1

2013 Metropolis St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival

“Do not let anyone look down on you because of your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” ~1 Timothy 4:12

MODERNAPOSTLES

“Let our light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:15-17)

do not let anyone steal the gift of your salvation. be a light. be a leader. as an Orthodox Christian,

Christ has called you to be an apostle. when one person has the courage to stand up for what is right, it makes it

easier for others to follow. have faith in Christ. through His strength be fearless. the difference between

courage and cowardice is not the absence of fear, but the overcoming of it.

copyright of www.orthodoxmom.com 2013

2

St. Peter the Aleutcelebrated September 24

When Alaska was under the Russian flag, there lived at Kodiak Island in the early 1800’s a young Aleut native named Cungagnaq. When he was baptized by Russian Orthodox heiromonk missionaries, he was given the Christian name Peter.

In 1815, fourteen-year-old Peter accompanied thirteen other fur traders who had been sent on an expedition by the Russian-American Company. However, when they approached California, Spanish sailors looted their ship, and all fourteen on board were taken as prisoners to San Francisco. In the prison Peter was locked in a cell with a man named Kychaly. Separated from the others, these two endured even greater trials.

The next day a Roman Catholic priest entered their cell with several Indians. “I have come to you,” the priest began, “because I am a compassionate man and want to help you see the error of your ways. You have been taken prisoner because you have dared to enter our waters. But I am concerned because of your erroneous beliefs. Are you willing to accept the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church?” he asked them, getting right to the point.

“We are Orthodox Christians, members of the true Church of Christ and will never leave the truth.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying, young man,” the priest continued. “If you join us, you will join what is good and righteous.”

Young Peter looked at the Jesuit priest with no sign of fear. Instead, he pitied him for his inability to clearly understand the teachings of Christ.

“You claim to be a compassionate man and speak to me of goodness and righteousness, yet your actions do not convey these virtues. How does a man who claims to be a Christian and a man of God justify such acts?”

The priest was taken aback by Peter’s boldness. “I demand that you join the Roman Catholics! If you refuse to do so willingly, then perhaps my companions here will be able to convince you under torture. Does that appeal to you, young man?”

“Do whatever you want to me,” the boy replied. “I am not afraid. I am an Orthodox Christian by the grace of God, and I will never leave my beloved Church, the true Church of Christ.”

The priest continued taunting and threatening the two men. He was determined to prevail. Motioning to his men, he ordered, “See if you can help this one here with the sharp tongue change his mind first,” he said pointing to Peter.

The men seized the young Aleut, and began torturing him, constantly asking him to renounce his Orthodox Faith and join the Roman Catholics

but he refused. He prayed for strength to endure and kept silent. His fingers and toes were cut off one joint at a time.

When the priest saw that Peter would not comply, he ordered that he be disemboweled. Shedding his blood, the devout Orthodox Christian received the crown of martyrdom. Thus becoming the first Native American to be enlisted among the sacred ranks of martyrs.

Kychaly and the other prisoners were to suffer the same tortures the next day. However, during the night an order from Monterrey arrived, demanding the immediate release of the captives. The next morning all were freed. Only the relics of the young Aleut martyr remained. His gravesite is unknown but is believed to be at an Indian cemetery at the Mission Delores.

In 1980, Peter, the young Native American was canonized by the Church. As St. Herman of Alaska prayed when he heard the account of St. Peter’s marytyrdom, we also, in seeking his intercession, remember his words: “Holy, newly martyred Peter, pray to God for us!”

MOD

ERNA

POST

LES

May

17,

201

3“We are Orthodox Christians, members of the true Church of Christ, and will never leave the truth.”

St. Peter the Aleut

3

St. Kyrikos & his mother St. Julittacelebrated July 15

In the city of Iconium in Asia Minor lived Julitta, a pious woman of noble birth. Widowed while still young, she was left to raise her son Kyrikos alone. The greatest thing she taught the tiny boy was to love God above all, and this during the reign of the brutal emperor Diocletian, a wicked idolater and persecutor of Christians.

When large numbers of Christians were being massacred in Iconium, Julitta fled with her son to Seleucia, a seaport near Antioch, but the plight of the faithful was no better there. Again, in an effort to protect her baby, she fled to Tarsus.

