Announcing a 4th Keynote Speaker for the
2022 Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education Conference:
"Heart and Mind in the Thought of St. Nektarios of Aegina"
|
St. Nektarios is one of the most beloved saints of the 20th century who was directly involved in the education of children. Recently, Fr. John Palmer has translated important talks by St. Nektarios on the topic of education. Join Fr. John Palmer as he walks us through St. Nektarios’ articulation of Orthodox education and the critical relationship between heart and mind in the formation of the child.
|
|
|
|
“Higher Education, 21st Century America, & Orthodox Christianity: Understanding the Reality Before Us”
|
|
“The Formation of the Child in the Thought of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory the Theologian”
|
|
“Raising Children
in a Post-Covid World”
“Seeking Purity
in an Age of Impurity”
|
|
TEENS AGE 15 AND UP are offered a full array of activities and educational opportunities at the 2022 Saint Kosmas Conference. Teens age 15 and up will be registered as “YOUNG ADULTS” with full admission privileges to participate in the any of the adult or youth seminar sessions as well any of the Children’s Arts & Crafts projects, Archery Sessions, Astronomy Night Sky Viewing Event, and the Oratorical Festival. Teen “YOUNG ADULT” Registration (for ages 15 and up) includes teen sessions with Fr. Josiah Trenham, Dr. Mark Tarpley, Bede Carpenter, and Jamie Silva. Teens also have the opportunity for Byzantine Chant instruction by Mr. Dimitrios Katsiklis, art instruction by Anya Larsen, a teen STEM project, and much more. REGISTER TODAY!
|
|
|
|
CHILDREN AGES 5 to 14 are invited to join the 2022 Saint Kosmas Conference CHILDREN’S PROGRAM which includes three days of Arts & Crafts projects, Archery and Astronomy, as well as “Talks with the Youth.” Arts & Crafts Projects include: Collage Card-Making project (Paschal theme), Watercolor (Paschal theme), Decorate a Pascha Candle, Decorate a Wooden Egg with Traditional Ukrainian Designs, Personalize a water bottle and back pack, Decorate a Conference T-shirt, Build a Bird-feeder, Weaving & Crochet Projects, STEM Project and much more! This year ALL Children's Indoor Activities will be held in the "Upper Town Hall" auditorium of the Gold Canyon Golf Resort. Visit the CHILDREN'S PROGRAM page for full details. The full Children's Program SCHEDULE is now online here. REGISTER TODAY!
|
|
|
|
CHILDREN AGES 0-4 may participate in the 2022 Saint Kosmas Conference while in the care of their parents. Based on our past experience, children in this age category, need to be with a parent or adult that is familiar to them. In order to make it possible for parents to get as much from the conference lectures as possible while still caring for their little ones, we will provide a carpeted toddler/preschool play area (with toys, books, and coloring supplies) in the "Geronimo A" meeting room which will be the location of all of the primary homeschool sessions. Visit the SCHEDULE page to view what presentations will be taking place in "Geronimo A". In addition, the keynote lectures will be live-streamed to this same "Geronimo A" meeting room so that parents can hear the keynote presentations while caring for active little ones. This will also give parents with children under age 5 a relaxed place to connect with other parents of children the same age. Visit the VENUE MAPS page to see the location of the "Geronimo A" meeting room in relation to the rest of the venue campus. Visit the CHILDREN'S PROGRAM page for more details about childcare options for children under the age of 5. For more information about bringing children into lectures or about bringing a babysitter with you to the conference contact us. REGISTER TODAY!
|
|
|
|
CONTEST DEADLINE
for Art, Photography, and Essay Entries:
|
|
-
Beauty will Save the World: The Importance of Beauty in Childhood (Anna Larsen)
-
A Childhood Unplugged: Evaluating the Advantages of an Early Childhood without Screens (Presv. Ana Coman, Ph.D.)
-
The Exodus and Its Application Today: Seeking Simplicity in Our Family Life and Freeing Ourselves from Earthly Attachments and Distractions (Elizabeth Davis)
(for Clergy & Laity Seeking to Support Orthodox Education within the Local Parish)
(Teens registered for the conference are welcome to attend any of the sessions offered at the conference.)
|
|
2021-22
Saint Kosmas Contests
|
|
CONTEST DEADLINE
for Art, Photography, and Essay Entries:
|
|
Saint Kosmas Orthodox Christian Education Association promotes academic and creative arts contests that are open to all Orthodox Christian youth regardless of jurisdiction, type of schooling, or country of residence.
We welcome you to participate!
|
|
“We are very glad that you put together this competition and that our son participated. Speaking as a homeschool mom who has often wavered in my resolve to homeschool, it is so helpful to feel part of a bigger community, and also have access to all the resources from your organization. We feel so blessed. From our hearts we want to say again, thank you for your work.”
