Activities for the Sundays of Great Lent

In “Preparing Your Family for Great Lent,” Fr. Evan Armatas, Elissa Bjeletich talk with Melissa Tsongranis in an engaging discussion that offers parents practical ways to make Great Lent a transformative family experience.

Uncover the meaning of the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian and how it can be practically applied in our journey toward holiness.

A breakdown of the Sundays and general flow of Great Lent as practiced by the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Weekly lectures and resources for pre-K, elementary, and teenage students for the Lenten season.

Great Lent is not just about abstaining from food: we are also called to also balance our fasting with almsgiving and prayer. This article explores how employing all three practices together serves to open our bodies and souls to God’s transformative grace.

An introduction to the ancient Christian modes of fasting, as kept by the Eastern Orthodox Church today.

Looking for a camp near you? Check out this list! We’ve rounded up the latest schedules for youth camps across various jurisdictions and regions. Browse the full 2026 calendar to find the perfect summer program and location for your child.

Creative activities for your campers to learn about and share the love of Christ.

A selection of K-12 Curricula exploring the Lectionary of Gospel Readings, Sacramental Life, Great Lent & Pentecostarion, and the Great Feasts. Additional resources include a series exploring the relationship between the Divine Liturgy & Scripture for high school and young adults, activities, and more!

A collection of printable Bible story coloring pages introducing children to key Old Testament figures and events—from Creation and the Tower of Babylon to Abraham, Moses, and the prophets—through creative, hands-on learning.

Two seven-part introductory audio lectures on Orthodox Christianity, taught by Very Rev.
Protopresbyter Peter Paproski.

This game involves a series of Escape Room puzzles which participants must solve in succession. The solution to each Escape Room puzzle reveals a secret message about how God saved His people during their exodus from Egypt. Each of these Escape Room puzzles takes participants further “out of Egypt” and into an understanding of what it meant for the Israelites to be set apart as God’s people – living in holiness according to His commandments.

A five-session study and activity guide for young people to help foster an appreciation and concern for the entire "cosmos", to instill an understanding of the Christian concept of stewardship, and to strengthen students' sense of identity as stewards of the gifts of God. Useful for students of all ages for Vacation Bible School, weekly church school, or summer camping programs.

Blessed Is the Kingdom is a comprehensive, school-age Orthodox Christian curriculum from the OCA Department of Christian Education that forms students from preschool through middle school using the Divine Liturgy as a framework for teaching essential Orthodox beliefs and practices. With interactive, age-appropriate lessons grounded in Essential Orthodox Christian Beliefs and designed for parish-wide coordination, the series engages children through discussion, activities, and crafts that support meaningful and lasting learning.

An introduction to the defining statement of what Christianity teaches. The Symbol of Faith. The Creed.

By the end of this lesson, students will understand the history and significance of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, recognize the role of Saints Constantine and Helen in finding and elevating the True Cross, and appreciate the theological and historical importance of the Cross in the Christian faith.

By the end of this lesson, students will understand the story of the Nativity of the Theotokos, recognize the significance of the Virgin Mary in God's plan for salvation, and explore how the faith and patience of Saints Joachim and Anna demonstrate trust in God's timing. (Grades 5-8)

Using the Divine Liturgy as the framework for presenting the teachings of the Orthodox Church, this manual is a suitable resource for guiding inquirers, instructing catechumens, and nurturing a fuller understanding of the faith among mature Orthodox Christians.

In this curriculum, students will encounter the God who delivers, guides, and dwells among His people. They will learn how the Exodus story - full of signs, struggles, and divine faithfulness - points forward to Christ, our true Deliverer. Through age-appropriate lessons, hands-on activities, crafts, and prayers, we aim to help children see that God is still at work in their lives today, leading them on their own journey of faith.

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to tell the story of the Finding and Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem and understand its significance in the Orthodox Christian tradition.

By the end of this lesson, students should know how to properly make the Sign of the Cross, an essential and symbolic gesture in Orthodox Christianity.