But Alexandros, the ruler of Tarsus, was just as vicious as Diocletian and sought to put to death every Christian he could find who would not denounce Christ. Julitta and Kyrikos were among those arrested and brought before the governor.

Alexandros looked with curiosity at the woman who approached, holding a small boy in her arms. She was such a young mother and her demeanor indicated one of noble birth.

“State your names,” he said dryly, proceeding through the familiar questions he had asked thousands of Christians.

“I am Julitta and this is my son Kyrikos,” she answered, offering no more information than was asked.

“I am told that you refuse to worship our gods. Is this so?” he asked.

“Yes, O Ruler, you have heard correctly,” she replied.

“Are you aware of the tortures that await Christians who refuse to obey the imperial command?”

“I am aware of the consequences,” she responded, showing no signs of fear or intimidation.

“And you still refuse to denounce your crucified God?” he sarcastically asked.

“I do. My love for Christ, my Lord and Savior is unwavering. It is a treasure in my soul that I will keep forever. No imperial decree can change that.”

Alexandros squirmed in his seat. He had become greatly agitated by Julitta’s calmness and bold remarks. “Perhaps

you can be persuaded to change your mind.”

Turning to his men, he shouted, “Guards! See if you can persuade this young lady to consider my offer!”

Julitta and her baby were thrown into prison where the young mother was hurled to the floor and beaten severely. Bleeding profusely and barely able to stand, she was taken to Alexandros again. Despite her weakened condition, she stood before the ruler, her son in her arms, and again proclaimed her faith in Jesus Christ, her Savior.

Alexandros became angrier by the minute but tried to keep his composure in order to plan his next move. Her bravery had bruised his immense ego, and he could not let this young woman defeat him. He would find a way to make her comply.

Finally, he had an idea. “Let me hold your child,” he said, reaching for the three-year-old before Julitta could refuse. “What a handsome boy he is,” he added, stroking the baby’s head. “What a shame it would be to let anything happen to such a fine child,” he hinted, nodding deviously at the young mother. “Perhaps you may want to rethink how you feel about your Christ. Don’t you agree, young boy?” he asked, glancing at Kyrikos.

The little boy looked at his mother standing in a pool of blood, her loving face wounded and swollen. He looked at

Alexandros, the stranger who had hurt her. In his own way, he understood what was happening.

Showing no fear, Kyrikos kicked Alexandros in the stomach with all his might and shouted, “I love Christ!”

The governor became furious and like a madman threw the baby to the floor. As he rolled down the marble steps, little Kyrikos struck his head and there before his loving mother gave his soul to the Lord.

Julitta prayed that Christ would quickly bring her own trials to an end so that she might join her son in the Lord’s Kingdom. Her prayer was heard. Enduring further beatings and torments, she was finally beheaded.

It was the fifteenth day of July, 296.

MOD

ERNA

POST

LES

May

17,

201

3 “Are you aware of the tortures that await Christians who refuse to obey the imperial command?”

“I am aware of the consequences,” she responded, showing no fear or intimidation. “And you still refuse to denounce your crucified God?”

“I do. My love for Christ, my Lord and Savior is unwavering. It is a treasure in my soul that I will keep forever. No imperial decree can change that.”~St. Julitta, mother of St. Kyrikos

4

St. Marina the Great Martyrcelebrated July 17The Holy Great Martyr Marina was born in Asia Minor, in the city of Antioch of Pisidia , into the family of a pagan priest. In infancy she lost her mother, and her father gave her into the care of a nursemaid, who raised Marina in the Orthodox Faith. Upon learning that his daughter had become a Christian, the father angrily disowned her. During the time of the persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305), when she was fifteen years old, St Marina was arrested and locked up in prison. With firm trust in the will of God and His help, the young prisoner prepared for her impending fate.

The governor Olymbrios, charmed with the beautiful girl, tried to persuade her to renounce the Christian Faith and become his wife. But the saint, unswayed, refused his offers. When Marina rejected that he ordered her to bow down before the idols and to that St. Marina replied: "I will not bow down nor offer sacrifice to the breathless and dead idols who do not recognize themselves nor do they know that we honor or dishonor them. I will not give them that honor which belongs only to my Creator." The vexed governor gave the holy martyr over to torture. Having beaten her fiercely, they fastened the saint with nails to a board and tore at her body with tridents. The governor himself, unable to bear the horror of these tortures, hid his face in his hands. But the holy martyr remained unyielding.

