We were not able to attend church on Holy Saturday and receive the Paschal light to our candles to bring home. Did we ‘miss’ the Light of Christ this year?

Christ is Risen! 

Coping with COVID-19 for Orthodox Christians 

Adult/Family

“The Light of Christ is not a flame that ignites a candle…{it} is a grace that ignites our souls, whether we are holding a lit candle or not….” It’s not about getting the “fos” to our homes.  It’s about kindling our souls…” 

Resources to kindle our souls: Orthodox Christian e-books, Encouragement During the Coronavirus Pandemic, More Encouragement During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Preschool/Elementary

If your mother is in another room, she still loves you and you still feel her love, you know she loves you, and you still love her, right? She doesn’t need to be standing in front of you for you to know these things. Even though we have not been able to go to church, that absence does not “separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We can still light candles and pray at home in front of our icons, and kiss our icons until we are able to go back to church, and light candles, pray and kiss the icons there.

Resources to help our little ones stay connected with the love and grace of God: Readings from Under the Grapevine, Be the Bee series

Middle School

“The whole point of the Holy Week journey, and the reason it culminates in the giving of the Paschal Light is so that we can strengthen our souls.”  

Since we know that the light of the candle is not the actual Light of Christ, how can we be a REAL light and strengthen our souls and the souls of others in this time?

Resources to strengthen your soul: Be the Bee series, Prologue of Ohrid, Hidden Saints

High School

“The Light of Christ is a grace that ignites our souls, whether we are holding a lit candle or not.  And so tonight, we are not going to light candles in our church, but the flame of our souls can still be kindled with the Light of Christ, as we proclaim His Resurrection, and reaffirm not only our faith, but how this faith affects our lives.”

How has your faith been affected by not being able to attend church in person? Have you found that it has been made more or less intense? Have you tried to have more of a connection with God, or have you forgotten about Him? What are some things you can do to reaffirm your faith without being able to attend church at this time? What are some things you can do to share your faith with others?

Resources to reaffirm our faith, and how this faith affects our lives: Prologue of Ohrid, Y2AM videos, Orthodox Christian e-books

George the Great Martyr and Triumphant, 10:00 AM
Thursday, April 23, 2020  (Online Streaming Only)

ZOODOHOS PEGHE
Theotokos of the Life-giving Spring, 10:00 AM
Renewal Friday, April 24, 2020 (Online Streaming Only)

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A Message from Maria Spanos

I am passionate about our Orthodox Christian faith and seek to help others learn as much as they can about it. My purpose here is to share online resources that help strengthen our relationship with Christ and bind us closer to His Church. I believe they are invaluable in learning about our precious Orthodox Tradition, and are a great aid for teaching family members, friends and others about Orthodoxy. ~Maria

Two of my favorite quotes:

“A true Christian behaves in this life so that it may be a preparation for the future one and not only a life here below. In his actions, he does not think what will be said of him here but of what will be said there in heaven; he represents to himself that he is always in the presence of God, of the angels and all the saints, and remembers that someday they will bear witness of his thoughts, words, and deeds.”  — Saint John of Kronstadt

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“Of all the holy works, the education of children is the most holy.”
— St. Theophan the Recluse