduled to occur right before St. Nicholas Day, December 6. St. Nicholas will visit during opening exercises on Sunday. During coffee hour we will perform our St. Nicholas play for the congregation and for Ridgeway Manor Nursing Home.  Look for a script to come home in November with costume suggestions in November. 

Home Activities:

• On the evening of December 5, put your child’s shoes outside your door with much pomp and circumstance. 
• Review at bedtime the story of St. Nicholas and color his icon. 
• Solve the puzzle below for the words to the song of St. Nicholas; sing it frequently.
• While your child sleeps, fill the shoes with chocolate coins, nuts, candy, fruit, or other goodies.  In the morning… 
• This is the beginning of Christmas!  Sing the St. Nicholas song through the week.  Begin to bake cookies, decorate, make gifts, etc. 
• Remind your child that St. Nicholas gave gifts to others and plan to make gifts or favors for a neighborhood nursing home, children’s home, day-care, etc.
• Advent is already in progress. You can use our printed Advent Calendar, coloring one star for each day. You can fill in the days before St. Nicholas Day. 

Prayer: Lord, bless all the children of the world, through the prayers of our holy father, Nicholas.

Do you know the song to St. Nicholas?

Constantine

Home Activities:

• Constantine is considered Equal to the Apostles; why? 
• Discuss dreams and visions with your child; who else in the Bible had visions that changed the course of history? Read the stories of Noah, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Zachariah, etc. 
• Make shields decorated with crosses and outfit the neighbors, marching them up and down to “When the saints go marching in”. 
• Color the icons of Constantine and Helen and of the Holy Cross they served.

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust You and obey You as did your servant Constantine.

Elevation of the Cross

Home Activities:

• Review the story of the finding of the cross with your child.
• In your Bible storybook, reread the stories of the healing miracles of Jesus; how did St. Helen identify the true cross?
• Look for crosses – they’re everywhere!
• Also, reread the story of the Crucifixion. As you drive, as you shop…
• Wear a cross every day – might even buy a new one for the week to make it more exciting for your child to wear.
• Review with your child how to cross himself “correctly” and do it regularly.

Prayer: Lord, bless all Your people through the saving power of Your holy Cross.   “Before Thy Cross, we bow down and worship, O Master, and Thy holy Resurrection we glorify!” (Sing it three times, prostrating each time; children love prostrations!)

ELEVATION OF THE CROSS CRYPTOGRAM

Can you find the words we say in church several times a year? We’re using Greek letters for the code to celebrate the moving of the Roman capital towards the east in Constantinople.

Elevation of the Cross Crossword
 

Across

4. What happened to the sick woman

5. Bishop of Jerusalem

6. Number of crosses found

8. Mother of the Emperor

9. the Emperor

Down

1. Hill where Jesus was crucified

2. City where her ship landed

3. City where Jesus was crucified

7. Built on site where the cross was found

St. Mary of Egypt

Home Activities:

• Mary lived a life of fasting and prayer.  Try a day of total silence, or a day of bread and water only (No, your child will not starve to death!), or to pray for even one hour without stopping. 
• Or, if your child is intrigued and motivated, try a hermit day – all alone in a room with only a Bible and water and bread, in total silence except for prayer – the ultimate “time out”. 
• Look at pictures of deserts in National Geographic or library books; think about the heat and dryness. 
• While your child is “enjoying” hermit-day, visit him or her briefly as Fr. Zossima did, possibly bring a bit of honey for the bread and an icon picture for him to color.

Prayer: Lord, help me to pray each day with your beloved saint, Mary of Egypt.

ST. MARY OF EGYPT

Canon of Scripture

            Memory work begins this week.  The smallest children should learn the names of the four gospels and Acts.  The 6-9 year olds should learn all the books of the New Testament.  And the 10-12 year olds should learn all the books of the Bible.  The treasure chest will provide a prize during opening exercises next week for all who can recite.  Work on the memory work in the car, at home, etc. Note that the Orthodox Study Bible books are a bit different from those of the Protestant Bible AND the Roman Catholic Bible. The bookmark can be printed on cardstock and used for memorization. You can use the handy song to memorize the books of the Old Testament; those of the New Testament are the same in all of the Bibles.

BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

(to the tune of  the verses of “Jesus Loves Me”)

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,

Numbers, Deuteronomy,

Joshua, Judges, Ruth God brings,

Kingdoms 1,2,3, and 4,

Two of Chronicles and Ezras two,

Nehemiah,Tobit, Judith

Esther, Maccabees all three,

Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes,

Song of Songs and Wisdoms two

Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel,

Obadiah, Jonah, not all,

Nahum, then comes Habakkuk,

Zephaniah, Haggai,

Zechariah, Malachi

Isaiah, Jeremiah

Baruch and Lamentations, too.

