Get yours for FREE here. The information contained on the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is for informational purposes only. The theme of the day is reinforced by the expostelarion hymn we sing: "I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Savior, but have no wedding garment that I may enter. The Orthodox Observer places the Church in the context of the current world we live in through a diverse and informative experience offering participants meaningful exchange with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, her ministries, and affiliates. You can listen to The Hymn of Kassiani on Youtube in an 8 minute video HERE. A spoon body This service begins in a solemn manner, but by the end of the service we are already anticipating the Resurrection of our Lord. Todays theme is all about healing and forgiveness of sins, and confession go hand in hand. This is a fun way to tell the story of the Last Supper in an interactive way for kids. The shows protagonist and title character, played by Jason Sudeikis, is ebullient, kind and, though smart, persistently silly. Crescent Rolls Lazarakia - If you need a quick version of these Lazarus buns, try making them with Crescent Rolls! Originally the withering of the fig tree was a testimony against those Jews who rejected God's word and His Messiah. When you become our patron, and depending on your pledge tier, we will send you a little gift as a token of our appreciation. He won her over with daily biscuits with the boss, which, we discover, he secretly bakes himself, the kind of extravagant thoughtfulness we come to expect from him. We explain that, on each of the Lenten Sundays, the class will be tearing off one foot. You can purchase this kit through Draw Near Designs HERE. This act commemorates the removal of Christ's body from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38-42). FREE Printable Paper Oil Lamp Craft by Orthodox Pebbles - If you dont have a Holy Week kit, dont worry, weve got you covered! The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom then begins. Good strength, dear friends! Early in the series, Ted tells a reporter named Trent Crimm: For me, success is not about the wins and losses. Phone: (212) 570-3500Contact, Download VCFJoin our Mailing ListsDonate. Palm Sunday is a reference to the story in Matthew 12, right after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and days before the Passover feast: The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: Hosanna! At the end of the lesson series, they should be able to: In addition to the above objectives, they should be able to: Great Lent is such an important period in the Orthodox ecclesiastical calendar, that we usually devote more than one lessons to it. Sing This Prayer Together While Waiving your Palm Branches : Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord Sabaoth, heaven and earth are filled with Your glory,Hosanna in the highest. Please e-mail us at hello@drawneardesigns.com with any questions. Christ is Risen! Follow along as Presvytera Mallory Kasapakis and Alyssa Kyritsis complete a craft a day with an accompanying lesson! We keep today Read more, Saint Isaac the Syrian Nobody can hate those who are humble; nor can they berate or despise them. In this lesson you will find an icon worksheet, a cut-and-glue-craft, worksheets to help with the details of the story, symbolism and activities which you can find through this link HERE. In this YouTube video, you can see the service and the Gospel read in the following languages : English (with ASL), Greek, Arabic, Albanian, Mandarin, Ukrainian, French, Romanian, German, Amharic, Italian, and Spanish. This kit is available as a retail item at the Draw Near Designs Marketplace. From a religious perspective, a rejection of the trappings of success, of whatever the mainstream culture values most deeply, can be a prophetic act one that, as Lasso shows, rarely gets applause. All ready to go for the Lamentations Orthros procession! I share weekly reminders, stories of the saints, new resources, and how others are celebrating throughout the world! In Greece where we originate from, it is customary for young children to carry a lantern instead of a candle during the Epitaphios procession on Holy Friday evening, and this is where the inspiration for this craft comes from. The people greet one another joyously, saying: "Christ is Risen", the Paschal salutation which is answered, "Truly He is Risen! or Indeed He is Risen! depending on the Parish. Lassos great humility, again and again, makes him a wellspring of transformation and redemption. Given the religious focus of our project, we decided from the start not to charge for our digital material, so anyone even those who could not afford to pay for it could