Marriage
MARRIAGE
We now study the sacrament of marriage.
Home Activities:
- Show your child pictures of your wedding, that of your parents, etc. They’ll want to know all the details.
- Have an anniversary celebration.
- Review the stories of famous Bible marriages – Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel, Ruth and Boaz, Zachariah and Elizabeth. Color their pictures for a special book.
- Reread the story of the wedding at Cana, read at each Orthodox wedding.
- Review the names of the 2 parts of the wedding ceremony – betrothal and crowning – and what happens at each. Sing the wedding processional.
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Begin a “Mary Garden” – the flowers will be ready for the celebration of Dormition. Review the story of Joseph and Mary and their betrothal and marriage. Take a print of an icon of the Theotokos and Mod-podge to a rock to place in the center of the garden, or place against a wall to use a wooden frame and laminated icon. Craft sticks for the frame? Want to do stepping stones with the feasts of the Theotokos? We’ve studied them this year. Buy stones and paint or Mod-Podge picture or pour your own mosaics with cement. Color them blue for the color of the feasts of the Theotokos? Decorate with symbols:
- Nativity of Theotokos: Cradle or fancy jar
- Entrance of Theotokos: Temple or Steps or footprint
- Annunciation: Angel
- Nativity: Star
- Dormition: Flowers
Small children can paint rocks as LadyBugs to decorate, Then plant some flowers that grow well in your climate. Some might be:
- Rose: The Queen of flowers
- Marigolds: Mary’s Gold
- Rose”Mary”
- Lily of the Valley: Also known as “Mary’s Tears”
- Alyssum: with cross-shaped flowers
- Impatiens: also known as “Mother’s Love”
- Morning Glory: also known as “Mary’s Mantle” with its blue color