Jeremiah’s Epistle then.

Ezekiel, Daniel, that’s the end,

All of these God’s works foretold

And His promises of old.

BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

(to the tune of the ABCs)

Matthew, Mark and Luke and John,

Acts and Romans, Corinthians 2

Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians,

1^st and 2^nd Thessalonians,

1^st and 2^nd  Timothy,

Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James,

2 of  Peter and 3 of John,

Jude and the Revelation.

Now we know the 27 books

Of the New Testament of Christ our Lord. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us your Bible.

The Canon of Scripture Word Search

Athanasius/Creed

            Memory work continues.  The smallest children should learn the first line or two of the creed; everyone else should be able to say (or sing) the entire creed.  After all, we hear it every week in church!  Again, work on it bit by bit through the week and a prize will be given on Sunday. But don’t forget St. Athanasius; read his story and color his icon.

Prayer: Lord, may all Christians be one in the true faith you revealed to St. Athanasius and the council with your Nicene creed.

CREED MATCHING

Match the first half of each verse to the second, beginning with:

I BELIEVE

In one God                                                                  begotten of the Father before all ages.

Maker of heaven and earth                                          came down from heaven,

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,                                      and sitteth at the right hand of the Father         ,

The only begotten,                                                       and suffered and was buried,

Light of Light,                                                              Who proceeds from the Father,

Begotten not made,                                                      the Son of God,

Who for us men and for our salvation                         and apostolic church.

And was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and                    to judge the living and the dead, Whose

            the Virgin Mary                                                           Kingdom shall have no end.

And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate         the Father Almighty,

And the third day He rose again                                  is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke

                                                                                                by the prophets.                                  

And ascended into heaven                                           of one essence with the Father by Whom all

                                                                                                things were made.

And He shall come again in glory                                and became man.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life       and of all things visible and invisible.

Who with the Father and the Son together                   for the remission of sins.

And in one holy catholic                                             according to the Scriptures.                             

I acknowledge one baptism                                         and the life in the world to come.

I look for the resurrection of the dead                         true God of true God,

AMEN

Chrysostom/Liturgy

Home Activities:

• As you stand through liturgy this week, point out what’s going on to your child. 
• When we get to the creed, sing it with your child. 
• If you didn’t quite get all the memory work completed for the past two weeks, work on it again; we’ll give the children another chance next Sunday to recite their books of the Bible or Creed. 
• Retell the story of St. John Chrysostom and the lion;
• Visit the lions at the zoo. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us your liturgy through the golden-tongued St. John Chrysostom.

Can you identify these liturgical items?

Across

4. Covers the communion bread

7. Communion cup

8. Used to receive Communion

9. Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

10. Worship place

11. Plate for the bread

Down

1. To burn incense

2. Bread to be blessed

3. Icon screen

4. Knife for the bread

5. Covers chalice and paten

6. To clean the cup

Three Hierarchs and the Cappodocian Fathers

Home Activities:

• St. Basil, with his far-reaching ministry, is the best-known of this group.  Visit a hospital; Basil founded hospitals. 
• Visit a homeless shelter; Basil sheltered travelers and homeless people in his day. 
• With an older child, read through the Liturgy of St. Basil, next to the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, in the worship notebooks; how are they alike and how different? 
• Vasilopita, or St. Basil's bread/cake, is well known. Make it with your child and hide a coin in it. Why?
• Color the icon picture of all three together for your icon corner.

Prayer: Lord, help me to serve You and Your people as did Your servants Basil, John, Gregory, and Gregory.

A Simple Recipe for Vasilopita

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 extra-large eggs
• Grated rind of 2 large oranges
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg yolk blended with 1 tablespoon milk
• sesame seeds
• blanched almonds
• a clean coin - a quarter will do nicely - wrapped in silver or gold foil

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Thickly butter a 10-inch round spring form pan.

2. In a large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the sugar and beat until the mixture is light. Beat in the eggs, one a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the orange rind and cinnamon.

3. In a separate bowl, sift together three cups of the flour, the baking powder and salt.

4. With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the dry mixture alternately with the milk. The batter will be very thick. Using a wooden spoon, gradually blend in the remaining flour, beating well until completely smooth.

5. Spread the batter into the pan, press the coin into the dough until it is completely covered (don't let anyone see where you place it!), and then smooth the top. Brush the top evenly with the egg and milk mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Gently press the blanched almonds into the top to make a Cross and spell out the date of the new year.

6. Bake for 45 minutes, until golden brown (if it browns too quickly, cover the top with aluminum foil). Cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing from spring form and thoroughly cool before slicing.

CAN YOU IDENTIFY ME?

HINT: I am either Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzus, or Gregory of Nyssa – one of the Cappodocian Fathers.

