2021-22 Saint Kosmas Essay Contest
TOPICS

ESSAY TOPIC #1 (FREEDOM):

(“Freedom” Topic for Junior and Elementary Divisions): We live in a culture that tells us we are free to do whatever we want. Develop an essay on how such an understanding of freedom differs 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.

(“Freedom” Topic for Senior Division): Throughout history, freedom has been understood in a number of different ways. Develop an essay on 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.

ESSAY TOPIC #2 (BEAUTY):

(“Beauty” Topic for Junior and Elementary Divisions): 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." Develop an essay on what this story tells us about the importance of beauty in the Orthodox Church and how such a view of beauty contrasts with that of the 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.

(“Beauty” Topic for Senior Division): Fyodor Dostoyesvky famously said in The Idiot, "Beauty will save the world." Develop an essay on what is an Orthodox approach to understanding beauty, and what role beauty plays 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.

ESSAY TOPIC #3 (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. Use concrete examples and draw from the wisdom of the Church in developing your position. Make sure to use Orthodox resources such as the Holy Scripture, the Church Fathers, and liturgical texts to support and develop your ideas.

ESSAY TOPIC #4 (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."

Develop 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. Use concrete examples and draw from the wisdom of the Church in developing your position. Make sure to use Orthodox resources such as the Holy Scripture, the Church Fathers, and liturgical texts to support and develop your ideas.

ESSAY TOPIC #5 (WISDOM):

As Christians, we are called to seek wisdom in our daily lives. In St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he writes,

For the word, that of the Cross, on the one hand, to those who are perishing is foolishness, but on the other hand, to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it hath been written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will set at nought the comprehension of the intelligent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Did not God make foolish the wisdom of this world? For since in the wisdom of God, the world knew not God through its wisdom, it pleased God through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. For indeed, Jews seek for a sign, and Greeks seek wisdom; but we proclaim Christ Who hath been crucified, to Jews, on the one hand, a stumbling block, and to Greeks, on the other hand, foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, God’s power and God’s wisdom. Because the foolish thing of God is wiser than man, and the weak thing of God is stronger than man. (I Corinthians 1: 18-25)

Further, at the feast of Pentecost, we chant, "Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast shown forth the fishermen as supremely wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit and through them didst draw the world into Thy net. O Befriender of Man, glory be to Thee!"

In light of this Biblical passage from the Apostle Paul and the hymn of Pentecost cited above, develop an essay articulating how the Orthodox Church understands wisdom and how such an understanding differs from the wisdom of this world. Further, make sure to include why this distinction is important in our daily lives. Make sure to use Orthodox resources such as the Holy Scripture, the Church Fathers, and liturgical texts to support and develop your ideas.

2021-22 Saint Kosmas Essay Contest
RULES OF PARTICIPATION

ELIGIBILITY:

• Participant must be an Orthodox Christian (baptized Orthodox or officially enrolled as a catechumen in the Orthodox Church) with a birth year of 2002-2013 (turning age 8-19 in the year 2021).

• There are no eligibility restrictions based on Orthodox jurisdiction, type of schooling, or country of residence.

• A parent of the participant is required to submit the “Family Registration Form” once per family per year for entries to be accepted into the contest. If the participant has a birth year of 2002-2004, the participant must also sign the “Family Registration Form.”

Submission Limit:

• There is a maximum of one essay per calendar month between October 1, 2021 and December 25, 2021. This means that for a child to qualify to have 3 essays submitted, the first essay must be submitted by October 31, the second by November 30, and the third by December 31. No essays will be accepted after December 31, 2021.

• There is also a maximum of one essay per topic per participant, therefore if a participant is to submit multiple essays, each essay must be on a different topic. There are five essay topics from which to choose.

