On the Upbringing of Children (Bishop Irenaius of Ekaterinburg & Sibirsk, 1901)

PUBLISHED BY ST. XENIA SKETE (WILDWOOD, CALIFORNIA) IN 1991.
AUDIO CD AVAILABLE FROM ST. PAISIUS MONASTERY (SAFFORD, ARIZONA).

Never in the history of mankind has there been such a plethora of advice available to parents on how to raise their children. There are books about how to maximize your child’s intelligence, talents, creativity; how to speed and enhance his learning; how to integrate and improve his motor skills, his self-esteem; how to get him to use both sides of his brain; and how to make sure he’s “well-adjusted”—in other words, how to produce a “super-baby.” But the shortest review of this material reveals that, from an Orthodox Read more…

Homeschooling Grows Up: HSLDA’s Synopsis of a Research Study on Adults Who Were Homeschooled

Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.
Home School Legal Defense Association

HSLDA'S SYNOPSIS OF A RESEARCH STUDY ON ADULTS WHO WERE HOMESCHOOLED, CONDUCTED BY DR. BRIAN D. RAY

Every parent who homeschools has been through the drill: “Oh, you homeschool. Aren’t you concerned about your child’s socialization?” Even TIME magazine picked up on the question: “Home schooling may turn out better students, but does it create better citizens?” (“Seceding from School,” TIME, August 2001)  Read more

An Introduction to the Charlotte Mason Approach to Education: 3-Part Video Presentation by Elizabeth Davis of Paidea Classics

Part 1: Charlotte Mason’s Thoughts on “Home Education” in Light of the Teachings of Our Holy Fathers and Mothers

Part 2: The Twenty Principles of Charlotte Mason in Light of the Teachings of Our Holy Fathers and Mothers

Part 3: Charlotte Mason: A Lifestyle of Learning Approach to a Classical Style of Education

THEME ANNOUNCED for the 2021-22 Saint Kosmas ART and PHOTOGRAPHY Contests

2021-22 Saint Kosmas Art & Photography Contest

THEME:
The Beauty of God’s Creation Represented in
THE FIRST FOUR DAYS OF CREATION
(Genesis 1:3 - 2:3)

TO PARTICIPATE in the ART CONTEST, visit:
2021-22 Saint Kosmas ART CONTEST

TO PARTICIPATE in the PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST, visit:
2021-22 Saint Kosmas PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

TO VIEW THE ARTWORK from the 2020-21 contest, visit:
2020-21 SK ART CONTEST FINALISTS

TO LEARN ABOUT OUR OTHER CONTESTS, visit:
saintkosmas.org/contests

(Genesis 1:3 - 2:3)

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

TOPICS ANNOUNCED for the 2021-22 Oratorical Festival and Essay Contest: Freedom, Beauty, Chastity, and Obedience

“Romanian Saints in Their Glory” © Copyright 2020 Roșca Lucian Andrei. All rights reserved. Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education Association, 2020-21 Saint Kosmas Photography Contest.

“Romanian Saints in Their Glory” © Copyright 2020 Roșca Lucian Andrei. All rights reserved. Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education Association, 2020-21 Saint Kosmas Photography Contest.

ESSAY TOPIC #1 (CHASTITY):

The ideal of chastity is deeply challenged in our culture today. Develop an essay that offers an apologetic to our culture as to why Americans should value chastity from an Orthodox perspective.

In your essay, work to develop depth and breadth, using concrete examples and drawing from the wisdom of the Church in developing your position.

ESSAY TOPIC #2 (OBEDIENCE):

St. Silouan the Athonite writes, "The spirit of obedience is necessary not only in monks but in everyone else, too. Even the Lord was obedient. The proud and those who are a law unto themselves prevent the indwelling of grace and therefore never know peace of soul; whereas the grace of the Holy Spirit enters with ease into the soul of the obedient, bringing joy and quiet."

Write an essay on what you think St. Silouan the Athonite means when he says these words in relation to our daily lives in families and living in the world as Orthodox Christians. In your essay, work to develop depth and breadth, using concrete examples and drawing from the wisdom of the Church in developing your position.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2021-22 SAINT KOSMAS ESSAY CONTEST

2022 Oratorical Festival
TOPICS

JUNIOR Division Oratorical Topic #1 (Freedom):

We live in a culture that tells us we are free to do whatever we want. How does such an understanding of freedom differ from an Orthodox Christian approach to freedom? As you develop your ideas, make sure to use Orthodox resources to support your argument. Good sources could include, but are not limited to, a story from the Desert Fathers, hymns sung in the Church, writings of contemporary saints and holy elders, and the Holy Scripture.