I wrote a Liturgy still used today.               I am _____________________

I am known as “The Theologian.”              I am _____________________

I am Basil’s brother.                                   I am _____________________

I am Basil’s good friend.                             I am _____________________

I am known for organizing monastic life.   I am _____________________

I was bishop of Nyssa.                               I am _____________________

I was bishop of Caesarea.                          I am _____________________

I was bishop of Sasima.                             I am _____________________

I was married to Theosebeia.                      I am _____________________

God protected me in an earthquake.           I am _____________________

God saved me from a storm at sea.            I am _____________________

I gave bread with coins to the poor.           I am _____________________

Ecumenical Councils/St. Cyril of Alexandria

            The smaller children will focus on St. Cyril of Alexandria, while the older students study the councils.

Home Activities:

• Review St. Cyril, even with your older student.
• St. Cyril taught us about the role and place of the Theotokos.  Put an icon of Mary in your icon corner. 
• Retell the story of the Annunciation and the Nativity.  Retell the story of the Crucifixion (John 19), Resurrection (Luke 24), Ascension (Acts 1), Pentecost (Acts 2), and the Dormition.  Point out Mary in the icons of these feasts; what is she doing there?
• Review St. Athanasius and St. Nicholas. Which council did they attend?

Prayer: Lord, we honor your mother, Mary the Theotokos, as we are taught by Your servant St. Cyril of Alexandria.

COUNCIL CONFUSION

While it may seem an impossible task to keep the councils straight, the councils ARE the backbone of Orthodox theology and are worth the effort for the older student. While the younger ones are coloring the icons, let’s work on the first 6 councils (after the Council of Jerusalem, which is not numbered):

1.  Where was I held?                          CANIE                    ________________________

      Who called me?                            TOCNASENTNI        ________________________

      Whose heresy was condemned?   SAIRU                     ________________________

      Who defended the faith?              STANAHUASI          ________________________

      What was the result?                     DEREC                   ________________________

2. Where was I held?                          PLONECNATNISTO   ________________________          

     Who called me?                             STEDSHOOIO          ________________________

     Whose heresy was condemned?    SCUDNIAMOE         ________________________

     Who defended the faith?               ODOSTOSHIE          ________________________

     What was the result?                      DRECE                    ________________________

3 Where was I held?                           SHEPSUE                  ________________________

    Who called me?                              SHOOTEDSIO2        ________________________

    Whose heresy was condemned?     SRETSNOIU              ________________________

    Who defended the faith?                RICLY                        ________________________

    What was the result?                       STOOTHEKO            ________________________

4. Where was I held?                          CLODNEHAC           ________________________

     Who called me?                             CRANIMA                 ________________________

     What heresy was condemned        STIMOONHIMSPY     ________________________

     Who defended the faith?               OLE                            ________________________

     What was the result?                      LANNICLIEDCH DEREC ____________________

5. Where was I held?                          SPOCLATETONNIN _______________________

    Who called me?                              SNITUNIJAS             ________________________

    What heresy was condemned?       STIMOMIPOSHNY  ________________________

6. Where was I held?                          NOTNIPSOCANTEL  ________________________

    Who called me?                              SLICHUREA             ________________________

    What heresy was condemned?       SLITOOMETHIMN  ________________________

Ecumenical Councils/St. Nina of Georgia/St. Patrick

Home Activities

            The smallest children, too young to understand the councils, are studying St. Nina, Equal to the Apostles, this week; the older children are learning about the ecumenical councils.  The councils may make for dry reading at home, but the stories of St. Nina and St. Patrick can be reviewed for the younger children and told to the older.  Nina brought Christianity to the land of Georgia by healing the queen of the land.  But, the king would not believe, until one day the sun disappeared and did not return until he confessed Christ. 

• Study the sun this week – its make-up, rising and setting, etc.  Watch the sunrise or sunset.  Imagine with your child the king lost in the forest in the darkness with no sunlight in the middle of day.  
• Color the icon for your icon corner.
• St. Nina carried a cross made of twigs. Make a cross of twigs for your icon corner or even to wear.

The middle-size children enjoy the story of St. Patrick this week.  But, the older children should also know his story. 

• Review it – his capture as a slave in Ireland, his return. 
• Why is he pictured with a shamrock and snakes?  Make shamrocks – decorate early for his feast day in March. 
• Have a “typical” Irish meal, with corned beef, cabbage and Irish soda bread.
• Color his icon for your icon corner.

Prayer: Lord, St. Nina taught us that You are the light of the world Lord, teach us to love our enemies, as did Your servant St. Patrick.

Can you help find the shamrock? What is its meaning?

ST. PATRICK, ENLIGHTENER OF IRELAND   

Fall of Rome

     The fall of Rome was a major event in Western history.

