Volume 1, Issue 16
November 8, 2020
Teaching the Faith Every Day:
Free Orthodox Education Resources
for following the Church Calendar throughout
100th Anniversary of the Repose of
Saint Nektarios the Wonderworker:
Resources for Teaching Children about St. Nektarios:
Audios of the Apolytikion
Children's Books
Illustrated Synaxarion PDF
Series of 5 Audio Lectures
on the Life and Teachings
of Saint Nektarios (for free!)
  1. His Upbringing and Development
  2. His Trials and Persecutions
  3. His Final Years and Blessed Repose
  4. His Canonization
  5. His Teachings and Writings
The education of children must begin from infancy, so that the child’s mental faculties may, from their very first appearance, be directed right from the beginning toward the good, the gentle, the true, and may be removed from the evil, the obscene, and the false. This age can be regarded as a most immovable foundation upon which the child’s moral and intellectual formation will be built. This is why Phocylides says,You must while he is yet a child instruct him in good works, for it is from childhood, as from a starting line, that a man sets off on the race he is to run in life. And Basil the Great declares, “The soul, while it is still easily molded and soft, while it is still like wax that is easily melted and that ...
NEW BOOK!
For the Mind and Heart:
St. Nektarios as Teacher
Author: St. Nektarios of Pentapolis
Translator: Rev. Dr. Fr. John Palmer
Publisher: New Rome Press
St Nektarios of Pentapolis (1846-1920) was both a careful student of the art of teaching and a tireless teacher. The present work aims to present and analyze his labors with the sphere of education as well as furnish translations of his core writings on the topic. By these means he is shown a strong proponent of the view that education is properly understood as formation of the whole person, rather than the simple imparting of information.
2020-21
TOPICS ANNOUNCED!
Essay entries accepted from Jan. 1 - March 1, 2021.
Winners will be announced March 15, 2021 and will receive cash prize + credit toward the 2021 Arizona Conference.
Essay Topic - Option #1:
St. Paisios the Athonite writes,
"Because modern conveniences have exceeded all bounds, they have become inconveniences. Machines have multiplied and so have distractions;
man has been turned into a machine. 
All kinds of machines and inventions now rule over man. This is why human hearts are turning into steel." 
How do you see St. Paisios' words relating to education today? How should families and schools approach modern technology in relationship to education? 
In your essay, work to develop depth and breadth, using concrete examples and drawing from the wisdom of the Church in developing your position.
Essay Topic - Option #2:
St. Nectarios of Aegina writes,
"Who can deny that it is mothers who produce great and virtuous men?"
Write an essay on what you think St. Nectarios means when he says these words in relationship to the role and importance of mothers in the formation of saints. You may want to consider the Theotokos, St. Anna, and other mothers of saints in your response, including both how they were raised and how they parented their children. Further, you may also want to consider the role of mothers in the home within the life of the family today. In your essay, work to develop depth and breadth, using concrete examples and drawing from the wisdom of the Church in developing your position.
Entry deadline extended until March 1, 2021.
Make the Saint Kosmas Art & Photography Contest
part of your child's school year!
Winners will be announced March 15, 2021 and will receive cash prize + credit toward the 2021 Arizona Conference.
Accepting entries now, up to 3 entries per child.
Introducing
Quality Hand-Crafted Wooden Toys and Games
Produced By Orthodox Christians
"Prophets" Board Game
by Paidea Classics
In Stock for Nativity 2020!
This is a board game modeled after Catan (tm) but with the addition of card decks teaching various aspects of the Old Testament. The box and game pieces are made with laser engraved baltic birch plywood from Russia.
"OrthodoxToys" on Etsy
by Alex Goncharov
Alex produces a limited number of the little wooden block churches each month. Other educational products are available as well on his etsy page. Due to the popularity of the wooden block churches, those must be pre-ordered. Contact Alex by email with questions or pre-orders: <alex@orthodoxtoys.com>
Wooden block churches pre-ordered now will deliver in January. Other products are available in time for Nativity. Product reviews and the story of how this project began are on etsy.
Wooden Educational Puzzles & Toys
by Paidea Classics

New to Saint Kosmas Conferences?
View Our Content from the Past FOUR Years!
Saint Kosmas
audios, videos, transcripts