While in prison Marina prayed to God and, after prayer, the devil appeared to her under the guise of a horrible serpent which entwined itself around her head. When she made the sign of the cross the serpent burst and vanished. Then she was engulfed with a heavenly light and it seemed to her that the walls of the prison

vanished together with the roof and a radiant and towering cross appeared and atop the cross a white dove, from which a voice came saying: "Rejoice Marina, rational [discerning] dove of Christ, daughter of Zion in the highest, for your day of rejoicing has arrived." Marina was healed from all her wounds and pains by the power of God.

They stripped her and tied her to a tree, then burned the martyr with fire. Barely alive, the martyr prayed: "Lord, You have granted me to go through fire for Your Name, grant me also to go through the water of holy Baptism."

Hearing the word "water", the governor gave orders to drown the saint in a large cauldron. The martyr besought the Lord that this manner of execution should become for her holy Baptism. When they plunged her into the water, there suddenly shone a light, and a snow-white dove came down from Heaven, bearing in its beak a golden crown. The fetters put upon St Marina came apart by themselves. The martyr stood up in the fount of Baptism glorifying the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy

Spirit. St Marina emerged from the fount completely healed, without any trace of burns. Amazed at this miracle, the people glorified the True God, and many came to believe. This brought the governor into a rage, and he gave orders to kill anyone who might confess the Name of Christ. 15,000 Christians perished there, and the holy Martyr Marina was beheaded. The sufferings of the Great Martyr Marina were described by an eyewitness of the event, named Theotimos.  Up until the taking of Constantinople by Western crusaders in the year 1204, the relics of the Great Martyr Marina were in the Panteponteia monastery. According to other sources, they were located in Antioch until the year 908 and from there transferred to Italy. Now they are in Athens, in a church dedicated to the holy Virgin Martyr. Her venerable hand was transferred to Mount Athos, to the Vatopedi monastery."

MOD

ERNA

POST

LES

May

17,

201

3“I will not bow down nor offer sacrifice to the breathless and dead idols who do not recognize themselves nor do they know that we honor or dishonor them. I will not give them that honor which belongs only to my Creator.”

-St. Marina

5

Many Orthodox Christians have heard of the Jesus Prayer, or seen a prayer rope.  Some wear them on their wrists as a symbol of faith.  But, many people, do not know the origins or the importance of this prayer. 

So, I thought it would be a good thing to share some of the things our saints have written throughout the centuries on this topic.

What is the Jesus Prayer and why is it so important?

In the book, Philokalia: The Bible of Orthodox Spirituality (not to be confused with THE Philokalia), Fr. Anthony Coniaris retells the story of the blind man as follows…

As Jesus drew near to Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging…

To catch the true meaning of these words, one must remember that the “roadside” by which the blind man was sitting was the gutter of some street in Jericho. He was blind, and he was a beggar sitting in the gutter.  To the people of Jericho, he was the lowest of the low.

…and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant.  They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”  And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!“  And those who were in front rebuked him telling him to be silent.”

He knew of Jesus.  He believed in Him.  He cried out to Him with faith.  But those around him rebuked him, “Quiet!  The Master is busy!  He’s teaching a crowd of people.  Do you think He would pay attention to you, a dirty, blind beggar wallowing in the gutter?  How dare you trouble the Master; you–a nobody; you–the lowest of the low; you–the scum of the earth!”

…but he cried all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

And Jesus Stopped.

Above all the noise of the multitude Jesus heard the lonely prayer of the blind beggar and He stopped. The Almighty Lord and Master of the universe is stopped by the prayer of a poor, blind, forgotten beggar sitting in the gutter–a nobody!

He commands the beggar to be brought to Him.

“What do you want me to do for you?”  He asks.  “Lord, let me receive my sight.”  And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”  And immediately he received his sight and followed Him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it gave praise to God.

This is the prayer that stopped Jesus, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.  Certainly if this prayer stopped Jesus then, it can stop Him today. 

The blind man’s prayer, altered but slightly, is known today as the Jesus Prayer:  “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner” or simply, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me“.

St. John Climacus says on page 131 of The Ladder, “With the name of Jesus flog the foes, because there is no stronger weapon in heaven or on earth.”