Home Activities:

• Look at pictures of the city of Rome; Dr. Pat has a book at home with pictures as it was then, and as it is now. 
• Look at pictures of St. Peter’s and the Sistine Chapel and discuss the themes of the statuary and paintings. Try painting on wet plaster (or white salt dough or play dough); to make it really hard, try doing it upside down lying on the floor with the painting suspended above from a table or chair.
• Several movies come to mind to show the culture of ancient Rome: QuoVadis, the Silver Chalice, Spartacus (or The Gladiator), Ben Hur. Some of these will be shown at Movie nights, but all can be rented for home viewing. They’re most appropriate for older children.
• Learn a bit of Latin; all educated children learned Latin in every century in the Western world until the 20^th. It’s still everywhere – on buildings, statues, quotes in books.
• What about Roman numerals; can you use them all week to keep track of your groceries, lunch money, etc.?

Prayer: Lord, no nation is permanent. Bless our own nation and help her to seek your path.

THE CITY OF ROME IN ANCIENT TIMES

Byzantine Empire/Justinian the Great

Home activities:

• Look this week at examples of architecture, especially domes. Visit the Roman Catholic basilica downtown for its style.
• Can you visit St. Demetrios Church to see its mosaic work?
• You can do mosaic work at home with seeds or tiles. There are also kits to paint a tile or do a mosaic stepping stone at any craft store.
• Justinian also revamped the entire code of law; visit the courthouse and see how laws are enforced today.

Prayer: Lord, Thank You for the beauty that You allow us to create to glorify You.

What are the characteristics of Justinians’s greatest architecture?

Unscramble each of the clue words.
Take the letters that appear in the boxes and unscramble them for the final message – its name.

HAGIA SOPHIA TODAY

Rise of Islam

Home Activities:

Explore the world of Islam this week. 

• Wear a chador (a black sheet with 2 holes for eyes; I have a few); can you get anything done in it?
• No pork this week. 
• What about some Middle Eastern or Arabic food for dinner? Recipe for tabouleh and hummus are in the Holy Cross cookbook. The men sit at the table; women and girl children stand until the men finish eating before they can eat.  Play some Arabic music while the men eat. 
• Look back at the story of Abraham (Genesis) and Ishmael to see the origin of the Arabic peoples.
• With an older child, watch “Lawrence of Arabia” (be sure to be with the child; it needs some parental narration or censoring); a younger child may enjoy “Aladdin”.
• Color the picture of the Muslim warrier on horseback; review on the map the lands conquered by the Muslims in the days after Mohammed.

Prayer: Lord, bring Your gospel back to the lands once rich in Christianity. 

Secret code: Can you write a message using these Arabic letters?

(Note: There are no vowels included.)

MUSLIM INVADERS

Icons/St. John of Damascus

Home Activities:

• Icons are important in Orthodox worship.  Look at all the icons in your church; what is their purpose and what can your child learn from each.
• Color the icon of the Sunday of Orthodoxy for your icon corner. 
• Visit the Walters Art Gallery; look at the icons and religious paintings there.  Write (paint) an icon, but be sure to prepare properly with prayer. 
• Pray each day facing your home icon corner; if you don’t have one, this would be a great week for you and your child to set one up. 
• Does your child have an icon of his name saint; if not, pick one out mounted from the bookstore or a catalog or buy a print and decoupage it with your child. This is easy to do with a wood plaque, painted with acrylic paint, and, after the paint is dry, use Mod Podge to both attach the icon print and then to provide a finish by painting over the print.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing the holy icons back into our churches.

The Triumph of Orthodoxy Crossword

Across

2. Wicked son of Emperor Leo

4. Emperor who began the destruction of icons

5. John's hometown

8. religious pictures to be venerated

9. Empress who called the 7th Council

Down

1. Man who defended icons to the caliph

3. Empress who led the Triumph of Orthodoxy

6. Location of the 7th council

7. holy men who hid icons

ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS AND HIS TEACHER

Monasticism/ St. Anthony, St. Gerasimos, and St. Seraphim

We will be studying this week the development of monasticism, with a special telling of the stories of St. Anthony, St. Gerasimos, and St. Seraphim. 

Home Activities:

• Reread these stories with your children; at least one of them should be in any book of saints’ lives.
• What a wonderful way to work into Great Lent.  Try a monastic week – no TV, services every morning and evening, light diet, prayer and work all day.  Have your child wear a “habit”, maybe a bathrobe or a hooded cloak, to remind him that today he is a monk.. 
• Visit the bears at the zoo and tell the story of St. Seraphim and the bear.

Prayer: Pray each day the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, another great monk, “O Lord and Master of my life!  Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power and idle talk. (Prostration) But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. (Prostration)  Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen. (Prostration).

