children Archives - Saint Sophia

Boundaries and Vision

02/19/2026

Protopresbyter Themistoklis Mourtzanos ‘It’s important that we set boundaries, but they should be accompanied by a vision’ (Professor Vasilis Karapostolis). We live in a time where everything’s allowed. Parents readily excuse their children for their missteps by saying ‘They’re children, what can you do?’. Love makes our heart tolerant, sometimes excessively so. Tolerance has nothing to do with the feeling that what other people do doesn’t matter because we’ll be patient anyway. In this way,

The Twelfth Day of Christmas Advent. Venerable Stylianos of Paphlagonia

11/26/2025

St. Stylianos was from Paphlagonia living in the latter 6th century and early 7th century. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ with his whole heart and lived in strict asceticism. When he fell asleep in the Lord, his face shone like the sun and an angel appeared to take his soul to Glory. His prayers have worked many miracles, both during his earthly life and since. He is of special help to children who are

The Friday of the Fourth Week of Pascha. What Happens When We Play (Pray)

05/16/2025

ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! CHRIST IS RISEN! ~By Fr. Stephen Freeman, November 13, 2014 In my previous article I compared children’s use of play to the place of ritual words and actions in the life of the Church. I absolutely did not mean to imply that one thing is like the other. I mean to say clearly that they are very much the same thing. And I say this both to change how we understand play as

Monday of the Fourth Week of Pascha. God Likes to Play

05/12/2025

ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! CHRIST IS RISEN! ~By Fr. Stephen Freeman, November 12, 2014 There are things that children understand instinctively. And the things that children know and understand are worth consideration. They have much to teach us. Among the most natural things children do is play. Depending on how you define play, it is among the first activities in which we engage. It comes to dominate the lives of children and is the hallmark of their existence. Play

The Twelfth Day of Christmas Advent. Saint Stylianos, The Protector of Children

11/26/2024

Saint Stylianos was born in Paphlagonia, Asia Minor, between 400 and 500. He was blessed even from his mother’s womb. As he grew up, by the grace of God he increasingly became a dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit. From childhood he displayed the rare qualities of his blessed life. When he was young and still an adolescent, although, of course, he was of the flesh, he never allowed desires to pollute his spirit and soul.

Greatmartyr Eustáthios Placidas, with his Wife and Children, of Rome

09/20/2024

Before his Baptism, the Holy Great Martyr Eustáthios was named Plakidas (Πλακίδας). He was a Roman General in the reigns of Emperors Titus (79-81) and Trajan (98-117). Even before he came to know Christ, Plakidas devoted himself to charitable endeavors, helping the poor and destitute. Therefore, the Lord did not allow this virtuous pagan to continue in the darkness of idolatry. One day, while hunting in a forest, he saw a remarkable stag which stopped

Saint Stylianos, The Protector of Children

11/26/2023

Published by Pemptousia Partnership on November 26, 2017 Archimandrite Charalambos Vassilopoulos (†) Saint Stylianos was born in Paphlagonia, Asia Minor, between 400 and 500. He was blessed even from his mother’s womb. As he grew up, by the grace of God he increasingly became a dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit. From childhood he displayed the rare qualities of his blessed life. When he was young and still an adolescent, although, of course, he was of the flesh, he

Does God Punish?

06/28/2023

Published by Pemptousia Partnership on January 13, 2022 Fr. Andreas Agathokleous The notion that God punishes those who sin, recalling a strict father who punishes his naughty children seems to be one which is difficult to banish from people’s hearts. Besides, the Church does, indeed, speak of punishment, ‘the outer fire’ and a number of Fathers urge us keep hell in mind, so that we’ll be less susceptible to evil. Though this is true, it’s not the whole

The Twenty-Second Day of Christmas Advent: The Real Santa Claus – Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra

12/06/2022

By Fr. Luke A. Veronis, December 19, 2021 Sinter Klaas, the Dutch name that we Americans transliterated into Santa Claus, obviously refers to Saint Nicholas, one of the most beloved of all saints throughout the world, and whose memory is actually celebrated today on December 6th/19th. Travel across Europe and you can literally find thousands of churches named in honor of St. Nicholas. Greece and Russia look upon St. Nicholas as the patron of their

Elder Paisios: The Children, Their Joys and Their Difficulties

02/23/2022

Published by Pemptousia Partnership, September 24, 2014 Q.: I’ve noticed, Elder, that sometimes babies smile at the time of Divine Liturgy. A.: They don’t do that only at the Divine Liturgy. Babies are in constant contact with God, because they’ve got nothing to worry about. What did Christ say about little children? ‘Their angels in heaven continually gaze upon the face of my Father who is in heaven’. They’re in touch with God and with

Archive

Boundaries and Vision

The Twelfth Day of Christmas Advent. Venerable Stylianos of Paphlagonia

The Friday of the Fourth Week of Pascha. What Happens When We Play (Pray)

Monday of the Fourth Week of Pascha. God Likes to Play

The Twelfth Day of Christmas Advent. Saint Stylianos, The Protector of Children

Greatmartyr Eustáthios Placidas, with his Wife and Children, of Rome

Saint Stylianos, The Protector of Children

Does God Punish?

The Twenty-Second Day of Christmas Advent: The Real Santa Claus – Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra

Elder Paisios: The Children, Their Joys and Their Difficulties

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