JUNIOR Division Oratorical Topic #2 (BEAUTY):

When envoys were sent by St. Vladimir to Constantinople to inquire into the Orthodox faith, they attended the Divine Liturgy at Agia Sophia and reported back, "We no longer knew whether we were in heaven or on earth." What does this story tell us about the importance of beauty in the Orthodox Church? How does such a view of beauty contrast with that of modern culture? As you explore the Orthodox understanding of beauty, make use of resources such as Holy Scripture, the Church Fathers, hymnography, and/or liturgical texts to strengthen your argument.

SENIOR DIVISION ORATORICAL TOPIC #1 (FREEDOM):

Throughout history, freedom has been understood in a number of different ways. Discuss how Orthodox approach the topic of freedom. Make sure to use Orthodox resources such as the Holy Scripture, the Church Fathers, and liturgical texts to support and develop your ideas. In addition, contrast the Orthodox approach with at least one other approach to freedom in the world today.

SENIOR DIVISION ORATORICAL TOPIC #2 (BEAUTY):

Fyodor Dostoyesvky famously said in The Idiot, "Beauty will save the world." What is an Orthodox approach to understanding beauty, and what role does beauty play in the spiritual life? Make sure to use Orthodox resources such as the Holy Scripture, the Church Fathers, hymnography, and liturgical services and texts to support and develop your ideas. In addition, contrast the Orthodox approach with at least one other approach to beauty in the world today.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2022 SAINT KOSMAS ORATORICAL FESTIVAL

Photography credit: “Romanian Saints in Their Glory” © Copyright 2020 Roșca Lucian Andrei. All rights reserved. Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education Association, 2020-21 Saint Kosmas Photography Contest. To learn more about the photo, visit the “Best of Show” winners from the 2020-21 Saint Kosmas Photography Contest.

NEW BOOK: Why Christian Educators Should Reject Progressive Education (by Mark Tarpley, Ph.D.)

Have you ever wondered why schools resemble factories and students are defined in terms of their future jobs? This guided exploration takes you back to the early 20th century in America in order to understand the philosophical and practical implications that guide education today. Be prepared, though. Progressive education’s influence runs deep, and the impact on families and children for over a century have been ruinous.

The Guided Explorations Series holds a two-fold purpose: (1) To support educators, both classroom teachers and homeschooling parents, in their understanding of the nature and purpose of education (2) To strengthen educators in their pedagogy, that is, in how they instruct in the classroom or in the home. The uniqueness of this series is that it brings both goals into one experience for the educator. As educators move through the guided exploration, they will be deepening their understanding of the nature and purpose of education, all the while, having modeled for them a healthy pedagogical approach. This embodiment of proper pedagogy is important for the development of educators. Too often, when “training” educators how to “teach,” we fail to model the very things we are asking of them in our “trainings.”

This particular guided exploration focuses on a critical evaluation of modern, progressive education and its implications in the formation of children by studying a speech given by Woodrow Wilson on January 9, 1909 to the New York City High School Teachers Association. At the time of the speech, Woodrow Wilson was President of Princeton University. He would subsequently be elected as the governor of New Jersey and then the President of the United States. This particular speech addresses the social crisis that Wilson believes America is facing and how education offers the solution to this crisis. In his evaluation, Wilson offers us a rich description of the current state of the culture and education and how America must reform education in order to meet the social challenges of his time and into the future.

Learn More about the Author: saintkosmas.org/about-mark-tarpley

“Technology and Orthodoxy” Panel— QUESTION #1: How can we help teens transition into owning their own internet devices in a way that is safe for them?

