tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63911716077190128702024-02-01T23:30:48.241-05:00ORTHODOX YOUTH RESOURCESA Resource for Orthodox Christian Youth and Youth WorkersUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-9656232033740287632023-10-05T11:01:00.006-04:002023-10-05T11:06:47.130-04:00Encyclical on the Catechism of the Youth (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMT-l01QFExMbCyNFw3yMBgqW-jnjRw-ioYua1hML2wjnnzqQ4I0FwdWN-Ur7yQ5aRu_H_luiuXj-Od4WEoCOvqW5FNFim_E7nN22yspEkKcnF3PSYAo19gpr9Lg2KAaXQabqpSCq4-zk8E220GxFMSVlxBknXq9DHOVeFIM2dAJTPApBmIshS_FL3EELn/s878/katixitiko.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="878" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMT-l01QFExMbCyNFw3yMBgqW-jnjRw-ioYua1hML2wjnnzqQ4I0FwdWN-Ur7yQ5aRu_H_luiuXj-Od4WEoCOvqW5FNFim_E7nN22yspEkKcnF3PSYAo19gpr9Lg2KAaXQabqpSCq4-zk8E220GxFMSVlxBknXq9DHOVeFIM2dAJTPApBmIshS_FL3EELn/w640-h438/katixitiko.jpeg" width="640"></a></div> <br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My beloved brethren,<br><br>By decision of the Sacred Synod, the Catechism for male and female students begins again this year, which is a serious work of the Church, by which young people are introduced to the blessed institution of the Church.<br><br>Normally, Catechism precedes the mystery of Baptism, because first one gets to know the life of the Church and then enters it.<br><br>Since, however, with the passage of time, infant baptism was introduced into the Church, that is, a person is baptized a short time after their birth, while they are still an infant, for this reason the Catechetical Schools began to function from a long time ago, for those who were preparing to be baptized who were of mature age, and for the illumined, that is, for those who had been baptized.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2023/10/encyclical-on-catechism-of-youth-metr.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-30492752495375898752023-02-01T14:33:00.000-05:002023-02-01T14:33:34.413-05:00Children Celebrate the Patron Saints of Education on a Remote Greek island Without a Priest<div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2QX7x5A_Q-7zCEG1gebhH3a0ybx0uhSfbEyRTziXTmWUkPj4fjkioD6HdNq7ga7HvJ2fKWRHTZ6MIqDIz8N0lHzSvfeH1OeOA0X5tNviy7E2ta9bQfWpLnVw0mxOLp7Xwp6MzFW7Ql6fjZfpScpImrzK7a8fDUHEZiFDwaLTbY9WI0hnaujYeoXaSg/s2048/three.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2QX7x5A_Q-7zCEG1gebhH3a0ybx0uhSfbEyRTziXTmWUkPj4fjkioD6HdNq7ga7HvJ2fKWRHTZ6MIqDIz8N0lHzSvfeH1OeOA0X5tNviy7E2ta9bQfWpLnVw0mxOLp7Xwp6MzFW7Ql6fjZfpScpImrzK7a8fDUHEZiFDwaLTbY9WI0hnaujYeoXaSg/w640-h480/three.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Arkoi is a small island in the Dodecanese near Patmos, with few inhabitants. The two children of the island have one teacher, but there is no priest, and without a priest there is no Divine Liturgy, no confession, no Holy Communion, unless a special visit is made to them or they go to a more inhabited nearby island. <br><br>This past January 30th, however, which is the feast of the Three Hierarchs, who are revered as the patron saints of education, the teacher of the two young boys took it upon himself to honor the Three Hierarchs with his students at a chapel on the island. Here is what he said about it:<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2023/02/children-celebrate-patron-saints-of.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-67180861391067782112022-12-03T13:32:00.003-05:002022-12-03T13:35:25.927-05:00When Saint Porphyrios Traveled Invisibly To Serbia and Observed the Emptiness of the Youth<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXz7_o3XmSx4jSVjWy5tYGV4ACWmRDJsxnmJ5ELdFCoHnaO3BkzzL_oIVZD-d9I8zLzhbKL5gbZKQ4c258vPV5xH5G8YzoPLTN5ZAe5l5JtgLP1NIMfZDhe8edMjXN6dt6PgnPNUK3c5Wfx8LRvMN4pMAhYvlr1oFIl1Su0uJfg8Mx2uHVT7nuCX86XA/s944/AGIOS-PORFYRIOS-1-630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXz7_o3XmSx4jSVjWy5tYGV4ACWmRDJsxnmJ5ELdFCoHnaO3BkzzL_oIVZD-d9I8zLzhbKL5gbZKQ4c258vPV5xH5G8YzoPLTN5ZAe5l5JtgLP1NIMfZDhe8edMjXN6dt6PgnPNUK3c5Wfx8LRvMN4pMAhYvlr1oFIl1Su0uJfg8Mx2uHVT7nuCX86XA/w268-h400/AGIOS-PORFYRIOS-1-630.jpg" width="268"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Saint Porpyrios of Kavsokalyva once said the following to Bishop Irinej of Bačka:<br><br>"One day I sat on a bridge over there in your parts [in Serbia, where he used to travel in an invisible way by divine grace], I was observing the people who were passing by. And by the grace of God I saw them transparent, both their bodies and their souls.