A Christian when he eats, drinks, walks, sits, travels, or does any other thing must continually cry: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.”  So that the name of the Lord Jesus descending into the depths of the heart…  St. John Chrysostom

This is why the Jesus prayer is the first thing that should be on our lips at all times.  During times of trial, temptation, joy, sadness, anything and everything.  Let’s not forget that the name of Jesus was given by God Himself, not man.

It is especially helpful for those fighting the passion of depression.  In the book The Way of a Pilgrim, the pilgrim says,

How-to: The Jesus Prayer

MOD

ERNA

POST

LES

May

17,

201

3

6

“Sometimes, there was such a bubbling up in my heart and a lightness, a freedom, a joy so great that I was transformed and felt in ecstasy.  Sometimes I felt a burning love for Jesus Christ and for the whole divine creation.  Sometimes my tears flowed all on their own in thanksgiving to the Lord who had mercy on me, such a hardened sinner.  Sometimes the sweet warmth of my heart spilled over into all my being, and I felt the presence of the Lord with great emotion.  Sometimes, I felt a powerful and deep joy on invoking the name of Jesus Christ, and I understood the meaning of this saying, ‘The Kingdom of God is within you.’”

Use the Jesus Prayer to find joy!!

What we know about prayer:

We all know the power of prayer. In the book THE PRAYER ROPE, we read that,

Prayer is a spiritual action of man, during which man–with a deep realization of his own weakness and full awareness of the living God’s existence and presence–speaks to God. Sometimes, to ask for His help, other times to glorify and thank Him for all the good things he has received from Him. Prayer is the greatest means by which man can successfully preserve his spirituality and create within himself a holy atmosphere.

As soon as man neglects prayer and begins feeling indifference toward it, his link with God weakens. His life becomes mundane and unstable, while spiritual disintegration begins to advance within his heart.  The absence of prayer and disinterest for this fundamental obligation for our spiritual existence is the greatest evil that harms us.

This is why in the scriptures, St. Paul tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17).  In the Philokalia, we are told the following about the Jesus Prayer,

With your breathing combine watchfulness and the name of Jesus, or humility and the unremitting study of death.  Both may confer great blessing.

St. Theophan the Recluse encourages us with these words,

At first this saving prayer is usually a matter of strenuous effort and hard work.  But if one concentrates on it with zeal, it will begin to flow of its own accord, like a brook that murmurs in the heart.  This is a great blessing, and it is worth working hard to obtain it.

It also says in the Philokalia,

As we pray the Jesus Prayer again and again, it becomes established in our hearts.  In time the prayer rises to consciousness without effort on our part.  In the midst of trouble, temptation, pain, anger, or frustration, this prayer makes us aware of God’s presence.  As a result, we become prayer.  We begin to worship and pray, not in our own words, nor in our own minds, but in the Spirit.

So, for Orthodox Christians, the Jesus Prayer plays a vital role in our prayer life.

And as we all well know, there is not a moment that the devil does not try to distract us from our prayer and communion with God.  Using a prayer rope helps keep our minds focused amidst the many distractions in our daily lives by serving as an external reminder.  At any opportune moment, we can hold a prayer rope in our hand or pocket and say the Jesus prayer internally.

MOD

ERNA

POST

LES

May

17,

201

3

7

What is a prayer rope?

A prayer rope is a circular rope composed of a certain number of knots, most commonly 33–the number of years Christ lived on earth, but there are also 50 knot, 100 knot, 150 knot and 300 knot, ropes.  There are usually beads which serve as a marker every 10, 25 or 50 knots.  Prayer ropes are used as an aid in prayer by helping us keep our mind focused on the task at hand. How many times during prayer will your mind wander? By using a prayer rope, the physical motion of moving the knots through your fingers calls your mind back and allows you to refocus on communicating with God.

While they can be found in many colors today, the prayer rope is traditionally made from black wool. This is a reminder that we are all sheep of the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb of God “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It is also the color of mourning, to remind us of Christ’s words: “blessed are they who mourn, for they will be consoled” (Matt 5:4). The cross at the end proclaims Christ’s sacrifice, as well as His victory over death, of humility over pride, or self-sacrifice over egotism, of light over darkness.

Prayer ropes are one of the items given to an Orthodox Christian monastic at the time of tonsure.  They symbolize a spiritual sword, which, as a soldier for Christ, is used to make war against the spiritual enemy by calling upon the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in a petition for mercy.