AGE DIVISIONS / eSSAY lENGTH / pRIZES:

• SENIOR DIVISION:

  • Birth Years 2002-2006; (turning age 15-19 in 2021)*

  • Essay Length: Minimum: 500 words; Maximum: 1100 words

  • Prize: $100 Cash; $500 Conference Voucher

• JUNIOR DIVISION:

  • Birth Years 2007-2010; (turning age 11-14 in 2021)*

  • Essay Length: Minimum: 300 words; Maximum: 1100 words

  • Prize: $100 Cash; $300 Conference Voucher

• ELEMENTARY DIVISION:

  • Birth Years 2011-2013; (turning age 8-10 in 2021)

  • Essay Length: Minimum: 150 words; Maximum: 1100 words

  • Prize: $50 Cash; $300 Conference Voucher

*Please note that 9th graders will be split between Junior and Senior Divisions based upon birth year, and there is a different word count minimum for each age-division.

DATES TO SUBMIT ESSAYS ONLINE:

October 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021

ESSAY SUBMISSION PROCESS:

Announcement of Winners:

January 15, 2022

Distribution of Awards:

All students who place in this contest, and are present at the 2022 Saint Kosmas Conference, will be presented with their award at the event in Gold Canyon, Arizona, in March of 2022. For those winners NOT in attendance at the 2022 Saint Kosmas Conference, awards will be mailed out following the conference.

SENIOR DIVISION:

JUNIOR DIVISION:

ELEMENTARY DIVISION:

*Please note that 9th graders will be split between Junior and Senior Divisions based upon birth year, and there is a different word count minimum for each age-division.

2021-22 Saint Kosmas Essay Contest
Winners

Congratulations to Thea Frederick of Denton, Texas who is the all-round winner!
Scroll down to see top three winners in each age division.

All students who place in this contest,
and are present at the 2022 Saint Kosmas Conference or Oratorical Festival,
will be presented with their award at the event in Gold Canyon, Arizona.
For those winners NOT in attendance at the conference or oratorical festival,
awards will be mailed out following the conference.

We are waiting to publish winning essays until AFTER the 2022 Saint Kosmas Conference,
because the same topics are being used for the 2022 Oratorical Festival.

Senior Division:
Birth Years 2002-2006
(age 15-19 in 2021)

1st Place (Senior Division):
“Beauty will Save the World”
THEA FREDERICK
St. Maximus Orthodox Church
Denton, Texas

2nd Place (Senior Division):
“Where the Spirit of the Lord Is, There is Liberty”
LUCIAN ANDREI ROSCA
"The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and St Catherine" Church
Bârlad City, Vaslui County, ROMANIA

3rd Place (Senior Division):
“Beauty as Demonstrated Through the Church”
AVA ORTWEIN
St. John Orthodox Church
Memphis, Tennessee

Junior Division:
Birth Years 2007-2010
(age 11-14 in 2021)

1st Place (Junior Division):
“Made Out of Quotations”
ABIGAIL MORGAN
St. Jonah’s Orthodox Church
Spring, Texas

2nd Place (Junior Division):
“Chastity”
EVYENNIA RAUDENBUSH
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

3rd Place (Junior Division):
“Pathways of Obedience”
DANA CENUSA
St. Sophia Orthodox Church
Bayonne, New Jersey

Elementary Division:
Birth Years 2011-2013
(age 8-10 in 2021)

1st Place (Elementary Division):
“What is Beauty?”
JUDITH CRAFFEY
Holy Archangels Russian Orthodox Church
Phoenix, Arizona

2nd Place (Elementary Division):
“Obedience”
ESTELLE RAUDENBUSH
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

3rd Place (Elementary Division):
“Beauty of Saints”
VERA JACKSON
St. Andrew Orthodox Church
Riverside, California

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL — ART CONTEST — PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

CONFERENCES

2020-21 Saint Kosmas Essay Contest
Winners

Congratulations to Thea Frederick of Denton, Texas who is the all-round winner!
Posted below are the first place essays for each of the age divisions.

All students who place in this contest,
and are present at the 2021 Saint Kosmas Conference or Oratorical Festival,
will be presented with their award at the event in Gold Canyon, Arizona.
For those winners NOT in attendance at the conference or oratorical festival,
awards will be mailed out following the conference.