<br><br>What can I say to you, Irinej! I saw empty, lonely, wounded, broken souls. I saw boys and girls passing by holding hands, but without their souls having the strength to truly love. They fall in love roughly and superficially. Raised without a family or even in an atheistic family, they have no provisions for true love. Many of your girls are not even in a position to become mothers from the libertine life they lead.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2022/12/when-saint-porphyrios-traveled.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-51998174226402803452022-09-12T12:47:00.003-04:002022-09-12T12:52:45.725-04:00Message for the Beginning of the School Year for Elementary, Middle School and High School Students (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)<div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jsJIjfGPXu01Y4OMKOfpE0LQ5iMOMWckuh7IK6iBHlGhPjZ8jMLd_oQCmBZIGT5_1lZdeaujj-ntgmeyNUMH4cJZBlsn1b2Ye_AlKCnqI5VujkT8nrgg-INURr28PNFD4oon5PGTcNJ996KuNq8Pjo-k_dlSZPLrlFTuyM-zsKY0Cy_kKfvody9alw/s498/Agiasmos-19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="498" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jsJIjfGPXu01Y4OMKOfpE0LQ5iMOMWckuh7IK6iBHlGhPjZ8jMLd_oQCmBZIGT5_1lZdeaujj-ntgmeyNUMH4cJZBlsn1b2Ye_AlKCnqI5VujkT8nrgg-INURr28PNFD4oon5PGTcNJ996KuNq8Pjo-k_dlSZPLrlFTuyM-zsKY0Cy_kKfvody9alw/w400-h228/Agiasmos-19.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Message for the Beginning of the School Year for Elementary Students</b><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My beloved students,<br><br>With the beginning of the school year, I feel the need as the Metropolitan of this Sacred Metropolis to communicate with you to wish you to have health of body and soul to meet the demands of your education.<br><br>You have understood by now that you live your lives between the family and the school, the society and the Church. You were born and grew up in a small family and there you got to know the first impressions of your life.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2022/09/message-for-beginning-of-school-year.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-9645159316816725952022-07-18T13:09:00.004-04:002022-07-18T13:09:22.283-04:00Q & A: My Young Adult Child Left the Church, What Should I Do? (Archpriest Sergiy Baranov)<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6czr3oWaVLg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-70172817049060201842022-04-25T16:22:00.005-04:002022-04-25T16:22:42.145-04:00When Saint George Karslides as a Child Rode on the Horse of Saint George the Great Martyr <div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eAFh862zVsFlmNXQd2H8Q4fkyMEyL7g5iI2DA0mNKGxR1qz7hgg1oQJ9dKzdQX6OpF6riEpl4kASNYdtKodlznO7JJ6ZeeZNj79-0U5ZqKTBXfDGKjGCPcnimrhwn7BNaFqPJaByAkAIL9BGNi7-Iry5FFYmWeaCsryUNBVPC-lUdMdGdoteTOu0sQ/s278/geroge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="213" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eAFh862zVsFlmNXQd2H8Q4fkyMEyL7g5iI2DA0mNKGxR1qz7hgg1oQJ9dKzdQX6OpF6riEpl4kASNYdtKodlznO7JJ6ZeeZNj79-0U5ZqKTBXfDGKjGCPcnimrhwn7BNaFqPJaByAkAIL9BGNi7-Iry5FFYmWeaCsryUNBVPC-lUdMdGdoteTOu0sQ/w306-h400/geroge.jpg" width="306"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Saint
George Karslides was born in 1901 with the name Athanasios, in
Argyroupolis (Gümüşhane) of Pontus. As a very young child he lost his
parents and his faithful grandmother undertook to protect him. She
inspired him with his love for the liturgical life of our Church.<br><br>But
soon after his grandmother left for heaven. Only one older brother was
left, who also tortured and oppressed him. So at the age of 7-8 he left
secretly, to escape from the contempt and tyranny of his older brother.