Students will learn about the birth of the Theotokos, her parents' faith, and how God answered their prayers. They will understand the importance of trusting in God and the joy of Mary's birth as the beginning of God's plan for our salvation. (Grades 1-4)

Across three lessons, students explore the healing and transformative miracles of Jesus Christ. Through reflection and discussion, they are invited to grow in faith and understanding, and to apply these insights as they seek personal transformation and a deeper commitment to serving others.

Orthodox Christianity is a way of life. That means how we live our lives should be noticeably different from those around us who are not Orthodox Christians. Our Orthodox Faith should be showing, even if no one else is looking! This is doubly true when we are at home, where our children are always looking.

V. Rev. Fr. Philip Tolbert explores how Orthodox Christian life is formed first and most powerfully within the family, where parents model faith through prayer, worship, and daily practice. Drawing on the wisdom of the Church Fathers and lived parish tradition, it presents the home as a sacred space shaped by prayer, icons, blessings, and the rhythm of the Church calendar. This reflection invites families to cultivate an intentional Orthodox way of life, helping children encounter the living reality of God through everyday faithfulness at home.

How to sanctify each moment by entrusting our schedules to Christ’s presence and purpose.

We have found that college students find their time away at school exhilarating but at the same instance a bit lonely. Many yearn for the church family life and remember their good experiences and friends fondly. However, the longer they are away from home the more foreign their church experiences become. Many times a feeling of disassociation sets in, of no longer ‘belonging’. Our job is to maintain a lifeline for our college students to their parish family.

Our greatest hope is that when one of our children walk into a church far, far away that God is watching over them and that some special person is taking care of them as one of their own. What we sometimes forget is that we may be that special person for someone else’s child far, far from home. The Youth Ministry Program can prepare packages to be given to college students when they visit your parish.

Welcome to the 2021/2023 theme curriculum and resource for the Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry! We hope that the materials provided here will aid you in your work with the youth in your parishes and homes. Please contact us with any questions or ideas.

The Dormition Fast is the final fasting season in the Liturgical year. It is one of the four canonical fasting periods of the Orthodox Church year. The duration of the Dormition Fast is always August 1-14th, concluding on the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (August 15th). *For those following the Old Calendar, the fasting days are Aug 14-28th.

As we recognize this significant shift in our liturgical calendar, I wanted to provide resources and ideas in this guide to help guide you and your families. May this be a fruitful season for us all!

This is a guide for those who have never made a loaf of prosphoro before, for those who are trying to figure out why their loaves are not coming out the way they want, and for those who would like to learn more about the science behind prosphora baking

The Center for Family Care, a Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, nurtures and empowers families, helping them navigate the joys and challenges of life. Its ministry focuses on equipping families to apply the teachings and practices of the Orthodox faith to every dimension of their lives. This podcast will feature interviews, reflections, book reviews, and narratives that will encourage dialogue and strengthen families.

While parenting doesn’t end when your child becomes an adult, it DOES change! Whether you are parenting an adult child or you are one yourself, the principles discussed in this series will be helpful to all who listen.

This series includes four brief videos taken from the GOA Center for Family Care's webinar “Doing Life With Adult Children” featuring Jim Burns, president of HomeWord, a non-profit that seeks to strengthen and equip parents, couples, families and leaders.

“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17 NKJV) Prepare your heart, and the hearts of your children, by listening to this Sunday’s Gospel. The Gospel is paraphrased for younger children and read for older children, followed by engaging questions to help us think about what we’ve heard. You can download an illustrated copy of each week’s Gospel at www.antiochian.org/christianeducation/letusattend Let Us Attend! Sunday’s Gospel for Children is a production of the Antiochian Orthodox Department of Christian Education, in partnership with Ancient Faith Radio.

At Joy Magazine, we envision offering vibrant and engaging products that serve as a beacon of knowledge and inspiration for young Orthodox Christian children. Our goal is that this material will nurture their faith and enrich their understanding of the beautiful traditions and teachings of the Church.