have access to it. The Orthros of the Resurrection begins in complete darkness. Useful external Holy Week resources from other creators. "Behold the Bridegroom Cometh in the Midst of the Night". The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, with its headquarters located in the City of New York, is an Eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, The mission of the Archdiocese is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, to teach and spread the Orthodox Christian faith, to energize, cultivate, and guide the life of the Church in the United States of America according to the Orthodox . Red Dye - You can also buy high-quality dye to easily prepare vibrant traditional red eggs HERE from Legacy Icons. Christ is Risen , Enjoy your Pascha Basket! Here are a few other notables: Pascha at the Duckpond by Mother Melania - geared towards ages 4-9, you can join the animals at the Duckpond as they journey through Great Lent towards Pascha. Taking into account the above main ponts, objectives for a lesson series on Great Lent for children in preschool through lower Elementary could be set up as follows. For each completed task , s/he is to glue the corresponding token on the chart. At the end of the Liturgy, a part of the iconic homily of Saint Chrysostom is read, which calls upon the people to "Take part in this fair and radiant festival. The Mother of God directed her to retreat in the desert and there Mary lived alone for 48 years, with virtually no food, in prayer and repentance. He is not guilt-ridden, sullen or perfectionistic. Orthodox Pebbles provides creative resources to familiarize children with our Church, its theology, services, customs and traditions, within an environment of Christian fellowship and community. Make Pascha Cheese - this recipe for a Easter cheese dessert is made using Farmers cheese, eggs, unsalted butter, sugar and dried fruit and is made in a special mold. At Patreon.com/orthodoxpebbles, you can pledge to offer us a small contribution every time we create new content. Technically, Holy Week does not belong to Great Lent, but, to make it easier on the faithful to understand the period preceding Pascha, it is often regarded as part of it. Priests usually wear green vestments to remember the palms that people waved to honor Jesus entry into Jerusalem. They climb into an impossibly small car, and Ted calls out to Rebecca, his serious, conniving new boss, Look! *If you enjoy these materials, please consider making a donation in support of the hard working Orthodox moms behind these incredible materials or become a Patreon. Some people collect onion skins throughout lent, but if youve forgotten, go to your local grocery store and ask if you can take some of the papery onion skins left around the onions in the produce aisle. For life everlasting! Most crafts need about half an hour to complete. The Orthodox Christian Network is an Affiliated Ministry of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. The holy fool, or yurodivy (also spelled iurodivyi), is a well-known, though controversial, character in Russian Orthodox spirituality. However, from the very beginning the Orthodox Church has been teaching that limitation on food is an important tool to control our impulses and intensify our spiritual struggle. Each group gets to make one craft while discussing the theme of the day. You can find the recipes HERE. You can find the DIY templates (only) kit available through Draw Near Designs. Orthodox Pebbles created instructions on making your own Flower-framed Crucifixion icon, which you can find HERE. Great and Holy Saturday: This day is a day of hope and waiting. Great Lents focus on repentance, prayer and anticipation of the Resurrection is reflected in the Scripture readings, special prayers and hymnology of the Church. On this day we are happy to celebrate. Practical Resources for Living the Orthodox Faith. From this moment the entire service takes on a joyous atmosphere. Pre-Lent consists of four Sundays and three weeks. Check it out here. April 30, 2023, 9:00 a.m. A colorful wall hanging calendar made out of soft fleece fabric, to count down the weeks of Great Lent. And this is where Lasso most clearly embodies this persona. And why did Jesus reveal His risen self to these women instead of His Apostles? FREE Holy Week & Pascha Prep Planner - As Pascha draws near, I wanted to create a free printable/planner to help you stay organized for Holy Week, prepare sufficiently for attending services, and have a smooth and grace-filled Holy Week and Pascha! All of our Great Lent resources can be found on our page: Great Lent resources. Resources for teaching our budding rocks of faith. Teach the Bible story of Palm Sunday based on all 4 of the gospels with this fun and educational