Volume 2, Issue 4
February 28, 2021
|
|
"I Really Love Forgiveness Vespers"
from the 2019 Saint Kosmas Art Contest
Victoria Malkasian, 9 years old
St. Katherine Orthodox Church (OCA, Kirkland, Washington)
|
|
2020-21
Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education
Art, Photography, and Essay
24 Hours to go!
Entry deadline is the end of the day on Monday, March 1, 2021
|
|
2021 Conference Registration Update:
Number of Registered Attendees Now Surpasses Attendance of Any Previous Saint Kosmas Conference!
And 15 States Represented!
Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington.
31 Days left to register!
Registration closes on March 31!
Registration will not extend into April for any reason.
For families waiting for contest results before registering:
The contests close at the end of the day Monday, March 1.
Contest Winners (and recipients of the $500 registration credits) will be announced on or before March 10. Stay tuned! Winners will be announced on website, and via email newsletter, facebook, mewe, and instagram.
|
|
of the 2021 Saint Kosmas Arizona Conference
|
|
The Domestic Church and Education in the Writings of St. John Chrysostom |
|
Part 1: Why Christian Education Always Starts in the Home Within the Life of the Church
St. John Chrysostom, perhaps more than any other Church Father, emphasized the importance of the kath’imas (Christian/spiritual) education in the Christian home. The kath’imas education was distinct from the exothen (pagan/secular) education of his time and cannot be reduced to a set curriculum, selected spiritual readings, or Church programs. Rather, the kath’imas education is “the ecclesiastical ethos of the Christian home” as “maintained by a fervent and continual link with the Church." "The blessing of the household is contingent upon faithful participation in the prayers of the Church,” writes Fr. Josiah in his work Marriage and Virginity According to St. John Chrysostom. Read more.
|
|
|
Part 2: Realizing St. John Chrysostom's Vision for Christian Education in a Post-Christian World
St. John Chrysostom offers us a beautiful teaching on the kath’imas (Christian/spiritual) and exothen (pagan/secular) within the context of a pre-modern world in which Christ was historically anticipated by the culture. However, today, we live in a post-Christian world in which our culture is established out of a rejection of Christ. How, then, should we manifest the teaching of St. John Chrysostom in our time with respect Read more.
|
|
Modernity’s Vision for Education and Why We Should Be Concerned
The rise of modernity ushered in a new vision for education, and consequently, a new vision for humanity. Such a vision permeates the educational landscape of America today. Understanding the historical roots and subsequent establishment of modern education reveals what is now taken for granted by educators today. As Orthodox Christians responsible for educating our children, it is vital that we see clearly the hidden assumptions of modern education, how they stand in contrast to Orthodox education, and how these hidden assumptions play out practically in the schooling of our children. Join Dr. Tarpley Read more.
|
|
|
Don’t Be Caught Unaware: Why Post-modernity is More Influential in the Formation of Our Children Than We Think
Orthodox Christians understand that Postmodernity stands in opposition to our faith. But do we realize how postmodernity is forming our children today, particularly in the education space? One only has to listen to how our youth speak to begin to get a sense of its impact. As parents and educators, we must not think Read more.
Introducing the Hybrid Model of Education
The model of education you choose is a significant decision for both the founding of a school and for the schooling of children. As much as educators emphasize curriculum and philosophy of education, models are also very powerful in forming the educational experience of a child. Too often, an either/or is presented between homeschooling/co-ops and five-day-a-week models. There are other model options that exist, and Read more.
|
|
Director of Operations and Legislative Liaison for
|
|
California Homeschool Legal/Legislative Update
Fresh from the battlefront, Nathan will update you on major current legislative battles to protect our private home education and parental rights! You will learn how vigilance is maintained despite the many threats against our precious freedoms, and hear how Family Protection Ministries has worked this year to build relationships with legislators and staff inside the Capitol. Read more.
|
|
|
COVID-19 and Parental Rights in California, A Legislative Update
Family Protection Ministry liaison, Nathan Pierce, will offer an update on what legal and legislative changes have taken place in California related to parental rights since COVID began. Though this update is specific to California, the legislative attempts to take rights from parents in California will likely soon follow in other states. Read more.
Bostock v. Clayton County: How it Impacts Churches, Private Education, and Homeschoolers (Understanding the Implications of the Supreme Court Ruling of June 15, 2020)
Bostock v. Clayton County was a landmark United States Supreme Court civil rights case in which the Court held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Family Protection Ministry liaison, Nathan Pierce, will explain the ruling, and offer a brief analysis of how this impacts churches, private schools, and homeschoolers. This will be a Read more.
|
|
Getting Your Family Involved in Advocacy: What Can I Do?