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Fr. Josiah Trenham, Dr. Mark Tarpley, and Presv. Ana Coman speak on a Q & A Panel Discussion on Technology & Orthodoxy…

QUESTION #1: How can we help teens transition into owning their own internet devices in a way that is safe for them?

saintkosmas.org/question-answer-on-technology-and-orthodoxy

SAGOM Launches New Website Offering FREE AUDIOBOOKS

Titles Offered as Free Audiobooks Include:

  • Counsels from the Holy Mountain (by Geronda Ephraim)

  • Elder Ephraim of Katounakia (by Hesychasterion of St. Ephraim)

  • Feasts of the Lord (by Metropolitan Hierotheos)

  • Life After Death (by Metropolitan Hierotheos)

  • Athonite Fathers and Athonite Matters (by St. Paisios the Athonite)

  • The Mind of the Church (by Metropolitan Hierotheos)

A link to the SAGOM Audiobooks page has been added to the Saint Kosmas RESOURCE page.

Direct Link to the SAGOM Audiobooks Page:
URL: stanthonysmonastery.org/pages/audiobooks

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Join CovenantEyes with KOSMAS Promo Code: Protect Your Family, Get 30 Days Free, and Support SKOE

Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education recommends CovenantEyes as a tool to help protect families from explicit content on the internet.

By using the PROMO CODE: "KOSMAS" when you sign on with CovenantEyes, you receive the first month free AND you help support the ministry of Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education.

parents-children-and-online-learning.png

COVENANT EYES INFORMATION PAGE on Saint Kosmas Website:
navigation: saintkosmas.org > Resources > Covenant Eyes
URL: saintkosmas.org/covenant-eyes

Direct Link to the CovenantEyes Family Protection Plan:
URL: learn.covenanteyes.com/families

“Orthodox Heritage” Archives: 12 Years of the Periodical Available as Printable PDFs on SK Resources Page

Printable PDFs of the last twelve years of the Orthodox Heritage periodical (2010 - 2021) have been added to the “Orthodox Heritage” Archives page.

The periodical's emphasis is on Orthodox education, spirituality, sacramental living, and Holy Tradition. Highly recommended!

“ORTHODOX HERITAGE” ARCHIVE PAGE on Saint Kosmas Website:
navigation: saintkosmas.org > Resources > Orthodox Heritage
URL: saintkosmas.org/orthodox-heritage

Saint Kosmas Blog Banner Features Artwork of Matthew Swehla, Winner of the 2020-21 Saint Kosmas Art Contest, High School Division

View the New Blog: saintkosmas.org/blog

"New Visitors to the Ancient Mountain" by Matthew Swehla. © Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Artwork submitted to the Saint Kosmas Art Contests may not be reproduced, posted, published, or archived in any media form or on any website or social media platform without the written permission of Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education Association. Permission is granted to share only by linking to this website.

"New Visitors to the Ancient Mountain" by Matthew Swehla. © Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Artwork submitted to the Saint Kosmas Art Contests may not be reproduced, posted, published, or archived in any media form or on any website or social media platform without the written permission of Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education Association. Permission is granted to share only by linking to this website.

“New Visitors to the Ancient Mountain”

by Matthew Swehla

“I drew this piece of art as a way to connect Mount Athos to the many visitors. I drew the two ferries in the background of my piece, the Agia Anna and the Little Agia Anna. When I was able to visit Mt. Athos myself, it was amazing to see all of the different people there—young and old, from different places around the world. It reminded me that Orthodoxy and its traditions are timeless and beautiful.” — Matthew Swehla

The theme of the 2020-21 Saint Kosmas Art Contest was: “Timeless Orthodoxy in the 21st Century.”

Artist Matthew Swehla and his family live in Modesto, California, where they attend St. James Antiochian Orthodox Church. Matthew is a homeschooler and his art teacher is Fr. Prodromos. The medium used for this piece is colored pencils.

TO VIEW THE ARTWORK from the 2020-21 contest, visit:
2020-21 SK ART CONTEST FINALISTS

TO PARTICIPATE this school year, visit:
2021-22 Saint Kosmas ART CONTEST

TO LEARN ABOUT OUR OTHER CONTESTS, visit:
saintkosmas.org/contests

A review of the Saint Kosmas Conferences written by the Swehla family in 2018:

“We have homeschooled for many years not knowing the amount of support there is within the Orthodox community for homeschooling. Having attended the Saint Kosmas Conference we are now rejuvenated and energized to not only teach our kids, but to continue with their spiritual, character, and theological formation. We enjoyed it so thoroughly and would highly encourage others to attend!” — Ryan & Kim Swehla

TO READ CONFERENCE REVIEWS from clergy, families, and educators, visit:
saintkosmas.org/conference-reviews

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CONFERENCES, visit:
saintkosmas.org/conferences