Lesson Plans, Activities, and Retreats - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

A Lamp to My Feet: An Introduction to the Bible

Department of Religious Education (DRE)
With this zine, students develop the attitudes and confidence needed to light their path with the lamp of Scripture. They can then access God’s message to the world by asking how each reading relates to them: “What does this text say about Christ, and how does it apply to my life?” Read More
Bearing Fruit

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
To illustrate in a practical manner how people who “abide in God” bear fruit. Participants will be led to discern for themselves how practically and spiritually speaking, they can bear fruit in their own lives. NOTE: This session offers a great way to help participants understand the practical "tools" for spiritual and personal growth and "pitfalls" that should be avoided. Read More
Body Image

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
To inform young people about the Orthodox perspective of body image; to stimulate discussions with them about negative and positive body images created within society. Read More
Christmas

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
The following PDF is a JOY session for the Christmas season. The goal is to teach the JOY kids about the real reason that we celebrate Christmas. This is done through reading Bible passages and discussing the simliarities of celbrating our own birthdays and Jesus' birthday. Read More
Cleaning my Temple

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
Objective For young people to realize that their body is a temple where Christ lives. They need to continually clean it, so God can shine through them in all they do. Read More
Confession

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
To prepare for this session, leaders should develop an understanding of the Sacrament of Confession. Talk to your priest and see if you can get a copy of the Confession Service so that you can discuss it with the young people. In the Our faith section of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website, you can read more about confession Read More
Curricula in Modern Greek Language

Education Office Direct Archdiocesan District
The Curricula of Studies for the Modern Greek Language (Checkpoint A & B) are developed by the Direct Archdiocesan District Office of Education in collaboration with the Institute of Modern Greek Studies (Manolis Triandaphyllidis Foundation) of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Read More
Directed Toward God: Lenten Reading & Youth Craft

Department of Religious Education (DRE)
Directed Toward God, by Presbytera Georget Photos, is a lenten reading and craft for youth. Read More
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s Visit to the U.S.-2009

Education Office Direct Archdiocesan District
The Direct Archdiocesan District Office of Education developed a student lesson to be taught to the upper grade students on the occasion of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to the United States in October 2009. Read More
Family of Faith

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
For children to explore how their family is a part of the Family of Faith, the Church, which has been passed down through the ages and grown through the grace of God, and is theirs to grow and cultivate. Read More
First Among Equals: The Ecumenical Patriarchate

Department of Religious Education (DRE)
Learn about the Ecumenical Patriarch. The contents of this unit span the entire history of the Church, and it touches on many detailed topics. Read More
For to Us a Child Is Born

Department of Religious Education (DRE)
Unwrap the story of Christ’s birth to reveal the fullness of the Incarnation behind the “Christmas story” of pageants. This full-color zine from the Department of Religious Education begins with the Annunciation and then follows the seasonal calendar through the Nativity, Theophany and the Presentation of the Lord. Read More
Gossip

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Read More
Gossip and Envy

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
Objective: To teach the group that gossip and hurtful words are harmful, because they hurt us and others, taking us away from God. Read More
Great and Holy Friday Retreat (GOYA)

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
A wonderful retreat appropriate for teens split into 6 sessions, which covers the many themes of Holy Week. Read More
Having and Losing

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
To have the participant’s understand and that this life is temporary and to appreciate all that the Lord has blessed us with. To learn that in life loss occurs and is often times out of our control. Through Christ and His Resurrection, we begin to heal our loss. Read More
Heaven on Earth: The Divine Liturgy

Department of Religious Education (DRE)
Heaven and earth meet in the Church through the Divine Liturgy. The newest full-color zine from the Department of Religious Education begins with a brief history of worship in the Orthodox Church and then details each section of the Divine Liturgy. Read More
Holy and Great Friday Retreat (GOYA, JOY, HOPE)

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
Familiarize yourself with all the content of the session. Additionally make yourself learn about the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Visit the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for a wealth of information on this topic. Read More
Identifying Love with Christ: Holy Friday GOYA Retreat

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
The following are lesson plans for a Holy Friday Retreat entitled "Identifying Love with Christ" geared towards GOYA age (Grades 7-12) children. Goals for the participants are two-fold: to learn that death is the enemy and the end of love, and the Cross is the defeat of Love's enemy; and to learn how to die to ourselves through admitting the truth of our realities. Read More
Identifying Love with Christ: Holy Friday JOY Retreat

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)
The following are lesson plans for a Holy Friday Retreat entitled "Identifying Love with Christ" geared towards JOY age (Grades 3-6) children. Goals for the participants are two-fold: to learn that God loves each of us; and to learn how to ask God for help. Read More