Ever wonder how you could make a difference in the fight to keep our homeschool freedoms? Personal face-to-face meetings between a legislator and a homeschool family can be the most effective advocacy tool we have. Nathan will discuss inviting legislators to your homeschool science fair, taking a field trip to visit your legislator in their local district office, and even lining up your teens to potentially intern at a legislators office. This workshop will also give Read more.
|
|
|
Charter Schools – Opportunity or Hidden Stumbling Block?
You probably know homeschooling families who have left the fold of Private Homeschooling for the perceived advantages of joining a charter school. Some church leaders are encouraging families to look into charter schools as a viable and beneficial option for educating their children at home. Perhaps you yourself have even wondered if it wouldn’t be a solution to some of the challenges you’re facing. So, what are some of the Read more.
Law for California Private Homeschoolers
Are you a new or potential homeschooling parent? Perhaps you’re a leader working with new homeschoolers. Here is the place to get a foundation of understanding of the legalities of homeschooling. We know the Education Code addresses compulsory education, but what does it actually say and how do we as private homeschoolers make sure we meet compulsory education law? What is the difference between public and private Read more.
|
|
"I am really dumbfounded by this conference. Dumbfounded! I am so thrilled! In my 25 years as a priest I’ve never seen anything like this."
— Archpriest Josiah Trenham, Ph.D.
|
|
by Clergy, Families, and Educators
|
|
|
|
The thing that excites me about the Saint Kosmas Conference is the sense that so many people are rethinking education, when it is widely known that we need to do just that. Orthodoxy is a great gift to America, and one of the ways it can reach most deeply into American society and communities is by fortifying the family through home education. I saw this taken seriously at the Saint Kosmas Conference and look forward to growing from that discussion in the years to come.
— Andrew Kern
(founder of CiRCE Institute)
|
|
|
|
The Saint Kosmas Conference was a breath of fresh air for our family! We met incredible families at this conference who encouraged and inspired us. The speakers were delightful and went beyond the surface topics of homeschooling to the deeper aspects of our journey. Everything was beautifully organized and the food was delicious. All six of us came home talking about what a beautiful, fun, and enriching time it was!
— John & Grace Cosby
(serving in the ministry of Project Mexico, Tijuana, Mexico)
|
|
New Conference Info Webpage:
of the 2021 Saint Kosmas Arizona Conference
|
|
CHILDCARE UPDATE: There will be infant/toddler childcare (for age 6 months and up) available at both north and south campus for all 12 sessions to make it easy for parents to interact with their youngest children during the sessions. For detailed childcare information, view the PRICING PAGE.
|
|
of the 2021 Saint Kosmas Arizona Conference
|
|
Desert Trail Hike Expedition
|
|
[on the mountain trail overlooking the Gold Canyon Golf Course] |
|
[trail markers; "Deer Trac Pt" trail is for the youngest hikers] |
|
[the look-out point where past hikers planted a Cross] |
|
Archery
(photos below from the 2017 & 2018 Saint Kosmas Conferences)
|
|
Sponsors
of the 2021 Saint Kosmas Arizona Conference:
|
|
We wish to express our gratitude to The College at Saint Constantine for their sponsorship of the 2021 Saint Kosmas Conference. |
|
of the 2021 Saint Kosmas Arizona Conference
|
|
Building a Library
of Orthodox Children's Books
|
|
The top 100 favorite Orthodox children's books of the editors of Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education are being presented to you one book at a time as a regular feature of our bi-monthly newsletter. We hope that for families just starting an Orthodox children's library in their home, the pace of this presentation (two or three books per month) may be a realistic pace for collecting the books. The sequence that the books are presented does not imply any rating or hierarchy. However, we are putting forth first the books that are the most foundational to your child's early catechism in the Orthodox faith. |
|
|
|
The Path to Confession: A Book for Family Reading Presented to Orthodox Children
by Fr. Artemy Vladimirov
Published by Unexpected Joy Press
|
Fr. Artemy, pastor of All Saints Church in Moscow here offers a way to prepare our children (and ourselves) for the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. Tens of thousands of books have been sold in the original Russian version, and now English-speakers can benefit from Fr. Artemy’s gentle, sober counsel. With beautiful, full-color illustrations on every page, The Path to Confession is a feast for the eye as well as the soul. “I do not expect to come across a more beautiful book for teaching Orthodox Christian children – or discerning adults too for that matter!” |
|
|
|
Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education
is now on Parler & MeWe. Join us there!
|
|
New to Saint Kosmas Conferences?
View Our Content from the Past FOUR Years!
|
|
|
|
Saint Kosmas
audios, videos, transcripts
|
|
Home School Legal Defense Association:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