ST. SERAPHIM OF SAROV

Cyril and Methodius/ Baptism of Russia

Home Activities:

Have fun with the Cyrillic alphabet this week.  

• Even small children can copy the letters and color the pages.  Color the icon of St. Cyril and Methodius for your icon corner.
• Older children can begin to write “secret” messages, sounding out the words and substituting the Cyrillic letters for the English ones. 
• Or, have your child play missionary, making up an alphabet for an unknown language and “translating” the Scriptures into their new alphabet.

Prayer: Lord, bring the word of Your gospel to all the lands where You are not yet known.

Can you write: “Cyril and Methodius brought the gospel to the Slavs”?

_______________________________________________________________________

How about: “The alphabet used in Russia is called Cyrillic.”

_______________________________________________________________________

Now: “Cyril and Methodius were brothers from Thessalonica.”

_______________________________________________________________________

STS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS

Saints Vladimir and Olga

St. Gregory Palamas

Home Activities:

•  There’s some memory work again this week; even the smallest children should be able to learn the Jesus prayer. Say it every day in your prayer time.  The treasure box will again come out next Sunday. 
• Color St. Gregory’s icon for your icon corner. 
• Try a little mysticism with your older child this week; instead of reading or reciting prayers throughout prayer time, try some time of silence, just focusing the mind on Jesus. 
• Doves are also big this week; visit a pet shop to meet a dove or come on over to the Disharoons’ to pet and hold our dove. 
• Adorn your house with doves – from construction paper, paper plates, handprint doves, all kinds of doves.

Prayer: Lord, send our spirits to You in heaven on wings like a dove.

What prayer did Gregory Palamas teach us?

Can you decode the secret message?

ST. GREGORY PALAMAS

The Crusades

Home Activities:

• Time to march again; organize the neighborhood children’s crusade.  But, don’t forget to remind your child of the defeat of the crusaders and of the sack of Constantinople; facts left out of many Western histories. 
• Is your child’s room a mess?  Compare that to the pillaging of Constantinople and see how much time and effort it takes to get all in order again. 
• Let your child see you “steal” several of his prize possessions and hide them away; feel the grief and sadness together (then return the “lovies”). 
• Visit the Walters again; see the suits of armor and other artifacts from the Middle Ages in the West. 
• Build a castle from blocks or poster board. 
• Have a “feudal day” with girls dressed in long skirts and tall, pointed hats, boys in armor and shields, no electricity, no silverware except a knife, roast your dinner in the fireplace or over the grill. 
• Try a visit to the Medieval Times at the mall. Watch the old “Robin Hood” movie together; Richard the Lion-hearted was gone because of the Crusades.

Prayer: Lord, help us never to hurt others in Your name. 

Can you put these events in the right order, 1-16? Try a timeline, complete with pictures:

_____  French children sold as slaves.

_____ Pope Urban calls on Christians to take Jerusalem back from Moslems.

_____  Crusaders steal riches of Constantinople.

_____  Mohammed born in Mecca.

_____  Richard the Lionheart talks to Saladin.

_____  French children march to the sea to board ships for the Holy Land.

_____  Third Crusade with Richard, Frederick, and Philip sets out.

_____  Jerusalem captured back from Moslems the first time.

_____  Richard the Lionheart captured and imprisoned.

_____  People sew crosses on their tunics.

_____  Moslems capture Jerusalem for the first time.

_____  Frederick Red Beard of Germany drowned.

_____  Pirates capture French children at the seashore.

_____  Crusaders build castles in Jerusalem.

_____  Crusaders attack Constantinople.

_____  Saladin allows Third Crusaders into Jerusalem in peace.

THE CRUSADES

Fall of Constantinople

Home Activities:

• The result of the Crusades.  Build a castle of blocks and knock it down. 
• Constantinople was the City of Constantine; review the stories of Constantine, of Helen and the Elevation of the Cross, and of the Fall of Rome. 
• “Visit” Turkey in the library; see the culture and the architecture of Constantinople, now known as Istanbul.  
• Look at pictures of Hagia Sophia today; what’s missing? 
• Try a “harem” day; little girls will love to dress in silk scarves and bathing suits and practice “belly dancing” to music you can pick up at the library. 

Prayer: Lord, bring freedom to Your people still struggling in Your great City of Constantine.

The Fall of Constantinople: The City of Constantine

Unscramble each of the clue words. Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number to discover a hidden fact. 

• City of Constantine
• Eastern Empire
• Greatest Eastern Emperor
• Turkish General
• Geographical defense of the city
• New invention of war
• Name of new country
• Fate of Haggia Sophia

Protestant Reformation

To cover the entire Protestant Reformation in the West in 2 lessons is ludicrous, but we’ll try anyway. 

