Wednesday, March 6, 2024

The Little Way of A Pilgrim


I love the Russian classic The Way of the Pilgrim, so I was excited to get a copy of this new children's book based on the classic. The Little Way of a Pilgrim presents a modern young pilgrim in his Chuck Taylor tennis shoes asking the same question, "what does it mean to pray without ceasing?" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) He travels down the road, asking the people he meets if they can teach him about ceaseless prayer. When the monk teaches him the Jesus Prayer, he is overjoyed and begins his practice. He is filled with gratitude and joy. 

The book doesn't attempt to retell the story exactly, but clearly refers to passages from the classic. Older children might enjoy reading more of the encounters told in the original. This picture book offers younger children a similar sense of watching this wanderer search and grow in a life-long quest for prayer and love for Christ.


I'm always particular about illustrations, and I just adore these by Diana-Elena Popescu. My daughter enjoyed the animals and tiny details. We both appreciated Jennifer Anna Rich's child-friendly language, that wasn't overly flowery. 


In the end, it led to a nice conversation about prayer ropes and the Jesus Prayer. My 8 year old daughter was aware of both, but it seemed to illustrate their purpose and practice more clearly. She doesn't have a prayer rope of her own, but now would like one. Seems like a nice way to begin Lent! 

I received a review copy of The Little Way of a Pilgrim from Ancient Faith. 

Monday, December 11, 2023

The God-Beloved Deaconesses

I am researching St. Domnika and other deaconess saints for my dissertation. While there are many unknowns about this ancient office, we can see the church's theology in their lives and ministries. 

Someday, I would love to paint icons of many of these saints. In the meantime, I created this illustration featuring fourteen deaconesses commemorated as saints in the Orthodox Church. I put the most famous saints in the center, Phoebe and Olympia. They span from the first through tenth centuries, from Gaul and Rome, to Constantinople and Cappadocia, and to Syria and Alexandria. At least 10 of them were likely ordained with either with the prayers in the Apostolic Constitutions, or with the Byzantine rite for the ordination of deaconesses. There are three martyrs, two bishops' wives, many teachers and abbesses, and all ascetics. 


You can grab the coloring page to print. I also uploaded the design to my Zazzle, where I printed stickers and a mug for myself - and you can get some too. :)

Front Row: St. Radegunde, St. Irene Chrysovalantou, St. Justina, St. Phoebe, St. Olympia, St. Platonida, St. Susanna, St. Tatiana; Back Row: St. Domnika, St. Theosebia, St. Nonna, St. Poplia, St. Xenia, St. Apollonia








Holy Saints, pray to God for us!

Monday, November 14, 2022

Star Path Advent Printable


A star path is usually too big for our small space, so I made this little printable and will use our small plastic nativity set to travel along. I worry about using too much color in printables sometimes, because you just never know how the printer will do - but I think this one turned out nice.  





I cut it out and tacked it to the table next to our little manger. We're ready for the Nativity Fast! Full size image is above, just grab and print. 




 

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Holy Unction and Bridegroom Orthros coloring pages

 



Holy Week Craft Printable

 


 We're making this little craft to tell my youngest what to expect this week.  The figure of Christ and the epitaphios are not glued on, so we can act out when they are moved. I just cut out the cross and bier from brown paper sacks and used tissue paper and glue and markers.




Here are some printables. I'll give the large epitaphios to my youngest to color during one of the Holy Friday services, but I printed it now so she could see it. Then we made a tiny one for the bier.








Friday, March 4, 2022

Saturday of Souls and Memorial Coloring Pages

I've made three printables appropriate for teaching children about Soul Saturdays of Lent or Memorial Services. Grab and save jpgs.
















Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Lention Triodion Calendar

  I'm trying something new this year with a Triodion Calendar as I try to teach my older kids more about the weeks of preparation. You can still find the regular calendar here and a more fun one here.

We'll still make a Kyra Sarakosti, and you can find my funny joke about Kyra Meatfare here.