“High School & Young Adult” Division as defined by:
Birth Years 2001-2006
(age 15-20 in 2021)

1st Place:
The Timeless Importance of Motherhood
Thea Frederick (Texas)

2nd Place:
The Impact of a Saintly Mother
Morwenna Mitchell (Missouri)

3rd Place:
Training Children as Saints: The True Duty of Mothers
Anneke Van Denend (Washington)

“Middle School” Division as defined by:
Birth Years 2007-2009
(age 12-14 in 2021)

1st Place:
Technology: Servant or Master?
Seraphim Nelson (Louisiana)

2nd Place:
Holy Mothers: The Crucial Factor
Michael Larsen (Arizona)

3rd Place:
Blending Into Screens
Dana Cenusa (New Jersey)

“Elementary” Division as defined by:
Birth Years 2010-2012
(age 9-11 in 2021)

1st Place:
Saint Sophia, the Mother of Martyrs
Vera Jackson (California)

2nd Place:
St Paisios on Modern Conveniences
Calin Cenusa (New Jersey)

3rd Place:
The Role of Mothers
Dimitrios Larsen (Arizona)

High School Division — First Place Essay (2020-21)

The Timeless Importance of Motherhood

Thea Frederick

The natural family, as God created it, is very important to the proper development of children as God meant them to be. The father, mother, and siblings all play their own special role in the cultivation of a healthy child. In general, the daughters take after their mother and the sons after their father, but there are certainly things to be learnt the other way around, particularly the sons from their mother. There are many, many men whose lives testify to the incredible impact their mothers made in their journey to sainthood. 

The mother is, in a sense, the heart of the home. After Christ, she is the nurturer, healer, helper, lover, guide, and consolation of her family. While the son looks to the father as an example of protection, strength, and provision, he looks to the mother as an example of gentleness, love, and sacrifice. The woman is what he must protect, provide for, and be strong for. His father shows him how to be a man, his mother makes him want to be a man. She gives the child an image of something honorable and beautiful to love and protect. By reflecting goodness, truth, and beauty in her character, she gives him something to honor, and what’s more, and desire to honor. The qualities that a good mother inspires in her son are things such as gentleness, respect, sacrifice, and a desire to protect and defend that which is True, Good, and Beautiful. These qualities are what makes a man out of a boy. These show greatness and virtue in a man. But not greatness in the sense of social superiority like kings or rulers, but rather, the character that is devoid of meanness and littleness, those things which make a man cowardly, selfish, and childish. 

The mother is also the parent with the most guidance in the lives of her children. While the husband is out providing for his family, the mother is at home nurturing the children in their faith and duties. This gives the children much opportunity to watch and emulate the mother, which makes her impact so important to the future lives of her children. 

Saint Martha, the mother of Saint Symeon, was an ideal example of motherhood. Bereft of a father young, Saint Symeon was raised by his pious and devoted mother. She set an example for him through her dedicated prayer life, her deeds of goodness for the poor, her restraint from speaking any evil, and her godly wisdom. Of course, besides her we have many other examples of true motherhood in the Church, the greatest of which is the Mother of Christ, the Theotokos. The Theotokos is the epitome of womanhood as well as motherhood. Her example is what every Christian woman ought to strive for. A devout and God fearing woman, one who sacrificed much and sought the Lord’s will above all things, she was the strongest, gentlest, and best of women to have been able to bear in her womb and raise our Saviour, Christ himself. 

The needed role of the mother in the family has changed very little over the centuries, but the role of mothers as we see it today has changed drastically. While many modern day mothers now seek new uses for their time, other than raising their children, so that they can find what they consider to be “fulfillment” in their lives, children have not changed in their psychological, spiritual, and physical needs when it comes to interaction with their mothers. The mother’s role in the family is crucial to the proper development of her children, but many seek to avoid this truth as they would rather be out pursuing their dream career and leaving the care of their children in the hands of daycares, babysitters, or schools. Children’s needs for their mothers have not lessened over the years, if anything, they have increased. This can be noted in the negative behavior that constantly being away from their parents increases in children, specifically their mothers. 