printable pack! The theme of Holy Wednesday is repentance and forgiveness. Easter* is a special time Mention at least one of the things we do during Lent (prayer, fasting, religious study, almsgiving). Slideshow and games for interactive learning. We invite you to prayerfully consider sharing the resources given to you by God with a donation to the Archdiocese. Dead Man Dead Man, Come Alive Game - My kids inherited this game from their friends, so I dont know the origin, but this blind fold game can be super fun to play during your Lazarus Saturday festivities. Send me a note at HarrisonWarren-newsletter@nytimes.com. Orthodox Pebbles created a paper lamp templates (similar to the one pictured above) for the parable of the 10 virgins, usually read on this day. $16.96 $19.95. Rejecting respectability and embracing humility and love, holy fools are so profoundly out of step with the broader world that they appear to be ridiculous or even insane and often invite ridicule. Great Lent is accompanied by a number of services particular to this period. They have been successfully tested with children of various ages. The tokens inside the pocket, different ones each week. The pussy-willow is one of the plants whose flower buds open fully in early spring, so the faithful bring these branches as their first fruits offering on Palm Sunday! This car has an invisible steering wheel!, mimicking steering on the left side of the car (as we do on this side of the pond). While making Lady Lent, we explain to the children that Lady Lents seven feet correspond to the seven weeks of Great Lent, which is the time we spend getting ready for Pascha. Butcher paper or poster paper The next day dressed in local traditional costumes or a special costume, the girls carrying baskets full of Lazarakia and flowers went around the neighborhoods and sang Lazarus's carols and offered cookies. To find out, read this sermon from the Department of Religious Education (DRE): www.goarch.org/departments/religioused/sermons. This act confirmed the universal resurrection from the dead that all of us will experience at our Lord's Second Coming. The Church readings and hymnology are about the Passion and Crucifixion of our Lord, and give us strength to continue our spiritual and physical struggle. Holy Week Craft Kit Sung in Anticipation - As with most services this week, Holy Monday evenings service is sung in anticipation for the next morning, meaning it is the readings and gospel lesson from Holy Tuesday. Every time you make a single contribution, we will email you a surprise digital gift as a token of our appreciation. Find a small jar (we used an empty spice jar). Sung in Anticipation - The first thing that must be said about these services, and most of the other services of Holy Week, is that they are "sung" in anticipation. We discover throughout the series that it is in this very silliness that his power is found. Take from me the spirit of sloth,faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. Prepare your Pascha Candles (if youre bringing your own)! Orthodox Pebbles created instructions on two projects, one for the morning, and one for the evening of Palm Sunday including the palm branch and fig tree. The Gospel reading for the day is about the barren fig tree (Matthew 21), which Christ cursed and withered because it bore no fruit. Orthodox Pebbles DIY Holy Week Crafts: These Crafts Can be done either on Holy Thursday or Holy Friday and can be ready for use on Friday! Resources for teaching our budding rocks of faith. They have been planned as teaching tools, to provoke insightful conversations and further exploration. You can find the DIY templates (only) kit available through Draw Near Designs. Join live on Zoom, 6:15pm Pacific Time, 9:15pm Eastern. You will need a mold + cheesecloth. We also pledged never to include advertisements in our website. Traditions in America: After Divine Liturgy, many churches will have a family day with lawn games, fun activities for kids, and of course food! The kit includes fourteen original, Orthodox-inspired, beautifully illustrated printed paper templates. It can be an engaging teaching tool, helping the children grasp the rather abstract meaning of this very important period. We are all, in the end, not winners or losers, successes or failures, pure heroes or villains, but people who long to be known, loved and delighted in. During the Gospel reading, our Lord's body is taken off the cross and wrapped in a new, white linen sheet. Great Lent consists of five Sundays and six weeks. However, keeping our focus on (1) prayer, (2) fasting, (3) almsgiving, and of course attending Divine Services is the best place to start! In the middle of Great Lent, (Mid-Lent/Meso-sarakosti), the Church commemorates the finding of the True and Life-giving Cross of Christ by Saint Eleni in 326 AD. Craft kits are available to purchase, but tutorials are free, so feel free to create your own projects using supplies you have at home! The children can act as hosts, explaining and discussing their creations with the visitors. 