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Spiritual Resources for the Twelve Days of Christmas and the New Calendar Year

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Saint Sophia Cathedral
Online Resources for our Religious Edification

TOPIC OF THE WEEK – Spiritual Resources for the Twelve Days of Christmas and the New Calendar Year

Christ is born! Glorify Him! Wishing you God’s abundant blessings for the new year.

Adult/Family:

Read the article A Time of Beginnings: 3 Resolutions for the New Year

“…If we do not begin now to nurture our souls with God’s grace, when will we? If we do not resolve now to make this beginning, when will we? Faith in Jesus Christ, our identity as Christians, is not something that fits conveniently into a life which is otherwise defined by other pursuits – praying or going to church or reading spiritual things when I don’t have something else going on. No. True Christianity means living in this way, that the life in Christ is who we are. Everything else happens in between that and in service to that….”

Striving Toward God – Spiritual Advice for Daily Living

“Only when our life is wholly directed toward God do we become capable of seeing God in all and begin to do so by faith-not only all the significant happenings of life but even in the insignificant ones-and to submit entirely to His holy will.”

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Preschool/Elementary:

Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas: A Family Devotional in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition

With hymns, stories, meditations, and activities for each day as well as suggestions for the whole season, Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas provides an invaluable resource for families looking to restore the season of Christmas to its rightful place in their lives.

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Middle School:

Daily Readings from the Writings of St. John Chrysostom

Spiritual gems from the “golden-mouth.”

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“Without daily communication with our Heavenly Father,
it is practically impossible to face each day with inner peace, strength and loving spirit
that comes from God.”

 

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High School:

Thoughts for Each Day of the Year (by St Theophan)

“…His aim is always to provide nourishing food for the soul.

Contemplating his words on a daily basis, the reader is given continuous encouragement to strive more diligently in cutting off unbelief and sin,

growing in faith and virtue, and drawing close to our Lord and Savior.

An Orthodox Christian cannot read this book without feeling convicted in his conscience by the holy recluse’s powerful exhortations.

If one takes up the challenge raised by the Saint, one can find true and lasting benefit for one’s soul….”

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A Message from Maria Spanos

I am passionate about our Orthodox Christian faith and seek to help others learn as much as they can about it. My purpose here is to share online resources that help strengthen our relationship with Christ and bind us closer to His Church. I believe they are invaluable in learning about our precious Orthodox Tradition, and are a great aid for teaching family members, friends and others about Orthodoxy. ~Maria

Two of my favorite quotes:

“A true Christian behaves in this life so that it may be a preparation for the future one and not only a life here below. In his actions, he does not think what will be said of him here but of what will be said there in heaven; he represents to himself that he is always in the presence of God, of the angels and all the saints, and remembers that someday they will bear witness of his thoughts, words, and deeds.”  — Saint John of Kronstadt

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Of all the holy works, the education of children is the most holy.”
— St. Theophan the Recluse