He felt a deep thirst for God.<br> <br><span></span></div></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2022/04/when-saint-george-karslides-as-child.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-92106467521276947372022-04-13T12:42:00.005-04:002022-04-13T12:49:07.288-04:00Why Elder Eumenios Saridakis Pretended To Be Awkward Around Children<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdxVPst_gMV6Izf4Gz7AuIzaGNsSCA12XHCnU7dKpOBzHjdFoAU-qSkMC2gtPKcEjpLAXgbkx04QETN4J1riSd3K0QxggDQWHmtLyf1UxLmXP9D1PbVIZJBnZuMxf9OvrEtAe6l7S2z-peUaqQoVSWXS4SNB9Lh3GdzTlgGUXg-4OveKzQ4fP2ffJnA/s356/evmenios-saridakis_1-e1527018413483.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="176" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdxVPst_gMV6Izf4Gz7AuIzaGNsSCA12XHCnU7dKpOBzHjdFoAU-qSkMC2gtPKcEjpLAXgbkx04QETN4J1riSd3K0QxggDQWHmtLyf1UxLmXP9D1PbVIZJBnZuMxf9OvrEtAe6l7S2z-peUaqQoVSWXS4SNB9Lh3GdzTlgGUXg-4OveKzQ4fP2ffJnA/w198-h400/evmenios-saridakis_1-e1527018413483.webp" width="198" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> By Fr. Antonios Frangakis<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Father Eumenios many times when he was liturgizing, he drove out the children from the Sanctuary and in addition he seemed as if he did not want them to be near the Beautiful Gate. In fact, during a Divine Liturgy, he approached the mother of a child and asked her to take her child out of the church! She was surprised and after she indeed took her child out of the church, she asked him what scandalous thing he was doing, and he simply told her that he just saw Father Eumenios hovering above the ground and flames coming from him! The Holy Elder knew that only the pure children could "see" him with their pure spiritual eyes and could perceive the divine revelations and signs that happened when he was officiating. Being therefore afraid that the child would testify to others concerning what he saw and he be glorified by the people, he avoided the children and in a way pretended to be awkward.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2019/05/22/%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%B5%CF%85%CE%BC%CE%AD%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%82-%CF%83%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%AC%CE%BA%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BF-%CE%AC%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%82-%CF%86/">Source</a>: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-26261405088913930752022-01-31T15:24:00.002-05:002022-01-31T15:27:49.858-05:00Education, Freedom and Youth According to the Three Hierarchs<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgu84seF_WLU06o_flwTBdUPc9PG_P-rnh6NQmRXPdRe96jcZDJH8mRhtGMD0j6cddcO1grZgE2ZgoiPx37dZ88hktTgaUjZLjvTp2usQPzTartyB-ADcHUJDOlxxN5OryRSuWNs4fg2Xrv1BsC3sGKZM_o5Ch3auW5U1XtwOHhc5YT16NEAxOSfYCz-w=s770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="770" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgu84seF_WLU06o_flwTBdUPc9PG_P-rnh6NQmRXPdRe96jcZDJH8mRhtGMD0j6cddcO1grZgE2ZgoiPx37dZ88hktTgaUjZLjvTp2usQPzTartyB-ADcHUJDOlxxN5OryRSuWNs4fg2Xrv1BsC3sGKZM_o5Ch3auW5U1XtwOHhc5YT16NEAxOSfYCz-w=w400-h268" width="400"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> By Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople<br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">From the Great Fathers we are taught how demanding the work of education, both Classical and Christian, is for the teacher and the student. This is particularly relevant today, when pervasive pedagogical humanism regards educational intervention, guidance and discipline as the abolition of freedom and an obstacle to the happiness of children. The words self-realization, autonomy, self, individual rights, success, satisfaction of needs and the like dominate, while responsibility, offering, duty, the common good and solidarity are absent. <br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2022/01/education-freedom-and-youth-according.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-24398192613944994202022-01-14T05:10:00.003-05:002022-01-14T05:12:39.681-05:00Eight Year Old Myrto And Her Wise Teacher <div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJBbPhtP_bm92TaY8eTr1O4_92k-LM6lecLki2YdvPmCLzuNz9o2vjLG16KLxaoJ1464GT9ZkjXzHs2-Q0R0TM0KvF9bnA0DOac_nf9w-Qk1GnvH2CAfXQLDUVsRxXkrsA7FoNkSUJxsKcwTxGyZxWtHWPA34ime-fcBSDgGwYD8WbnI31xPqAM1AlJA=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="400" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJBbPhtP_bm92TaY8eTr1O4_92k-LM6lecLki2YdvPmCLzuNz9o2vjLG16KLxaoJ1464GT9ZkjXzHs2-Q0R0TM0KvF9bnA0DOac_nf9w-Qk1GnvH2CAfXQLDUVsRxXkrsA7FoNkSUJxsKcwTxGyZxWtHWPA34ime-fcBSDgGwYD8WbnI31xPqAM1AlJA=w400-h398" width="400"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I remember Myrto, a charming little girl. She developed acute leukemia. With unparalleled silence and patience she braved the most aggressive treatments given to her, with a sweet expression constantly lighting up her pale little face.<br><br>The more she patiently endured, the more her parents broke down, and together with their hopes they gradually lost the last traces of their faith. They were not particularly religious to begin with, but some small seed was in them.