Inspired by the Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, the Orthodox Christian Network features Great Books, Music & Teaching Publications featured in the Orthodox Christian Resource Catalog.  The Catalog is a publication of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Department of Religious Education.   All items featured can be purchased by downloading the Orthodox Christian Resource Catalog or by using use the fillable order form.

Looking to foster the faith of your Middle School and Junior High School Students?

“The Department of Religious Education has embarked on a new line of resources for teaching junior high and high school students. Called “zines” (from magazine), each one explores one topic of the Orthodox Christian Faith in easy-to-read bites of information and accompanying images, with many interactive elements, such as questions for reflection or things to look up in the Bible”.

Notably, “they are carefully designed to be used as classroom texts. The Teacher Guide for each zine is a comprehensive classroom unit of 4–6 thematic lessons. Each lesson’s activities and discussions lead students to a deeper understanding and active application of the short texts in the zine. The lessons follow the five- step “shared Christian praxis” format, described in the introduction to each guide: focusing activity, name present praxis, reflect on present praxis, access the Christian story and vision, appropriate the story and vision, and decision for lived response.

A partial list and summary of these excellent publications includes:

1. Heaven on Earth – The Divine Liturgy by Tom Papagiannis and Aimee Ehrs
   • “We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth . . . We know only that God dwells there among men.” As St. Vladimir’s emissaries found, heaven and earth meet in the Church through the Divine Liturgy. ThThe zine begins with a brief history of worship in the Orthodox Church and then details each section of the service. Special features include a “visual dictionary” of liturgical items, a look at Church architecture, and an exploration of the Creed’s scriptural foundations.  Each lesson in the Teacher Guide helps students understand and engage with one aspect of the Divine Liturgy: worship, unity, prayer, Scripture, forgiveness, and the “liturgy  after the liturgy.”  (age 10+)
2. A Lamp to My Feet – Introduction to the Bible by Shannon Sakellariou and Aimee Ehrs
   • With this zine, students develop the attitudes and confidence needed to light their path with the lamp of Scripture. Students learn to 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?” ThThe zine explores goals of Bible study; study habits and methods; and Bible formats and translations. It introduces the Old and New Testaments, the kinds of books in them, and how the books came to be there. The Teacher Guide provides interactive lessons and practice tangling with difficult passages.  (Age 12+)
3. First Among Equals by Stephania Gianulis (Student Zine) and Mark C. Elliott and Aimee Ehrs (Teacher Guide)
   • While exploring the history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the current work of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, students will encounter many wider topics, in- cluding Church leadership, global Orthodoxy, Christian unity, religious freedom and caring for God’s creation.  (Age 13+)
4. Facing Up to Peer Pressure by Sophronia Tomaros
   • Peer pressure is a nagging challenge faced by our youth, but it also has a favorable side: positive peer pressure.

To learn more about these excellent publications and how to order, visit religioused.goarch.org; and view new releases and seasonal flyers, browse or download the Orthodox Christian Resource Catalog and fillable order forms.  To order, call (800) 566-1088, fax (617) 850-1489 or email religioused@goarch.org.

All items featured can be purchased by downloading the Orthodox Christian Resource Catalog or by using use the fillable order form.

Published on behalf of Dr. Anton C. Vrame, Phd, Director, Department of Religious Education.

Mission of the Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese

The mission of the Department of Religious Education is to serve the parishes and dioceses of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America by providing materials and services that will advance their programs of religious education.

The Department also serves individuals, organizations, military bases, ecumenical groups, and overseas parishes with catechetical resources that advance the spiritual admonition to:

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”

2 Peter 3:18

To learn more about the Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, click here.

About the Department of Religious Education Director – Dr. Anton C Vrame

Anton C. Vrame, Ph.D., is Director of the Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. He was appointed Director of the Department by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, effective January 1, 2007.  Dr. Vrame is Adjunct Associate Professor of Religious Education at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

He is the author of The Educating Icon: Teaching Wisdom and Holiness in the Orthodox Way (Holy Cross Orthodox Press). In this book, he proposes a theory or theology of education for the Orthodox Christian Church based on the art, theology, and life of the Byzantine icon. He is also the editor of three other books, and the author of journal articles and chapters in books on Orthodox Christian Religious Education, published both in English and Greek.

Posted by Nick Mavrick.  You can find Nick Mavrick on Google+