It is beyond important for a mother to be there for her children and to seek to raise them in the faith while working her hardest to be the best example that she can be, because more than all the words a person can say, the example of a virtuous person speaks volumes, particularly for children. Saint Nectarios’ words "Who can deny that it is mothers who produce great and virtuous men?" are more important and true than many people today, especially mothers, realize. Women would do well to ponder his words and examine whether they themselves are exemplifying the virtues they wish to see in their children, and whether they are attributing to themselves the enormous impact they can have on the lives of their children.

Middle School Division — First Place Essay (2020-21)

Technology: Servant or Master?

Seraphim Nelson

"Because modern conveniences have exceeded all bounds, they have become inconveniences. Machines have multiplied and so have distractions; man has been turned into a machine. All kinds of machines and inventions now rule over man. This is why human hearts are turning into steel." —St. Paisios

Technology can be a very powerful yet dangerous tool. It has been said that technology is neither good nor bad but depends on how it is used. While this seems to be true most of the time, certain technologies, like the internet and social media, have become so powerful and so deeply entrenched in our lives so that they are no longer serving us, but we are serving them. The servant has become the master. The tool has become the idol. The problem isn't what's on the screen. The problem is that we have chosen the screen over real life.

Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. Modern man believes that technology will make work faster or easier. Technology seems to "shrink" the space and time that separate us from people and things. Cars, trains, and planes bring us places we could never go by foot. An answer to almost any question is just a Google search away. Microwave ovens pop out your chicken nuggets in less than a minute. You can see and hear a family member on the other side of the world with one smartphone call. Technology can be a very powerful tool in education, opening us up to a world of learning resources. Educational games make it fun to learn things. We can share work with other students and teachers around the world.

They say technology is supposed to 'free up' our time, but in reality it 'sucks up' our time by constantly giving us new things to do or to check. The endless scroll could distract us forever. The mental part is when you become so addicted to your phone and/or computer that you care more about your online life than your real life. Things that are good for your body like eating healthy, working out, and praying are at the bottom of a list that never gets done. Irritability, isolation, neglecting responsibilities, anger, procrastination, and not being able to go to bed without screens are all signs of dependence. We only like instant solutions to problems, and the internet makes us think we can have that. Real learning takes time, especially for young children. It is important for children to learn true friendship through real contact with other children before engaging in digital contact. Same thing with learning/education—if you let a computer do it for you from the beginning, you will never learn to do it yourself.

So, how do we keep our priorities straight? Be intentional about it. It is the heart that mediates between the head and the hands. Unplug the screens religiously. You can go on a digital detox retreat to give your brain some time to detox and relax. Minimize your online presence by carefully choosing with platform to be a part of. Intentionally unplug or turn off you computer a least one a day a week. Find something you like to do more then being on screens. Parents can set filter and help kids manage their online time. Parents and children can work together in making rules for screen time.

In a Greek myth about how humans learned to make fire, Prometheus steels fire from the gods and gives it to humanity because he felt sorry for humanity's weakness. However, Prometheus was eternally punished by Zeus for this because the fire actually ended up harming humans more than helping them. Having technology without wisdom is like kids playing with fire.

Elementary Division — First Place Essay (2020-21)

Saint Sophia, the Mother of Martyrs

Vera Jackson

St. Sophia was an example of a pure mother who led her children to be saints by teaching them about God and to love God. When the Emperor’s soldiers came to her house, instead of being scared, they stood up and prayed to God that they would have faith and went joyfully to the Emperor. The Emperor asked, “What are your daughter’s names and how old are they?” Respectfully, she answered, “This is Faith and she is twelve years old, this is Hope and she is ten years old, and this is Love and she is nine years old.” The Emperor was amazed by how she answered and said, “Your children will be tortured if you don’t renounce your God.” But St. Sophia was so strong in her faith that she gave up her children for Christ, and when her children saw this, they were strengthened to joyfully die for Christ and become saints.