My advice to both the young and the elderly is for each one of you to make a prayer rope.  Hold it with your left hand, and as you make the sign of the Cross with your right hand, say:  Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.  -St. Kosmas of Aitolos

Where did prayer ropes come from?

We know through oral tradition, that St. Pachomius was trying to keep count of his prayer rule by tying regular knots in a rope. But the devil, who despises prayer, kept untying the rope. So, St. Pachomius

then took small stones and put them in a bucket, but the devil dumped the buckets over. Finally, St. Pachomius prayed to God for help. An angel appeared and taught the saint how to tie a specific knot, formed by a series of nine crosses. The devil could not untie these knots because of the power of the Cross. Because of this, the prayer rope came to be a sacred object and is still of great importance in the life of Orthodox Christians.

Today, prayer ropes are primarily made in monasteries.  Though, more and more laypeople are recognizing the blessings and peace of heart that is associated with making them and seek instruction.

 How do we use a prayer rope?

A prayer rope is simple to use.  You simply hold the knots between your thumb and index finger as move it each time you say the Jesus Prayer.  It serves as an external reminder to keep our mind on God.  It can (and should) be used at all times.  There are even tiny finger prayer ropes that can be used when using a longer one isn’t possible.

Not only does it help us concentrate on praying while we’re working, driving, shopping, etc., but it also serves as an aid during quiet and private prayer time.  How many times does your mind drift to various thoughts while you pray?  I know I’ll kneel to pray and I quickly find myself thinking about the schedule for the following day, or phone calls that need to made, or housework that needs done.  But when my fingers land upon one of the spacer beads, it brings my mind back to my prayer and I begin again.

In the Philokalia Vol. I, page 224, it says,

The devil extremely despises the person who prays, and when someone is about to pray, he employs every means to spoil man’s goal.  He does not cease stirring thoughts of different things in our memory and arousing all the passions through the flesh, in order to obstruct this excellent work of prayer and

How-to:Using a Prayer Rope

MOD

ERNA

POST

LES

May

17,

201

3

8

The devil extremely despises the person who prays, and when someone is about to pray, he employs every means to spoil man’s goal.  He does not cease stirring thoughts of different things in our memory and arousing all the passions through the flesh, in order to obstruct this excellent work of prayer and prevent the mind’s ascent to God.

Can I use a prayer rope to pray for others?

Yes.  Prayer ropes can be used to pray for others. Below, is a story taken from the book The Prayer Rope.

Once there was a monk from the monastery of St. Paul on Mount Athos, who had gone to the church of St. Gerasimos on the island of Cephallonia.  During the Divine Liturgy, while the chanters were singing, he was sitting in the altar and praying with his prayer rope:  “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.”

That day, there also happened to be a possessed person in the Church who had been brought to St. Gerasimos’ relics with the hope of being cured.  As the monk was saying the Jesus Prayer in the altar, the demon was being seared outside and began to shout:  “Stop turning that rope, you monk!  It’s burning me!”

When the attending priest heard this, he said to the monk:  “Pray with your prayer rope as hard as you can, my son, for God’s creature to be freed from the demon.”

The demon then shouted with even greater anger:  “You rotten priest!  Why are you telling him to pull that string?  It’s burning me!”

The monk then prayed with his prayer rope with even greater effort, and the possessed man was delivered from the demon.  (Athonite Fathers and Athonite Matters, pp. 153-154)

We see from that story, that the prayer rope and the Jesus prayer is beneficial not just for us, but for others as well.  We can ask God to have mercy on our family, friends, co-workers, clergy, and total strangers.  We can pray, “Lord Jesus Christ, enlighten my children and preserve their purity”, or “Lord Jesus Christ, console the sick”, or simply, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on thy servant, (name)”.

I have been told that when praying for others, say the first three knots and then continue with the regular Jesus prayer.  For example, first knot–”Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on thy servant, Nicholas.  Second knot, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on thy servant, Nicholas.  Third knot, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on thy servant, Nicholas.  Then the remainder of the knots, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.  Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.

We can also pray for the deceased by saying, “Lord Jesus Christ, give rest to the soul of your servant (name).”