Home activities:

• Bring out the hammer and nails and join Martin Luther in hammering away on the cathedral door. 
• Visit one or several Protestant churches with your older child; most of them have Sunday or Wednesday evening services in addition to Sunday morning.  What’s alike and what’s different from a Liturgy?  How is a Baptist service alike or different from a Lutheran? 
• Interestingly, especially for those who are converts, Orthodox children usually come away from a Protestant service feeling somehow “cheated”; where’s the meat?  My children feel like they’ve been to a “show”, with some good (or excellent) music and preaching, but not to a worship experience. 

We cannot in any way do justice to this lesson in 2 Church School periods; we depend on you parents for weekday field trips and discussions. 

Prayer: Lord, may Your people someday be one, even as You are one.

The Church is divided:

Across

1. Founder of the Presbyterian Church

5. Sole head of the Roman Catholic Church

6. Home of John Wesley

9. Founder of the Seventh Day Adventists

10. Founder of the Baptist Church

11. Church of England in the USA

12. Believe in adult immersion

13. Cathedral where 95 theses was nailed

14. Monk who wrote the 95 theses

15. Sold by the Roman church to buy time in heaven

Down

1. King of Spain in days of Luther

2. City where Luther was condemned

3. Founder of the Methodist Church

4. Founder of Church of England

7. Home of Martin Luther

8. Issue for which Church of England founded

10. Home of John Calvin

THREE OF THE REFORMERS

Martin Luther

John Calvin

John Wesley

The next several lessons cover the growth of the national Orthodox churches from the 1500s to the present.  As an ongoing project, locate each country on a map of the world or a globe and mark it; learn its capital and geography from an encyclopedia.  With an older child, keep watch in the newspaper or news magazine for any mention of these countries in the next few weeks and make a scrapbook.

Armenia/Antioch

Home Activities:

• Buy or paint a T-shirt that tells the world that the word “Christian” comes from Antioch. 
• Review the story of the conversion of Saul, which occurred in Damascus, the seat of the Antiochian Patriarchate. 
• Learn to sing the “Holy God” hymn in Arabic. 
• Go back to the lesson on Islam and work again on your Arabic letters.
• Make some traditional foods, especially for Holy Week when we’re fasting. Hummus is very easy to make in blender or food processor. Just put in 2 cans chick peas (drained), 1 chopped onion, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 cup tomato puree, ¼ cup lemon juice, 2 tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp. paprika, cayenne and black pepper to taste. After blending till smooth, garnish with chopped parsley.

Prayer: Lord, we pray for all the bishops of the Antiochian Orthodox Church.

PASCHAL MATCHING

Can you match the first half of each greeting with the second?

English: Christ is risen!                                  Voistinu voskrese!

                        Greek: Christos anesti!                        Adeverat inviat!

                        Russian: Christos voskrese!                Indeed He is risen!

                        Arabic: Al-masi-kam!                         Alethos anesti!

                        Romanian: Christos inviat!                 Haq an qaam!

MAHMOUD IS FROM TURKEY

Ethiopia/Alexandria/St. Catherine/Georgia

Home Activities:

• Now we’re in Africa for Ethiopia, Alexandria (Egypt), and St. Catherine's.  Try some African recipes; get some African music tapes out of the library. 
• Look at pictures of ancient Egypt;
• A good time perhaps to watch “The Ten Commandments” and review the stories of Joseph and Moses again in your story time. 
• Review the story of Philip and the Eunuch. 
• Jesus also went to Egypt; when? 
• Ask our own Egyptian family how to say “hello”, “thank you”, and “good-bye” in Egyptian.
• The country of Georgia is included in this lesson. Compare with our state of Georgia -- similarities, differences. Find it on the map -- in Africa or not?

Prayer: Lord, strengthen Your church in Africa where You first led Your Hebrew people out of slavery. 

ST. FRUMENTIUS, ENLIGHTENER OF ETHIOPIA

Once there lived a boy in the land of Phoenicia named Frumentius. A rich man named Meropius decided that he would sail to India to learn of the wisdom of that land. Meropius took with him 2 boys, Frumentius and his friend Edesius. But, the ship ran out of food. They came to a town on the coast of Africa and landed the ship to buy food. But the people of this region hated the Romans. They killed Meropius and the sailors and took the two boys to the king as slaves. This is how Frumentius came to the African land of Ethiopia.

The king could see that the boys were smart and well-mannered. He decided to let

them live as his servants. Edesius became his cup-bearer and Frumentius a keeper of scrolls. They served the king well. But, the king died young. The queen asked Edesius and Frumentius to help her young son learn to rule the land and they agreed to serve the people of Ethiopia. Frumentius was now free to travel around the country. He gathered the Christians together and told people about Jesus. Soon, there were more and more Christians in the land.