Another example is how she raised them. St. Sophia raised them by reading the scriptures to them to learn about God, to pray to God, to love Him and others through almsgiving, and they did house chores, so they weren’t idle. They were taught to pray to God when they woke up when they went to bed and whenever they ate. Because they were taught like that, they were prepared to die gratefully, willingly, and patiently.

The last example is how she encouraged them. When Faith, Hope, and Love were going to get beheaded, and when the persecutor tortured them, instead of watching and just standing there, St. Sophia told each one of them, “Stay strong in Christ. It will make me very happy with joy. I love you very much. Stay strong in the faith. God is preparing a crown for you in heaven.” When each of them heard this, Faith, Hope, and Love died for Christ and became saints.

As St. Nectarios of Aegina writes, “Who can deny that it is mothers who produce great and virtuous men?” St. Sophia showed that that quote was true for her pure daughters. She had love for her children, strong faith in God, and hope that her children would not renounce God. Her godly wisdom raised three long-suffering martyrs.

Topics for 2020-21 Essay Contest:

2020-21 Essay Topic - Option #1

(St. Paisios Quote on Technology)

St. Paisios the Athonite writes,

"Because modern conveniences have exceeded all bounds, they have become inconveniences. Machines have multiplied and so have distractions; man has been turned into a machine. All kinds of machines and inventions now rule over man. This is why human hearts are turning into steel."

How do you see St. Paisios' words relating to education today? How should families and schools approach modern technology in relationship to education?

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

2020-21 Essay Topic - Option #2

(St. Nektarios Quote on Mothers)

St. Nectarios of Aegina writes,

"Who can deny that it is mothers who produce great and virtuous men?"

Write an essay on what you think St. Nectarios means when he says these words in relationship to the role and importance of mothers in the formation of saints. You may want to consider the Theotokos, St. Anna, and other mothers of saints in your response, including both how they were raised and how they parented their children. Further, you may also want to consider the role of mothers in the home within the life of the family today.

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

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL — ART CONTEST — PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

CONFERENCES

2019 Saint Kosmas Essay Contest

Topics:

“St. Kosmas Aitolos” & “The Krifo Scholio”

Winners:

1st Place Winner - English Language Category
Ava Ortwein (Memphis, Tennessee)

1st Place Winner - Greek Language Category
Athanasios Souldatos (Troy, Michigan)

1st Place Winner - Greek Language Category
Athanasios Souldatos (Troy, Michigan)

Topic 1: About The Life of St. Kosmas Aitolos
Essay Title: Ο Άγιος Κοσμάς ο Αιτωλός
Age: 9 years
Type or Name of School: Home-school
Location of Church Attendance: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Detroit, Michigan)
Prize: $100 cash + $500 credit to attend the Saint Kosmas Conference

Interview with the Winner, Athanasios Souldatos, age 9:

SKOE: How many years have you been homeschooling?

Athanasios: This is my third year homeschooling.  I also attended a public school in Thessoloniki, Greece for one year, and I went to a Montessori kindergarten.  

SKOE: What do you enjoy most about homeschooling? 

Athanasios: What I enjoy most about homeschooling is that I get lots of breaks.  

SKOE: What do you think is the greatest benefit of homeschooling?

Athanasios: I think the greatest benefit of homeschooling is that I get to learn at my own pace, and that I get to be taught about the Orthodox Faith.  I also enjoy having more time with my family.  

SKOE: Who taught you the Greek language?  

Athanasios: I often hear my dad speaking in Greek and that is how I am continually learning to speak Greek. I also attended Greek School at a local Orthodox Church for a few years.  Last year, our family lived in Thessoloniki, Greece for a year, and I was able to attend 3rd grade there.  This year I am doing on-line tutoring with a teacher from Athens.

SKOE: What do you think is the greatest benefit of knowing the Greek language?

Athanasios: I think that the greatest benefit of knowing the Greek language is that when I meet with one of my friends or relatives in Greece I can easily communicate with them.  I think it also helps me understand more of the Scripture Readings and Liturgy at church.