We read in The Prayer Rope that, people who have departed this life have no means of helping themselves:  “in Hades there is no repentance.”  Some of our departed loved ones may be in a difficult position amongst other innumerable souls who failed to attain salvation.  These poor people nourish the hope that some Christian will remember them in his prayers and ask God to send them aid and consolation.

In the Orthodox Church, we believe that even after death, our soul lives on.  Which is why we believe in asking saints for their intercessions, as well.  They live on in the presence of God.  Their spiritual eyes are still wide open. It is also why it is extremely important to give the names of our departed loved ones for commemoration in the Divine Liturgy and for memorials.

Elder Joseph the Hesychast (+1959)  is known for reviving the use of the Jesus Prayer on Mount Athos and thus, throughout the world. (Keep an eye out for an *incredible* book coming out in English {finally!!} on his life, published by St. Anthony’s monastery.)

Once when Elder Joseph was praying for a departed soul who had been condemned (people who are spiritually advanced often receive these messages from God), he had the following vision:  “As I was praying, I saw the late Fr. George in front of me.  He is a contemporary saint.  I managed to meet him because he was still alive when I lived in the world…Every day, he served the Liturgy and commemorated thousands of names.  Afterward, he would go to the tombs and read trisagion prayers and memorial services for the departed all day long…I saw him in a vision and heard him saying to me with great amazement, ‘Wow! Until today, I thought that

MOD

ERNA

POST

LES

May

17,

201

3

9

the deceased were only saved through Liturgies and memorials.  But today I saw and realized that people in Hell are also saved with prayer ropes.’ Again he repeated with admiration, ‘Yes!  People are also saved through prayer ropes!’” (Abbot Haralambos Dionysiatis, p. 138)

God who desires the salvation of all men will always help them for whom we pray.  Even if our prayers do not have an immediate and evident outcome, as in the example above, Christ will reward us for our love and compassion and despite our unworthiness, will have compassion.  “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

***************************************

ARE YOU UP FOR a CHALLENGE?

Here is a list of ways that you can start strengthening your faith and becoming a modern day apostle:

1. Organize a charity drive at your school/church or help with another good cause. (www.theluckygirlsmovie.com or www.iocc.org)

2. Join a Missions Trip. (www.ocmc.org)

3. Read one chapter of the Bible a day.

4. Do 300 Jesus Prayers using your prayer rope every day.

5. Read the story of your patron saint and ask for their intercessions. (If you need help locating the story, email me and I’ll try to help.)

6. Organize a group work day at your local parish.

7. Visit a monastery.

MOD

ERNA

POST

LES

May

17,

201

3

10

Recommended Resources:MOD

ERNA

POST

LES

May

17,

201

3

Adult & Young Adult Books

• The Purple Mantle by Aliki Kafetzopoulou• Counsels from the Holy Mountain by Elder Ephraim of Philotheou• Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica• Basil’s Search for Miracles by Heather Zydek• Father Herman of Alaska by Dorrie Papademtriou• Royal Monastic by Bev Cooke• Letters to St. Lydia by Melinda Johnson• Hear Me: A Prayer Book for Teens by Annalisa Boyd• Our Thoughts Determine our Lives by Elder Thaddeus• The Forgotten Medicine: Mystery of Repentance by Archimandrite Seraphim • Unrivaled Protectress by St. Nektarios Monastery• The Way of a Pilgrim and the Pilgrim Continues His Way by H. Bacovcin• Precious Vessels of the Holy Spirit: The Lives and Counsels of Contemporary Elders• Philokalia: The Bible of Orthodox Spirituality by Fr. Anthony Coniaris

Adult Books

• Orthodox Christian Parenting by Marie Eliades• Practical Guide to Orthodoxy and Orthopraxia by Priest Michael• A Guide to Orthodox Life by Fr. David & Pres. Juliana Cownie• Marriage as a Path to Salvation: Lives of Married Saints• Raising Them Right by St. Theophan the Recluse• On the Upbringing of Children by Bishop Irenaius

Websites

www.orthodoxchristianchildren.com (most of the books listed can be found here)

www.orthodoxmom.com www.ocmc.org

www.orthodoxheritage.org www.iocc.org

www.orthodoxinfo.com www.theluckygirlsmovie.com

www.myocn.net

www.goarch.org

Please email any questions or comments to: Sylvia@OrthodoxMom.com.. I’d love to hear from you! <3