1,015 views 3 years ago We are creating high quality, FREE online Orthodox. If you would like to make the above hanging calendar out of paper, we have included the design and instructions in our printable Great Lent Activity Package (see top of page). We also pledged never to include advertisements in our website. When his not-exactly-love-interest Sassy rejects him as a mess, he embraces it (he calls himself, in a delightfully terrible pun, a work in prog-mess). Holy Week Craft Kit by Orthodox Pebbles - The kit containsbeautiful printed templates and crafting materialsfor each day of the Holy Week,from Lazarus Saturday to Pascha Sunday. This week, find insights about the upcoming Gospel reading, where we learn about the Myrrh-Bearing Womens love for Christ. Instructions : Collect chopped tangerine pieces, cardamom pods, coriander seeds, cloves, anise seeds, and vanilla extract - but any flower / spice / citrus fruit combination should work. Easter* is a special time Opinion | Ted Lasso, Holy Fool - The New York Times CLICK HERE to make a single contribution via PayPal. Prepared traditionally, they are "Lenten" meaning there are no eggs, butter or milk in the recipe. Please note: The copyright of our work belongs solely to Orthodox Pebbles. We discuss how Lady Lent has a cross on her head, hands crossed in prayer, no mouth because she is fasting and refrains from speaking unkindly. Think of things youve been missing and would love to feast on, and add those things! Optional: sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on the inside before rolling them up, and use chocolate chips for the eyes. For the faithful, the Ladder is the spiritual guide on how to attain perfection in thirty steps each step is the desired virtue that brings the soul closer to God. O Death, where is thy sting? The experience provides the faithful significant content to listen to, watch, and read; in order to lead, grow, and inspire. Anastasis: The Harrowing of Hades by Michael Elgamal - is a full-colour Christian graphic novel that explores what happened to the Old Testament souls in hades, the emotional build-up to the fateful crucifixion and the consequences of Christs enigmatic descent into hell. Matija Medved. It usually takes 24-48 hours to make, and can be stored in the fridge for a few days, so it would be helpful to make ahead of time! Thank you! Todays craft is based on the icon of the Extreme Humility decorated with tissue paper flowers. This printable packet contains teaching resources to help explore the Eastern Orthodox Holy Week. Each craft coordinates with the main theme celebrated on the corresponding day of the Holy Week. The lesson plan on this page is an introduction to Great Lent. 9:9) Our Lord enters Jerusalem and is proclaimed king - but in an earthly sense, as many people of His time were seeking a political Messiah. Attend the Service Together as a family! He struggles with panic attacks and normalizes our nearly universal need for therapy, so much so that President Biden hosted the cast of the show at the White House last month to promote mental health awareness. . Get the Orthodox Observer delivered to your inbox. The kit contains a beautiful printed template for creating a child friendly oil lamp. DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS MARCH 11th. The Church commemorates a great female Saint of the 4th c., St Mary of Egypt, the model of repentance. Every Sunday is dedicated in the Eastern Orthodox Church to the Resurrection of the Lord. Great and Holy Pascha - Before midnight on Saturday evening, the Odes of Lamentation of the previous day are repeated. This site has been made possible by a grant from Leadership 100. Two Easy and Quick Cheese Pascha Recipes: Cream Cheese Cheese Pascha & Cream Cheese Cheese Pascha by Charming the Birds from the Trees Blog. Miracle of the Red Egg by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson - At Pascha, Orthodox Christians all over the world dye and bless red eggs. www.goarch.org/departments/religioused/sermons. This parable is a warning that we must always be prepared to receive our Lord when He comes again. Holy Week is a marathon for the faithful, and the task alone of attending as many services as possible is a worthy endeavor. If using one kit for each participant, a station can be set up for each craft, manned by a volunteer. Holy Unction is one of the seven Sacraments of the Church, and has been practiced since the early Church, as recorded in James 5:14-15, Is anyone among you