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2022/01/eight-year-old-myrto-and-her-wise.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-89615600388063413152021-11-18T11:18:00.004-05:002022-01-14T05:14:30.451-05:00The Young Child That Confessed His Faith In Christ<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiECyNwGVrebxKdrY2TiDgaF9zEKCN-xD2QIpgH6xYkBTFn2PGTvYnSHSXqH1mXfbPv_8Js7sH3BZ1HsVBEBKHXLRjgjpSgp55PPWmN4vBxBzA810lEkzqs-lx3uCzlgxmnk3LlANyu266F9XTTPM7K1ljg0rQF9opxybKFs7c9ygW_D5Jl4Z4JSbobFw=s600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiECyNwGVrebxKdrY2TiDgaF9zEKCN-xD2QIpgH6xYkBTFn2PGTvYnSHSXqH1mXfbPv_8Js7sH3BZ1HsVBEBKHXLRjgjpSgp55PPWmN4vBxBzA810lEkzqs-lx3uCzlgxmnk3LlANyu266F9XTTPM7K1ljg0rQF9opxybKFs7c9ygW_D5Jl4Z4JSbobFw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On November 18th the Orthodox Church commemorates a nameless young child, who some sources say was named Barulas.<br /><br />One day in Antioch in the early fourth century, at a time when the Christians were being persecuted by the pagans, Saint Romanos saw the pagan governor Asclypiades walking to the temple to offer a sacrifice, and he yelled: "The idols are not gods." For this he was beaten and arrested.<br /><br />When Saint Romanos stood before the governor, he explained to the governor that even children have the common sense to not worship idols. The governor then asked for a young child to be brought forward, and when asked, "In which God do you believe in?", he responded: "In the God of the Christians."<br /><br />For this confession of his faith in Christ, the child was beaten and beheaded. Saint Romanos was strangled in prison.<br /><br />Through their intercessions, have mercy on us and save us, O Lord.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-73482169291853780862021-11-10T10:17:00.001-05:002021-11-10T10:17:02.586-05:00Saint Nektarios as a Teacher of the Youth<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlv1SIawIJvebZ2WlftxxCza3yjxY4CaccpAmYqXrlXF6ioSf-0F9UdVUsrlWJnQ6KDf60efljV0iNMGGAbMzOPQE9cz-58VU8VnrShboVIxToLKqQcXhqutu9kYSk4VFXuyvgYV3Bf-Lb/s1600/nektarios_kathmertzoglou.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlv1SIawIJvebZ2WlftxxCza3yjxY4CaccpAmYqXrlXF6ioSf-0F9UdVUsrlWJnQ6KDf60efljV0iNMGGAbMzOPQE9cz-58VU8VnrShboVIxToLKqQcXhqutu9kYSk4VFXuyvgYV3Bf-Lb/s400/nektarios_kathmertzoglou.jpg"></a></div><br>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Saint
Nektarios, the Bishop of Pentapolis and Wonderworker, remains today a
far-shining lighthouse and illuminates us with his many virtues,
important writings and innumerable miracles.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Among
other things, however, he was an excellent Educator and Teacher of the
youth, whom he considered the golden hope of the Church and the Nation,
as the "foundation of tomorrow". He describes adolescence as important
and hurried. "Important indeed is the great mission for which it is
allotted, hurried in its short duration, during which it must accomplish
many and great things," as he notes in his discourse titled "On the
Call of Teenagers in Society" delivered to the High School students of
Lamia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>
</div></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2021/11/saint-nektarios-as-teacher-of-youth.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-68505563802884352752021-10-31T14:44:00.003-04:002021-10-31T14:47:37.830-04:00How a Horror Movie Inspired Me To Begin Studying the Bible<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRje9L_o3LPxQWWau6TO0tnhH2yw0WPf1r6LR1BgPKudNTCxpvWfN3X5C2pOeCbZVKpMftF1s0cRw8gipvkUXJgBffvq8cPanNhTVz7gI7l66B-NsHZTSPh6lvphNoPAmV_NG-nH6aRgp/s1600/The_seventh_sign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="256" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRje9L_o3LPxQWWau6TO0tnhH2yw0WPf1r6LR1BgPKudNTCxpvWfN3X5C2pOeCbZVKpMftF1s0cRw8gipvkUXJgBffvq8cPanNhTVz7gI7l66B-NsHZTSPh6lvphNoPAmV_NG-nH6aRgp/s400/The_seventh_sign.jpg" width="265"></a></div><br>
<div style="text-align: center;">By John Sanidopoulos</div><br>
<div style="text-align: justify;">It
was 1988. I was twelve years old. My aunt was babysitting my older two
sisters and I and she decided to take us to the movies. There were no
good PG rated movies my aunt wanted to see, but then she saw a movie
was starring Demi Moore that she did really want to see, however it was
rated R. My aunt asked me if I wanted to see it, but I was nervous to
see a rated R horror movie, as I was easily frightened by horror films
as a child, and this would also be the very first rated R movie I would
ever see in a theater. I gave in, half excited and half nervous. The