ABEBI IS FROM ETHIOP

IA

Greece/Constantinople

Home Activities:

• Visit a Greek restaurant in Highlandtown; visit a Greek parish for vespers or a weekday service. 
• Have some fun with the Greek alphabet just as we did earlier with the Cyrillic.  Can you write secret messages using Greek letters to spell the words? Try: “The apostle Paul traveled to Greece and started the church there.”
• Try some Greek food at home (spinach pie, lamb, baklava are all easy to make); your child and his friends can each make his own personal baklava by painting melted butter on a single sheet of phyllo pastry (do this very fast, since until painted the pastry dries up incredibly quickly), sprinkling with a mixture of finely ground walnuts with a touch of sugar and cinnamon, folding each side to the center in thirds to make a long strip, sprinkling again with walnut mixture, and rolling from one end like a sleeping bag.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes, until slightly crispy.  While the pastry is baking, mix about 2-3 cups water (depending on the number of pastries) with 4-5 cups sugar to make a slurry, add a cinnamon stick, and heat in a saucepan until all the sugar melts.  Add about ½ cup honey and pour over the baked goodies.  If they can wait an hour or so to eat, the baklavas will be even better, but if not, let them dip into the sauce that will not yet have soaked in. 
• They can also have great fun with Greek hand-shaped rolls called koulourakia: Separate 4 eggs. Beat the whites until stiff, then add the yolks, 2 cups sugar, 1/3 cup orange juice, ¾ cup melted butter or margarine – all while beating constantly. Sift 3 tsp baking powder with 1 cup flour and add to mixer. Then knead in 5-6 more cups flour until you have an elastic bread dough. Give each child a ball and have him roll it into a long snake. Lay on greased cookie sheet in fanciful patterns – snail, octopus, figure 8, etc. Brush with beaten egg for glaze and bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes until golden. 
• Try some Greek dancing; get the music out of the library, hold hands with the leader holding a red scarf in his free hand, and with small children just run, kick, and jump like follow-the-leader, making spirals and snakes around the room.
• Learn to say “Christos anesti; alethos anesti” for Pascha.

Prayer: Lord, help us to enjoy all the traditions that make Your church so much fun.

ST. COSMAS AITOLOS

About 250 years ago there lived in the land of Greece a monk named Cosmas Aitolos.

Cosmas lived for 17 years in the monastery on Mt. Athos. But, God told Cosmas to leave the monastery. The Greeks had been ruled for many, many years by the Moslem Turks. Many had forgotten the Lord Jesus. God asked Cosmas to bring His people back to Him.

Cosmas traveled for 20 years all around the land of Greece. He built schools and

churches and gave people crosses and icons. Soon, people heard of this holy man and came to hear him preach. Wonderful things would happen while Cosmas was teaching – a tailor with a withered hand was healed, a rich noble could hear again.

Many times Cosmas had to preach outdoors because of the huge crowds. They would

stick a large cross in the ground where Cosmas was going to preach to let people know. But, one day, a Turkish soldier pulled out one of the crosses. Suddenly the earth shook and the soldier fell down foaming at the mouth. When he woke up, the soldier knew he had been punished for taking down the cross. He put it back up.

But, many of the people, especially of the Jews and Turks, did not want Cosmas to

keep preaching about Jesus. So, the ruler ordered Cosmas to be killed. The soldiers took the old monk and killed him by tying his neck to the trunk of a tree. Cosmas is also called “Equal to the Apostles” because he brought the Greek people back to the Lord.

VASILIOS IS FROM GREECE
 

Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria

The music, food, and dancing of these countries are not as well-known as the Greek. 

Home Activities:

• Review the stories of the great saints of these churches – Sts. Sava, Lazar, and Zlata.  Your child should have heard these stories in Church School. 
• Color the icons for your icon corner
• We have several Romanian and Serbian families in our own parish who could share their culture with your children.
• Find the countries on a map of Europe.

Prayer: Lord, bring peace in this region and to Your people there.

Serbian Macaroni

Try this in place of macaroni and cheese:

2 pounds ground beef browned with 1 medium chopped onion. Then add 1/3 cup parsley flakes, salt and pepper, and 2 tablespoons butter. Stir and add 2 small cans tomato sauce, 1 small can tomato paste, along with each of the cans filled again with water. Add ½ tsp garlic powder, 1tsp. cinnamon, and 1/3 cup sugar. Simmer 30 minutes and serve over macaroni.