Ο ΑΓΙΟΣ ΚΟΣΜΑΣ Ο ΑΙΤΩΛΟΣ

An essay written for the 2019 St. Kosmas Annual Essay Contest for Orthodox Children

Αθανάσιος Σουλδάτος

Troy, Michigan

28 Μαρτίου 2019

Ο ΑΓΙΟΣ ΚΟΣΜΑΣ Ο ΑΙΤΩΛΟΣ

Ο Άγιος Κοσμάς ο Αιτωλός γεννήθηκε το 1714 στο Μέγα Δέντρο, ένα χωριό της Αιτωλίας (Επισκόπου Καντιώτου Αυγουστίνου, 2005) και ονομάστηκε Κώνστας. Μόλις έγινε οχτώ χρονών, μαθήτευσε αρχικά στηv Παρνασσίδα. Στην ηλικία των είκοσι, ενώ ήταν υποδιδάσκαλος, διδάχτηκε από τον ιεροδιάκονο Ανανία. Το 1749 εισήλθε στην Αθωνιάδα Σχολή του Αγίου Όρους όπου σπούδασε Λογική, Θεολογία και Φιλοσοφία. Έκλεισε όμως η σχολή και πήγε στο μοναστήρι του Φιλοθέου στο Άγιον Όρος, όπου έγινε μοναχός και ονομάστηκε Κοσμάς. Το 1759 ο Πατριάρχης Σεραφείμ του έδωσε άδεια, για να μπορεί να διδάσκει το Ευαγγέλιο στους ανθρώπους.

Στα σχολεία που σπούδασε απέκτησε χρήσιμες γνώσεις, με τις οποίες στη συνέχεια θα βοηθούσε τους ανθρώπους. Αν δεν είχε μαθητεύσει στην Παρνασσίδα, δε θα είχε μάθει τα γράμματα που θα χρειαζόταν να ξέρει αργότερα στη ζωή του. Όταν ήταν υποδιδάσκαλος, εξασκήθηκε, ώστε να διδάσκει τους ανθρώπους με ωραίο τρόπο. Η επιστήμη της Λογικής τον βοήθησε να γίνει καλός ρήτορας. Επίσης, η Θεολογία και η Φιλοσοφία τού χρησίμευσαν, ώστε να μπορεί να μεταδώσει στους απλούς και αγράμματους ανθρώπους βαθιά νοήματα για τον Θεό και τη ζωή. Τέλος, στα χρόνια που έμεινε στο Άγιον Όρος, έμαθε το σημαντικότερο, να κάνει υπακοή στο Θείο θέλημα, ακόμα και αν χρειαστεί να μαρτυρήσει.

Επιθυμούσε βαθιά να ωφελήσει τους αδερφούς του τους Χριστιανούς με αυτά που έμαθε. Μία μέρα, θέλοντας να καταλάβει αν είναι Θείο θέλημα να αφήσει το Άγιον Όρος και να αρχίσει περιοδείες στα χωριά της Ελλάδας, άνοιξε την Αγία Γραφή. Διάβασε τον λόγο του αποστόλου Παύλου, «Nα μη ζητάει κανένας μόνο το συμφέρον το δικό του αλλά και το συμφέρον του άλλου.» (Α. Κορ. 10, 24). Έτσι, λοιπόν, ξεκίνησε το μεγάλο του έργο. Στα χρόνια που ζούσε, «Ήταν σβησμένες όλες οι φωτιές οι πλάστρες μες στη χώρα» (Κωστής Παλαμάς, 1902). Περπάτησε σχεδόν όλη την Ελλάδα και ίδρυσε πολλά σχολεία. Όπου πήγαινε, έστηνε έναν μεγάλο σταυρό, για να θυμούνται οι άνθρωποι τον Σταυρό του Χριστού και ανέβαινε σε ένα μικρό σκαμνί, το οποίο έπαιρνε όπου πήγαινε (Πηνελόπη Μωραΐτου, 2010). Σε 16 χρόνια ίδρυσε σχεδόν 200 σχολεία, για να πηγαίνουν δωρεάν τα παιδιά. Προσπαθούσε να εμπνεύσει όχι μόνο τους πλουσίους να πάνε στο σχολείο αλλά και τους φτωχούς. Στα σχολεία που ίδρυσε διδάσκονταν η ελληνική γλώσσα και η Ορθόδοξη πίστη. Ο Άγιος Κοσμάς έκανε πολλούς να πιστέψουν στον Χριστό με τα θαύματά του. Μετά τον θάνατό του, στις 24 Αυγούστου 1779 πίστεψαν ακόμα περισσότεροι. Δίδαξε το Ευαγγέλιο δίνοντας στους ανθρώπους την ελπίδα να μπουν στον Παράδεισο. Έλεγε ότι την Κυριακή οι άνθρωποι δεν πρέπει να δουλεύουν, αλλά να αφιερώνουν την ημέρα αυτή στον Θεό. Επίσης, παρότρυνε τις γυναίκες να μη φοράνε στολίδια και πολλές φορές τα έδιναν στον Άγιο για το φιλανθρωπικό του έργο. Ακόμα, έπεισε τους πλουσίους να αγοράσουν 4.000 κολυμβήθρες για τις εκκλησίες.