movie we were going to watch was called <i>The Seventh Seal</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2021/10/how-horror-movie-inspired-me-to-begin.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-28848610087859134262021-10-08T12:17:00.008-04:002021-10-08T12:22:14.843-04:00"Friends Are Very Influential on Children" (St. Paisios the Athonite)<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggQv9kumyAK7HOfHNlG50KnrqnyQcpUfqiV-ijZ1qzE3lCN7eWNqrwxgjg8IGLtAWNfilXMSds2L-XA6PEFx8UIypnykuTJzscl7oqSfWvJVsy6jho9yBdBCesTQz25fsR7EWTMzJuZjxx0A7EiOGUHzzxn81GcVEG_r-_wV46-vtAr6Vr3WTMyw-UmQ=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="640" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggQv9kumyAK7HOfHNlG50KnrqnyQcpUfqiV-ijZ1qzE3lCN7eWNqrwxgjg8IGLtAWNfilXMSds2L-XA6PEFx8UIypnykuTJzscl7oqSfWvJVsy6jho9yBdBCesTQz25fsR7EWTMzJuZjxx0A7EiOGUHzzxn81GcVEG_r-_wV46-vtAr6Vr3WTMyw-UmQ=w400-h288" width="400"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;">Saint Paisios the Athonite once said:</span><br><br>Friends are very influential on children. When I was young, I had love within my nature. I would go somewhere with the animals and I was looking to put one animal on top of the other, while at the same time I had my little brother on my shoulder. One day a brother of mine killed a bird and I got very upset and we got into a fight. I took the bird and buried it with tears.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2021/10/friends-are-very-influential-on.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-8020104277787497822021-09-30T13:53:00.004-04:002021-09-30T13:55:43.058-04:00"How Can I Become A Saint?": A True Story<div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvd35bwkonRV9y5cb2CNXXm3Y31vWHtTidmalfyNiAV7PWzcKfp8thrw5_juz_5ENIStqMk4l0ReYuRH4BqjPtKsM-rrPlS2FPr0rZk8r7yA4wQOmwoUHJ-hX8GCJ28OI5gJcKej5s-dJ/s1024/1024px-Virgil_Gheorghiu.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1024" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvd35bwkonRV9y5cb2CNXXm3Y31vWHtTidmalfyNiAV7PWzcKfp8thrw5_juz_5ENIStqMk4l0ReYuRH4BqjPtKsM-rrPlS2FPr0rZk8r7yA4wQOmwoUHJ-hX8GCJ28OI5gJcKej5s-dJ/w400-h361/1024px-Virgil_Gheorghiu.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fr. Constantine Virgil Gheorgiou<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Virgil Gheorghiu (1916-1992) was a well-known Romanian writer, who is best known for his 1949 novel, <i>The 25th Hour</i>.
Gheorghiu was ordained a priest of the Romanian Orthodox Church in
Paris on May 23, 1963. In 1966, Patriarch Justinian awarded him the
cross of the Romanian Patriarchate for his liturgical and literary
activities. <i>The 25th Hour</i> was made into a movie starring Anthony Quinn in 1967. In 1968 Fr. Virgil wrote <i>Why Was I Called Virgil?</i>, in which he tells us only the beginning of the story below. In 1986 he published his <i>Memoirs</i>, in which the whole story was written.<br><br><span></span></div></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2021/09/how-can-i-become-saint-true-story.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-54245205493577659112021-09-09T16:14:00.002-04:002021-09-09T17:12:00.276-04:00A Letter from the Archbishop of Cyprus to All the Youth and Students of Cyprus<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiCzc5UzP2iEC1HAJBHMNFuz-8n1O6ASAuVjS0yBuTHgp8986CDubsF978_xQPMNhyphenhyphenapERhnjzwuq0nALvBPFW4qLS2z6FlqruBfY3X5iELSUqMFZuXGDu1PhRnN6B4FwoUdwSxXHz91l/s900/kiprou_xristostomos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="900" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiCzc5UzP2iEC1HAJBHMNFuz-8n1O6ASAuVjS0yBuTHgp8986CDubsF978_xQPMNhyphenhyphenapERhnjzwuq0nALvBPFW4qLS2z6FlqruBfY3X5iELSUqMFZuXGDu1PhRnN6B4FwoUdwSxXHz91l/w400-h240/kiprou_xristostomos.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;">With an encyclical that will be read during the first days of classes in the schools of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus urges young people to take advantage of the opportunity given to them during their school years, in order to reap the greatest possible benefit from what will be taught, but also to complete themselves as personalities within the society, which will welcome them upon the completion of their studies. Though not everything here will apply to a general audience, it certainly forms a good foundation and model upon which pastoral advice for the youth at the beginning of the school year could be based on anywhere in these times.</span><br><br><span></span></div></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2021/09/a-letter-from-archbishop-of-cyprus-to.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-68471684425399292102021-08-09T09:13:00.004-04:002021-08-09T09:13:40.210-04:00How Saint Nikanor the Wonderworker Became the Protector and Guardian of the Children of Kastoria<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8568FMGPz22M2jiyy1mc8xPyCe9t2s-Rbi9SRoRmCIjRdOmVLMgB3JtZ71ZaWJBJHVdCQ7NBu5H9el_qzDqGKWBa5udCOYbS5cGcv0JDS34ltokiQwrI-YUD64O0ExKswbPwRL0Xr17aw/s400/9f3dcf4ce584f4d829ed142041e43d1b_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8568FMGPz22M2jiyy1mc8xPyCe9t2s-Rbi9SRoRmCIjRdOmVLMgB3JtZ71ZaWJBJHVdCQ7NBu5H9el_qzDqGKWBa5udCOYbS5cGcv0JDS34ltokiQwrI-YUD64O0ExKswbPwRL0Xr17aw/s16000/9f3dcf4ce584f4d829ed142041e43d1b_XL.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the year 1908, Kastoria suffered from a severe smallpox epidemic, resulting in the death of many young children.