FROM THE PARENTS OF THE
GREEK LANGUAGE CATEGORY
|
|
Learn more about the Saint Kosmas Contests:
|
|
TOPICS FOR
ESSAY & ORATORICAL
New Topic Added: WISDOM
All FIVE topics
— Freedom, Beauty, Chastity, Obedience, and Wisdom —
can be used for BOTH contests!
|
|
Essay Deadline: December 31, 2021
Speech Submission Deadline: February 28, 2022
Oratorical Festival: March 15-16, 2022
|
|
FREEDOM
(“Freedom” Topic for Junior and Elementary Divisions): We live in a culture that tells us we are free to do whatever we want. Develop an essay or speech on how such an understanding of freedom differs from an Orthodox Christian approach to freedom. As you develop your ideas, make sure to use Orthodox resources to support your argument. Good sources could include, but are not limited to, a story from the Desert Fathers, hymns sung in the Church, writings of contemporary saints and holy elders, and the Holy Scripture.
(“Freedom” Topic for Senior Division): Throughout history, freedom has been understood in a number of different ways. Develop an essay or speech on how Orthodox approach the topic of freedom. Make sure to use Orthodox resources such as the Holy Scripture, the Church Fathers, and liturgical texts to support and develop your ideas. In addition, contrast the Orthodox approach with at least one other approach to freedom in the world today.
|
|
|
|
BEAUTY
(“Beauty” Topic for Junior and Elementary Divisions): When envoys were sent by St. Vladimir to Constantinople to inquire into the Orthodox faith, they attended the Divine Liturgy at Agia Sophia and reported back, "We no longer knew whether we were in heaven or on earth." Develop an essay or speech on what this story tells us about the importance of beauty in the Orthodox Church and how such a view of beauty contrasts with that of the modern culture. As you explore the Orthodox understanding of beauty, make use of resources such as Holy Scripture, the Church Fathers, hymnography, and/or liturgical texts to strengthen your argument.
(“Beauty” Topic for Senior Division): Fyodor Dostoyesvky famously said in The Idiot, "Beauty will save the world." Develop an essay or speech on what is an Orthodox approach to understanding beauty, and what role beauty plays in the spiritual life. Make sure to use Orthodox resources such as the Holy Scripture, the Church Fathers, hymnography, and liturgical services and texts to support and develop your ideas. In addition, contrast the Orthodox approach with at least one other approach to beauty in the world today.
|
|
|
|
CHASTITY
The ideal of chastity is deeply challenged in our culture today. Develop an essay or speech that offers an apologetic to our culture as to why Americans should value chastity from an Orthodox perspective. Use concrete examples and draw from the wisdom of the Church in developing your position. Make sure to use Orthodox resources such as the Holy Scripture, the Church Fathers, and liturgical texts to support and develop your ideas.
|
|
|
|
OBEDIENCE
St. Silouan the Athonite writes, "The spirit of obedience is necessary not only in monks but in everyone else, too. Even the Lord was obedient. The proud and those who are a law unto themselves prevent the indwelling of grace and therefore never know peace of soul; whereas the grace of the Holy Spirit enters with ease into the soul of the obedient, bringing joy and quiet."
Develop an essay or speech on what you think St. Silouan the Athonite means when he says these words in relation to our daily lives in families and living in the world as Orthodox Christians. Use concrete examples and draw from the wisdom of the Church in developing your position. Make sure to use Orthodox resources such as the Holy Scripture, the Church Fathers, and liturgical texts to support and develop your ideas.
|
|
|
|
WISDOM
As Christians, we are called to seek wisdom in our daily lives. In St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he writes,
For the word, that of the Cross, on the one hand, to those who are perishing is foolishness, but on the other hand, to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it hath been written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will set at nought the comprehension of the intelligent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Did not God make foolish the wisdom of this world? For since in the wisdom of God, the world knew not God through its wisdom, it pleased God through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. For indeed, Jews seek for a sign, and Greeks seek wisdom; but we proclaim Christ Who hath been crucified, to Jews, on the one hand, a stumbling block, and to Greeks, on the other hand, foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, God’s power and God’s wisdom. Because the foolish thing of God is wiser than man, and the weak thing of God is stronger than man. (I Corinthians 1: 18-25)
Further, at the feast of Pentecost, we chant, "Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast shown forth the fishermen as supremely wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit and through them didst draw the world into Thy net. O Befriender of Man, glory be to Thee!"
In light of this Biblical passage from the Apostle Paul and the hymn of Pentecost cited above, develop an essay or speech articulating how the Orthodox Church understands wisdom and how such an understanding differs from the wisdom of this world. Further, make sure to include why this distinction is important in our daily lives. Make sure to use Orthodox resources such as the Holy Scripture, the Church Fathers, and liturgical texts to support and develop your ideas.
|
|
|
|
Learn more about the Saint Kosmas Contests:
|
|
THEME FOR
ART & PHOTOGRAPHY:
The Beauty of God's Creation Represented in
The First Four Days of Creation
(Genesis 1:3 - 2:3)
|
|
Art Deadline: December 31, 2021
Photography Deadline: December 31, 2021
|
|
Learn more about the Saint Kosmas Contests:
|
|
from the
Saint Kosmas Blog
|
|
|
|
INTERNET SAFETY:
Join CovenantEyes
with KOSMAS Promo Code:
Get 30 Days Free, Protect Your Family, and Support SKOE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