ST. SAVA OF SERBIA

                St. Sava was the first Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, but he was also a humble monk. The following story tells of his wisdom and humility:

One day, as the devil was walking down a steep mountain path, he saw the good and

gentle St. Sava, a priest of Serbia, coming up the path. St. Sava greeted the devil warmly and asked him what he would like best to do. The devil answered, “I would like to grow vegetables, if you would help me.”

So St. Sava and the devil became partners. They decided to grow onions. Soon there

were beautiful green shoots coming up all over the field. Since they were partners, St. Sava asked the devil which half he would prefer.  The devil answered, “I’ll take the half above ground and you can have the part under the ground.” St. Sava agreed. Soon the onions were ripe. Above ground were dried up stalks, but underground were beautiful red onions!

The devil was furious. Next they grew cabbages. The devil insisted on having the part under the ground this time. St. Sava again agreed. Soon the cabbages were grown. St. Sava cut the beautiful heads above ground; all that was left was the brown roots underground for the devil.

Now the devil was even angrier. They decided to grow potatoes. The devil asked for the part above the ground. And, again, the devil got worthless leaves, while St. Sava had a crop of beautiful underground potatoes.

                 Next they decided to grow wheat. The devil chose the underground part, and Sava was happy to get the beautiful yellow stalks of wheat. The devil was left with worthless stubble.The devil was in a terrible rage. St. Sava crossed himself and the devil vanished from sight, never to return to match wits with such a good and godly priest.

Zlata lived in the village of Slatina in the country of Bulgaria. She was very poor, but loved Jesus with her whole heart. She was also beautiful and kind. All the village loved Zlata.

In those days, the Moslem Turks ruled Bulgaria. They hated all Christians. One day, a Turk saw Zlata as she was gathering firewood for her family. He decided he wanted her for his wife and captured her. He took her to his home. There he decided she must first become a Moslem before he could marry her. But Zlata would not deny Jesus Christ her Lord.

The Turk promised Zlata riches and slaves to do her work for her. But, she would not deny Christ. Then the Turk threatened her with terrible tortures, but she told him she was not afraid to suffer for Jesus. Then he had her live for six months with his Turkish women; they tried to trick her into denying Jesus and even tried magic. But nothing would get Zlata to deny Jesus. The Turk then went to her family and told them they would all be killed if she did not become a Moslem. They tried to get Zlata to at least pretend to be a Moslem, but she told them that she would not lie to God.

                The evil Turk was beaten. He tortured Zlata, but all she did was pray. The Turk was furious. He hung her in a tree and cut her into pieces. So St. Zlata became a martyr and went home to heaven with her beloved Jesus.

GEORGI IS FROM BULGARIA

Japan

Home Activities:

• Review the story of St. Nicholas, Evangelizer of Japan. 
• Have a Japanese tea ceremony with little girls – green tea, chopsticks, Japanese food, fans, silk scarves all make for a great afternoon.  There is an Oriental grocery in Catonsville that will have everything you need. 
• Make pearl necklaces; stringing beads (in this case, bags of pearls can be purchased at any craft store) is always fun for small children. 
• With an older child, watch “Shogun”, but be sure to watch it with the child and provide commentary or skip the more “adult” portions. 
• With an older child, you can also try sushi or visit a Japanese restaurant; this is quite different from traditional Chinese fare. 
• Can you learn to say “hello”, “thank you”, and “good-bye” in Japanese?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the work of your great evangelizer, St. Nicholas of Japan.

St. Nicholas of Japan Crossword

Across

1. Where John was called as a missionary

5. the warriors of Japan

6. What happened to Fr. Nicholas's first convert

7. Fr. Nicholas's first convert

8. the religion of the samurai

9. The birth name of St. Nicholas of Japan

Down

2. John's name as a monk

3. First cathedral in Japan

4. John's birthplace

ST. NICHOLAS, ENLIGHTENER OF JAPAN

Ukraine, Russia, OCA

Still more ethnic adventures. 

Home Activities:

• Review the stories of St. Sergius, St. Innocent (Apostle to the Aleuts), St. Herman, and St. Peter the Aleut. 
• Visit the library or the Internet for books on Eskimos and Aleuts; look at pictures of Alaskan scenery, igloos, seals, walruses, etc. 
• Visit these animals at the zoo. 
• Now travel to Russia – try a dinner of cabbage, kielbasa, pierogies (Mrs. T’s are easy),  beets, etc. 
• Visit one of our Russian parishes – St. Andrew’s OCA or Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox. 
• Time to pull out that Cyrillic alphabet again and practice some Russian words; just wait till you try “hello”, “thank you”, and “good-bye” in Russian!
• Learn your Pascha responses in Russian as well; plenty of people in our parish or another can help you.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for bringing the good news of Your holy faith to us in America from Russia with your saints Innocent, Herman, and Peter.

ST. HERMAN OF ALASKA

NATASHA IS FROMRUSSIA