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At that time, a request was sent from the city to the Monastery of Zavorda, that the relics of Saint Nikanor (+ August 7, 1549) be sent to Kastoria. The fathers granted the request. They sent the relics accompanied by the brother of the Monastery, then the young Deacon Nikephoros (Papasideris), who came from Dispilio, and later became Metropolitan of Kastoria. As soon as the relics reached the city, the deadly epidemic immediately stopped and, in the expression of the then Kastorians, "the disease was cut with a knife". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since then, Saint Nikanor the Wonderworker is the protector and guardian of the children of Kastoria.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-32817275662172286232021-05-10T02:27:00.001-04:002021-05-10T02:27:26.440-04:00Youthful Judgmentalism and "Woke" Culture<div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizsARgQQyCVA5kJcAgqVRgLTnH1COTzWCR2JxurLaYnaNGNCKTu7qsmjl5XMHr7mO8nc3Dib0vaLKvkObDqqhWkZZqc02I9JN96ahCewo8ZuxnQzNqZmqBXW_p23-vYvO82qL4TqUn9P1/s1200/Christopher_Columbus_by_Giovanni_Cappelletti%252C_Fonderia_Artistica_Ferdinando_Marinelli%252C_1953%252C_bronze%252C_granite_-_Newport%252C_Rhode_Island_-_DSC04115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizsARgQQyCVA5kJcAgqVRgLTnH1COTzWCR2JxurLaYnaNGNCKTu7qsmjl5XMHr7mO8nc3Dib0vaLKvkObDqqhWkZZqc02I9JN96ahCewo8ZuxnQzNqZmqBXW_p23-vYvO82qL4TqUn9P1/w266-h400/Christopher_Columbus_by_Giovanni_Cappelletti%252C_Fonderia_Artistica_Ferdinando_Marinelli%252C_1953%252C_bronze%252C_granite_-_Newport%252C_Rhode_Island_-_DSC04115.jpg" width="266"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christopher Columbus statue in Newport, RI<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Extraordinary creatures you young people are, altogether. The
past you hate, the present you despise, and the future is a matter of
indifference. How do you suppose that can lead to any good end?” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"> ―
<span class="authorOrTitle">
Erich Maria Remarque,
</span>
<span id="quote_book_link_91203">
<i>Three Comrades </i>(1938)</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span id="quote_book_link_91203"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="quote_book_link_91203">Yesterday I decided to go for a drive and catch up on some podcasts I've fallen behind on. It was a fairly nice day so I ended up driving through Newport, Rhode Island. As I came I was stopped at a traffic light I noticed a statue of man immediately to my left that I had never noticed before. From the side he appeared as a man from the Renaissance period, holding a globe in his right hand and at the base of the statue I could make out the word "Pinta". Immediately I realized it was Christopher Columbus. And as soon as I realized it was Columbus, I wondered how this statue has managed to survive "cancel culture", so I looked it up online, and predictably I read how in 2020 the mayor proposed for it to be replaced by "another Italian", since it was put up by the Italian community in the 1950's.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="quote_book_link_91203"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="quote_book_link_91203"><span></span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2021/05/youthful-judgmentalism-and-woke-culture.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-26076868816384201472021-04-23T15:34:00.012-04:002021-04-23T15:44:45.035-04:00A Model Sermon for Children Attending a Presanctified Liturgy<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-VHifqeHursbh_c4M-tv6EUbOHksUjIrb9ztijt1_gYV_KxGxSVr0HcCn5BrbISnLMGIrBds21nE4q7kED2ePob1V3UMK2X9-NkXmno_iPpvMBSfUFW5i7VIwe8eppx6l2YgwBoahLlv/s512/proigiasmeni_leitourgia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="512" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-VHifqeHursbh_c4M-tv6EUbOHksUjIrb9ztijt1_gYV_KxGxSVr0HcCn5BrbISnLMGIrBds21nE4q7kED2ePob1V3UMK2X9-NkXmno_iPpvMBSfUFW5i7VIwe8eppx6l2YgwBoahLlv/w400-h265/proigiasmeni_leitourgia.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> By Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Mani<br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">First of all, I want to congratulate you for coming to church today and standing quietly, with reverence, here in the house of God.<br><br>I will tell you a few words about the Presanctified Divine Liturgy - this special Liturgy - which is performed only during this period of Great Lent.<br><br>The wise Fathers of the Church have instituted the Presanctified Divine Liturgy because at this time we cannot perform the normal, the glorious, the perfect, as we say, Divine Liturgy, and this is because this period is one of mourning, it is a period of fasting, of greater self-control and prayer, it is a period of greater spiritual struggles.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2020/03/a-homily-for-children-attending.