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    A Journey to Ancient Crete

    Education Office ­ Direct Archdiocesan District

    As you are preparing your Science project for your school’s next Learning Fair, you receive in the mail an invitation to visit the palace of King Minos (Μίνως) in Ancient Crete. You know well that the Minoan civilization was destroyed more than 3,000 years ago, but the invitation is from the King himself who urges you to explore his palace so that you can present it to your contemporaries. His final instructions are: “Follow the Process to spin a web of knowledge to guide you out of the darkness of the maze, like my daughter would.” Read More

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    Directed Toward God

    Department of Religious Education (DRE)

    Directed Toward God, by Presbytera Georget Photos, is a lenten reading and craft for youth. Read More

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    Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s Visit to the U.S.

    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    Homer and the Greek Oral Tradition

    Education Office ­ Direct Archdiocesan District

    In this Webquest your task will be to understand what an oral poem looks like and then compose your own poem or story, which you can perform in front of your classmates. If you have the time, the class can also pick a theme (like the Trojan War) and compose poems or stories around that theme. Read More

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    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

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    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

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    Journey through Great Lent

    Department of Religious Education (DRE)

    Embark on this year’s Lenten journey with junior high students as the Church opens the Triodion. This nine-week unit spans the Great Fast with clear, vivid introductions to the season’s Scriptures, Traditions, saints and services. Read More

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    Journey through Holy Week

    Department of Religious Education (DRE)

    Follow Christ and the Church through each stage of Holy Week—from the Saturday of Lazarus to the Agape Vespers service—with this new full-color guide from the Department of Religious Education. Read More

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    Joy + Gifts + Need

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective: To give participants a better understanding and appreciation of their unique talents and gifts and how they might be utilized in the service of God, the Church and people. Read More

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    Koliva

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective: To teach children the importance of remembering loved ones after they have fallen asleep, in the Lord. Read More

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    Let Us Be Radiant

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective: To give the participants tangible examples and an understanding of what it means to live in the light instead of darkness, and to understand that Christ is the light we need to transform our lives. Read More

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    Let Your Light Shine

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    To children that Christ, the Light of the world, made them all with special gifts and talents. It is their job as Christians to find these talents and let them shine, reflecting the light of Christ. Read More

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    Light of Christ

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    To give the participants an understanding of what it means to live in the light instead of darkness, and to understand that Christ is the light we need to transform our lives. Read More

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    Making a Difference

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    To show children that they are capable of doing good to others, no matter how small their service may be. God calls us to love Him through loving others, and we can do this in small ways everyday. Read More

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    Materialism

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    We who mystically represent the Cherubim and sing the thrice holy hymn to the life giving Trinity; Let us set aside the cares of this life that we may receive the King of all. Read More

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    Memorial Service

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    To teach children the importance of remembering loved ones after they have fallen asleep, in the Lord. Read More

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    Missions

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective To help participants understand Christ's universal call to take action in spreading His message by exploring and supporting current Orthodox Missions, as they develop and implement plans to raise awareness and funds for Orthodox Missions. Read More

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    Music

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective: To open our eyes to the different messages that surround us, to open our ears to what our music is saying to us, and to bring the beauty and valuable message of liturgical music to today’s youth. Read More

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    New Year's Resolution

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective: That young people will begin to realize that resolutions are not just made once a year but during every day and every minute we should be resolving to live our lives closer to Christ. Through living a Christ centered life, we never try to accomplish anything without turning first to God. Read More

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    Olympic Games

    Education Office ­ Direct Archdiocesan District

    In this Webquest, you will explore some of the many sites related to the Olympic Games so as to find out some interesting facts about their History beginning from their inception in Ancient Greece, or the Sports which are included and the way people from different countries feel about these different sports. Read More

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    Personal Prayer

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective: To help participants understand the need to remove distractions when they pray. Read More

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    Prosfora

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    To learn about the making a Prosforo offering and what it represents. Read More

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    Prosphora: Teaching Transformation

    Center for Family Care

    One of the most concrete and wonderful ways children can participate in the life of the Church is to bake the communion bread. Bread-making takes a little while, and it calls for patience, but while our hands are busy, we can teach our children about offering (“prosphora”) and transformation, and the ways in which God will change this bread, and will change us, for the better. Read More

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    Role Models

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective: The objective of this session is to encourage children to have positive role models, and that Jesus Christ is our ultimate hero and role model. Read More

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    Spiritual Discipline

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective: For young people to realize that just as athletes train for competition, we train ourselves in the spiritual life. Read More

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    Stress

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective: To help young people identify negative stress in their lives and learn how to deal with stress in a healthy Orthodox Christian way that is beneficial for both their bodies and souls. Read More

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    Ta Ellinika Mou

    Department of Greek Education

    The series of books of Greek language instruction titled “Τα Ελληνικά μου” has been published by the Department of Greek Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese with the guidance and blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America. Read More

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    Talent Tower

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective: To introduce the participants to each other by creating a free standing building (with newspapers) as tall as possible using entire the group. Read More

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    Talents - Our Treasure

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective To have the participants realize that their talents are a great God-given treasure which they must "use or lose." Read More

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    The Baptism of Jesus

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    To begin to teach children about the Baptism of our Lord and how at their own baptism the Holy Spirit came to live in them. Read More

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    The Kindergarten Curriculum

    Education Office ­ Direct Archdiocesan District

    Based on the developmental needs and the learning abilities of the kindergarten child, the Kindergarten Curriculum places an emphasis on oral communication and, at the same time, aims at instilling in the young learners a sense of pride, love and respect for the Greek cultural heritage and the Greek Orthodox faith. Read More

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    The Resurrection

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective: For young people to take time to investigate the Resurrection and think about how it applies to their life. Read More

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    The Role of Women in the Church

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    We are the body of Christ, the Church. Each one of us is a part of the body, dependent on another part of the body. Therefore everyone has a role to play and every role is important, whether you be the skin, the brain, or just one microscopic cell. Read More

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    The Tree of Jesse: A Traditional Lesson Plan

    Department of Religious Education (DRE)

    The Tree of Jesse: A Traditional Lesson Plan, by Fr. Andrew George, is an advent activity for home, groups, or church school. Read More

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    Theophany

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Objective To offer young people a greater insight into the feast of Theophany, while also gaining an understanding of what takes place when water is blessed. Read More

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    Traditions

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    A tradition is something that is handed down to us. Holy Traditions are that which were handed down from the Apostles who receive them from Christ. We also call this Apostolic Tradition. These Traditions cannot be changed. Church traditions (with a little t) are individual or local ways people express their faith. Read More

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    United in Christ: Joy Session (Grades 3 through 6)

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    A lesson plan for JOY children about the tragedy of September 11th. Read More

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    Walk with Christ - A Holy Week Retreat

    Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

    Have the participants come for the Imperial Hours Service in the morning before beginning the retreat Read More

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    We Approach the Lenten Journey

    Department of Religious Education (DRE)

    We Approach the Lenten Journey, by Presbytera Georget Photos, is a Lenten craft and project for youth to assist them in their Lenten journey. Read More

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    Webquests on Greek Culture

    Education Office ­ Direct Archdiocesan District

    The Webquests below, designed under the direction of the Archdiocesan District Office of Education, are designed to help students gain a richer appreciation of the Greek language and culture. Students are able to engage in interactive, inquiry-based learning activities with or without the help of an adult. Read More