sick? This will vary depending on each family. Vespers and taking Christ Body off the Cross - In the afternoon we celebrate the Vesper service of the taking down of Christ's body from the cross. Each Wednesday night my husband and I tune in to watch Ted Lasso, the Emmy award-winning Apple TV+ comedy series. When, in an emotional season climax, Rebecca reveals her secret plan to Ted, confessing Ive sabotaged you every chance I had, she tearfully apologizes and Ted immediately forgives her and sees a kind of goodness even in her dark scheming (This job you gave me has changed my life, he says). Technically, Holy Week does not belong to Great Lent, but, to make it easier on the faithful to understand the period preceding Pascha, it is often regarded as part of it. Please see below. Have an egg hunt for the kids and enjoy the day! We also have the unique opportunity to create traditions for our families - and we can do that without the need to acquire All the things! Find what works for your family and build on those traditions each year. Templates and instructions for one craft each day. Lamentations Orthros - In the evening the Lamentations Orthros service is sung. An Overview of Greek Orthodox Holy Week - Greek Boston (Bonus: with adult supervision, try making your own real natural oil lamb using the additional craft guide at Orthodox Pebbles. Color the Icon of the Feast - You can find a printable icon coloring page from OCA website HERE. When you become our patron, and depending on your pledge tier, we will send you a little gift as a token of our appreciation. We use palms on this day to show that we too accept Jesus as the true King and Messiah, and that we are willing to follow Christ even to the cross. Make Your Own Oil Lamp - like the wise virgins in the story, prepare an oil lamp to help your children connect with the story and have fun while doing it! (prostration) Everything is bagged up and labeled by day to make it as easy as possible to use. How to Create a Traditional Pascha Basket guide including recipes and shop links HERE. go UP into heaven! This miracle led many to faith, but it also led to the chief priest's and Pharisees' decision to kill Jesus (John 11:47-57). Sunday Sermon Series - April 30, 2023 - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Please do not copy or directly redistribute any of our web content without asking for our permission. The most widespread custom for Lazarus of Saturday is the "carols of Lazarus" which reclaimed the joyous feast. It is sung in clusters during the first four evenings of Great Lent and in full on the Thursday of the Fifth week of Lent. We are also offering additional resources to help organize enriching religious education sessions. Every lesson is based on a solid knowledge of our faith and seeks to transmit knowledge in an engaging, interactive and fun way. Thank you for being fair and respectful of our work. Opinion Writer. These services and the experience of Holy Week remind us of the manner which we should always live - being totally devoted to God! Clean Monday is largely celebrated in the Orthodox world. On the other hand, to the extent of our knowledge, we do find the specific videos in line with Orthodox teaching and helpful for discussing the specific topics. Two services in one day is likely a LOT for any family, but what a better way to kick off Holy Week than by dedicating the whole week to yours and your families spiritual benefit! This day is often set aside to pour into the children in the community! . Holy Week: Teaching Resources - Orthodox Pebbles Briefly explain what we celebrate on each Lent Sunday if this is too much, at least Sundays #1, 3, 6 and 7. The participants rotate from station to station, doing one project at each stop while discussing each theme. Sunday Sermon Series is an easy-to-download weekly sermon on the Sunday Gospels with insights and analyses about the readings. Orthodox Pebbles is also offering additional resources to help organize enriching religious education sessions. Depending on the time and the resources available, you can use one kit for the whole teaching session or one kit for each participant (a more time-consuming and costly option). Every time you make a single contribution, we will email you a surprise digital gift as a token of our appreciation. One of the themes this evening is the miracle referenced in Matthew 21 of thethe withering of the fig tree, a miracle symbolic of those who claim religious identity, but who in reality have empty lives that yield no spiritual fruit. CLICK HERE to go to the relevant web page. We also discuss how each Sunday of Lent has a special celebration associated with it. Please click HERE. Create a Epitaphios DIY Lantern - also in the Holy Week Kit by Orthodox Pebbles. Written by Saint Andrew, bishop of Crete in the 7th c., the Great Canon is a long poem of penitential character, which also includes personal reflections, readings from the Old and New Testaments, and lives of Saints, like St Mary of Egypt. All sermons are posted on the DRE website:religioused.goarch.org. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit, and sold into slavery by them. We have collected a variety of resources to help plan effective lessons on Holy Week. Resource Page - Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco This webpage contains all of our Great Lent resources, which are too many to be used together in one lesson. Lasso, an American football coach hired to coach soccer a sport he knows little about for the English football club AFC Richmond is often derided by the public and the press. Churches and Sunday school programs may be able to receive a discount on bulk orders. Please note: We have had questions by some of our readers about using Sister Vassas videos in some of our pages. However, because of our need for forgiveness and spiritual healing, this service is offered during Holy Week for the remission of our sins. The deeper meaning of each Sunday is reflected in the hymnology of the Church services. Yet his incessant, childlike faith in people his foolishness allows Ted to lavish love on those around him. If you have a chance, Id suggest sitting down and making a plan for how you will spend each day of the week, including what services your family will attend, what meals you will prepare/eat, and make a list of all the things you need to buy/collect. On the eve of the feast, lazarines (girls) went out into the fields outside the villages to collect flowers that would be used to decorate their basket. Make Crosses out of the Palm Branches you receive at Divine Liturgy that Sunday! You can listen to it on Youtube in a 1 minute video HERE. CLICK HEREto makea single contribution via PayPal. The tradition of the Orthodox Church on this day is to have parishioners participate in the reading of the Gospel in as many languages as possible. OCN Team is comprised of these gifted authors, teachers, thinkers, priests, parents, young adults and human beings at the Orthodox Christian Network. Check it out HERE. Please click HERE for the full list of supplies. Lady Lent has a front pocket, into which seven round tokens are placed, different ones each week the project lasts for. Today in churches, palm branches (and in some places pussy willow branches) are distributed to the faithful and they process around the church. It tells the story of the five virgins who filled their lamps in preparation for receiving the bridegroom while the other five allowed their lamps to go out, and hence were shut out of the marriage feast. Plus, its best to make ahead of time before Pascha! Its center of commemorations and inspiration is Easter, wherein the glorified Resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. Holy Week Craft Kit by Orthodox Pebbles - The kit containsbeautiful printed templates and crafting materialsfor each day of the Holy Week,from Lazarus Saturday to Pascha Sunday. Help your children learn one of the hymns by listening to it a few times today to allow them to recognize it when they hear it at the service in the evening! Orthodox Pebbles Great Lent & Holy Week Crafts Published by myOCN on March 15, 2023 Presenting tons of resources for Great Lent from Orthodox Pebbles! For details on fasting, see also our page on Orthodox Fasting. Archbishop Elpidophoros - Remarks at the Doxology for the Greek Independence Parade In the Presence of the Presidential Guard, Archbishop Elpidophoros Remarks at the Flag Raising Ceremony Bowling Green, Archbishop Elpidophoros Remarks at the Doxology for the Greek Revolution In the Presence of the Presidential Guard, Archbishop Elpidophoros Invocation & Remarks at the Gracie Mansion Greek Heritage Reception, Archbishop Elpidophoros Remarks at the Official Repatriation Event of Three Manuscripts to the Panagia Eikosiphoinissa Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America Welcomes the Presidential Guard of the Hellenic Republic to Doxology Service at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, Greek Parade Weekend Schedule Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York. The baskets were decorated with the flowers they collected and beautiful colorful ribbons. Holy Week Craft Kits by Orthodox Pebbles Draw Near Designs Orthodox Pebbles Fabric Learning Set - As mentioned in the previous week, one of my favorite resources to teach a Biblical Story is through the fabric learning sets produced through Orthodox Pebbles. The Old Testament story of Jonah in the belly of the whale is read at this service because Jonah is seen in the Church as a Type of Christ.