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-863132813354708152021-04-16T15:23:00.001-04:002021-04-16T16:19:59.728-04:00The Response of Saint Amphilochios Makris to a Request for Spiritual Advice from a Sixteen Year Old Girl<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfr1OL9FBPeW2twkM3NJg_jsdZLw5gLq_eqIbGQRD2GWbfpFVyFj-TQKD6qb4Vv8LGyFGZ9wYLT0rqzJExj3hWXXKPywb5WbpPQvXpSCxE6Z-gk2IW5LDsc5RJUR6k4kKDa6K2TezGFm4o/s640/AmfiloxiosMakrhs2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="421" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfr1OL9FBPeW2twkM3NJg_jsdZLw5gLq_eqIbGQRD2GWbfpFVyFj-TQKD6qb4Vv8LGyFGZ9wYLT0rqzJExj3hWXXKPywb5WbpPQvXpSCxE6Z-gk2IW5LDsc5RJUR6k4kKDa6K2TezGFm4o/w263-h400/AmfiloxiosMakrhs2.png" width="263"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My child, the advice I give you will be a beacon throughout your life. These paternal words will guide you and bring you like a hurricane and auspicious wind near the eternal and happy port of your adoring love. Let your soul sail quietly on the calm waters so that it can reach its end. But to be able to reach this end of happiness, you need a lot of struggle and wrestling against the passions.<br> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is a struggle throughout this life of bitter exile, because in this life we are strangers and wandering sojourners, asking for refuge everywhere. We will find refuge and perfect rest only near our eternal homeland and there we will live in real security. There we will enjoy the unfading and all-white crown of our efforts.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2021/04/saint-amphilochios-makris-responds-to.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-1478343371898191502021-03-29T15:51:00.017-04:002021-03-29T16:02:56.587-04:00My Mother Forced Me to Go to Confession<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7Ro6V8KbyxCZF6pICI3qtG1qBEQ5ulhKBrOD79nm-v1oRutPhmk4RA1MF40Z9SCNI3OpjhyDWdUNRdtV1ZYjkTIpebjiwmizrkJMZoRS_SjEp3Tyd0OTkJkGUKV612vdwRgcGH9Fn5g1/s640/confession.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="469" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7Ro6V8KbyxCZF6pICI3qtG1qBEQ5ulhKBrOD79nm-v1oRutPhmk4RA1MF40Z9SCNI3OpjhyDWdUNRdtV1ZYjkTIpebjiwmizrkJMZoRS_SjEp3Tyd0OTkJkGUKV612vdwRgcGH9Fn5g1/w293-h400/confession.jpg" width="293"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The priest was waiting for the next person to confess. He saw a young boy, about fifteen, walking in hesitantly. He welcomed him and motioned for him to sit in the chair opposite him.<br><br>The Crucified One on the small table with the small oil lamp looked at them affectionately and protectively. The atmosphere smelled of incense from the vespers that had just preceded.<br><br>The young boy with his head down did not speak. The priest also waited, offering a short prayer, as he did for all the faithful who found the courage to come to the mystery of repentance.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2021/03/my-mother-forced-me-to-go-to-confession.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-14560821298796244852021-02-28T11:18:00.000-05:002021-02-28T11:18:45.412-05:00The Parable of the Prodigal Son: An Instructive Lesson for Youth (St. John Maximovitch)<div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iY7mox3cWhu-oelAz9DEirLip7ldvpItgqez24HouMifs4CauwjMhiTvl_6lA_MHyUGNyYfWEhdAOMkxR0QiVhs5izbt6JCtjCKjqkfgW1maabjjcymfEOZIjVs5gmA3b5czhGErJeQ/s1600/prodigal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iY7mox3cWhu-oelAz9DEirLip7ldvpItgqez24HouMifs4CauwjMhiTvl_6lA_MHyUGNyYfWEhdAOMkxR0QiVhs5izbt6JCtjCKjqkfgW1maabjjcymfEOZIjVs5gmA3b5czhGErJeQ/s400/prodigal.jpg" width="342"></a></div><br>
<div style="text-align: center;">By St. John Maximovitch</div><br>
<div style="text-align: justify;">"And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that fall to me'" (Luke 15:11-32).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a most instructive lesson for youth. We
see in the prodigal son the true character of flighty youth:
light-minded, thoughtless, thirsting for independence; in short,
everything that usually distinguishes the majority of youths.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The
younger son grew up in his parents’ house. On reaching adolescence, he
already began to imagine that life at home was too restrictive. It
seemed unpleasant to him to live under his father’s rule and his
mother’s watchful eye.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>
</div></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2021/02/the-parable-of-prodigal-son-instructive.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-43952784226474412352021-01-26T14:43:00.006-05:002021-01-26T15:20:51.560-05:00Orthodox Christian Youth and Suicide (St. Ephraim of Katounakia)<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHP7QA8g3uHJkpLZhwh1QQ2mPLi3nNu63bjbylHiTsUabFksPbjK7E_88mQ_O7h8-oeqoKL7c98sTc0l93TsOAdp4xCzHq53jx-g05u3HM27pyLqDoMWYRh6mOIUcZIcowQDlclhWUFj0/s645/efraim_katounakiotis_04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="645" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHP7QA8g3uHJkpLZhwh1QQ2mPLi3nNu63bjbylHiTsUabFksPbjK7E_88mQ_O7h8-oeqoKL7c98sTc0l93TsOAdp4xCzHq53jx-g05u3HM27pyLqDoMWYRh6mOIUcZIcowQDlclhWUFj0/w400-h266/efraim_katounakiotis_04.jpg" width="400"></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">By Professor George Kroustalakis<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br><b>Question:</b> Elder, I would like you to tell us a little bit about the suicide, which you mentioned earlier, of young people in particular, which is often seen nowadays. We see that some young people, when faced with certain difficulties in life, usually "failures", are led to despair and eventually, without even struggling, sometimes end their lives violently.<br><br><b>Answer:</b> These young people are distant from the Church. The Patriarch Abraham went a hundred years until Isaac was born. And Sarah was ninety. He never despaired! No.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2021/01/orthodox-christian-youth-and-suicide-st.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-25888369041001402912021-01-09T12:45:00.005-05:002021-01-09T13:18:39.318-05:00Short Film: "Strange Mystery" (2020)<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ47xMN-buV2J46barRxBvbVzGC7xkT59XzrRwSctAg9YAqmNjnSnOYIVM8z6rQ7l7D3LkANXrwnLALc8u-NfskoO_HXJwqIJ4OFQEfCDP59Ky7_Jraju4b120BWvbzRETTC3Lr-DgfKzO/s1200/thumbnail+%25285%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ47xMN-buV2J46barRxBvbVzGC7xkT59XzrRwSctAg9YAqmNjnSnOYIVM8z6rQ7l7D3LkANXrwnLALc8u-NfskoO_HXJwqIJ4OFQEfCDP59Ky7_Jraju4b120BWvbzRETTC3Lr-DgfKzO/w400-h225/thumbnail+%25285%2529.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;">To commemorate the 100th anniversary since the death of Saint Nektarios (1920-2020), a short film about the childhood years and struggles of Saint Nektarios was made by Alexandros Fotopoulos and Stelios Fetanis, titled "A Strange Mystery", which was shown virtually to all the Middle School and High School students of Crete on December 23, 2020, as a Christmas story. The film is in Greek, but should not be missed, so I have written out the story below presented in the film in order to understand what you are seeing as you watch it.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before he became known as Saint Nektarios, he was born and baptized with the name Anastasios Kephalas. He was one of the six children of Demmosthenis and Vasiliki, and was born on October 1st, 1846, in Eastern Selybria of Thrace. His parents were very poor but pious Christians who brought up their children according to the teachings of our Church. His grandmother also played a major role in inspiring him to live a life consistent with his Christian beliefs.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2021/01/short-film-strange-mystery-2020.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-51419494185136082322021-01-02T13:59:00.003-05:002021-01-02T14:22:17.342-05:00Interview With a Popular Orthodox Christian Metropolitan About the Challenges of his Childhood<div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-s-UNGEDaPwskkhv62qP-z16AbbUFZn1B2BnzVv2etXZhaONvDtMK7RYGSsUVb10FJ2_MFVTkF0Kug713B5ij3JYfnz_LlaZKQ2FXY8Tl63V28sZZskqJ0H1ZtBHO353M1sjtT4ESr9gW/s1060/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1060" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-s-UNGEDaPwskkhv62qP-z16AbbUFZn1B2BnzVv2etXZhaONvDtMK7RYGSsUVb10FJ2_MFVTkF0Kug713B5ij3JYfnz_LlaZKQ2FXY8Tl63V28sZZskqJ0H1ZtBHO353M1sjtT4ESr9gW/w400-h271/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400"></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Interview with Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol in Cyprus </b><br><br>By Elita Michailidou<br><br>On February 19, 2020<br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Interviewer:</b> Does Metropolitan Athanasios have a worldly name? Did he have a worldly name?<br><br><b>Metropolitan Athanasios:</b> Of course, I didn't fall from heaven!<br><br><b>I:</b> What is your name?<br><br><b>MA:</b> Andrew<br><br><b>I:</b> When were you born?<br><br><b>MA:</b> February 8, 1959<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2021/01/interview-with-popular-orthodox.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6391171607719012870.post-89549001691441783142020-12-02T17:01:00.003-05:002020-12-02T17:08:08.616-05:00Teaching Children Not To Be Egotistical (St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva)<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlnOgnEf8lowsSWI74W0CACSEIgkXLWE912stAJYol4dJSS2h5vqMF2K9Ghz7DDWyb0GJPIpxpbJtKlBCyBfJ0VSklOTJiEd5eHs1v4d9C6gu3ypr1K_x86ODN8v66-1679w8WVBfUfJC/s470/orthodoxiaonline-27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="470" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlnOgnEf8lowsSWI74W0CACSEIgkXLWE912stAJYol4dJSS2h5vqMF2K9Ghz7DDWyb0GJPIpxpbJtKlBCyBfJ0VSklOTJiEd5eHs1v4d9C6gu3ypr1K_x86ODN8v66-1679w8WVBfUfJC/w400-h225/orthodoxiaonline-27.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva<br></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The truth of Christ stresses that, if you praise a person, you make him
an egotist. The egotist is burdened, and is guided by the devil and the
evil spirit. Thus, growing up in the midst of egotism, the first act is
to deny God and to be an egotistical misfit in society.<br>
<br>
When, therefore, we praise the child we create this 'super-ego', we
choke them with egotism, and we cause a great evil. We make them more
susceptible to diabolical things.<br>
<br>
<span></span></div><a href="http://www.orthodoxyouthresources.com/2020/12/teaching-children-not-to-be-egotistical.html#more">Read the complete article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com