Ο Άγιος Κοσμάς είναι ένα πολύ καλό παράδειγμα για εμάς, επειδή είχε πολλή αγάπη και μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον για τη μόρφωση των σκλαβωμένων Ελλήνων. Έλεγε ότι πρέπει να μετανοούμε. Έδωσε τη ζωή του για τον Χριστό και εμάς. Επίσης, προετοίμασε τους Έλληνες πνευματικά για τον ξεσηκωμό του 1821 και την λευτεριά της Ελλάδας. Προφήτευσε για το μέλλον της Ελλάδας και την απελευθέρωσή της. Σχεδόν 250 χρόνια μετά τον θάνατό του οι σύγχρονοι Έλληνες περιμένουμε την εκπλήρωση μερικών προφητειών του.

Βιβλιογραφία

1. Επισκόπου Καντιώτου Αυγουστίνου, 2005, Κοσμάς ο Αιτωλός, Εκδόσεις «Ο Σταυρός»

2. Πηνελόπη Μωραΐτου, 2010, Άγιος Κοσμάς ο Αιτωλός, Συναξάρια για Παιδιά, Εκδόσεις Ακρίτα

3. Κωστής Παλαμάς, 1902, Ο Πρόλογος, Ποίημα

Πηγές από το Internet

4. https://saintkosmashomeschoolassociation.com/great-synaxaristes-saint-kosmas-aitolos-part-1-his-life (accessed 2019-03-28)

5. https://oparadeisos.wordpress.com/category/9-αγιοσ-κοσμασ-αιτωλοσ-βιοσπροφητειε/αγιος-κοσμάς-ο-αιτωλός-αφιέρωμα/ (accessed 2019-03-28)

6. https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/Κοσμάς_ο_Αιτωλός (accessed 2019-03-28)

7. http://www.saint.gr/835/saint.aspx (accessed 2019-03-28)

8. https://www.sansimera.gr/biographies/941 (accessed 2019-03-28)

1st Place Winner - English Language Category
Ava Ortwein (Memphis, Tennessee)

Topic 2: About the Krifo Scholio
Essay Title: Krifo Scholio: The Secret Schools
Age: 14 years
Type or Name of School: Home-school
Location of Church Attendance: St. John Antiochian Orthodox Church (Memphis, Tennessee)
Prize: $100 cash + $500 credit to attend the Saint Kosmas Conference

Krifo Scholio: The Secret Schools

Ava Ortwein

The Krifo Scholio was a series of small secret schools that were run by the Greek Orthodox church. They were held at night usually at an Orthodox monastery or church, although it eventually became so dangerous they had to operate in basements and caves. They functioned during during the Ottoman rule, between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. The Krifo Scholio played a large role in the history of Greece by keeping the culture and Christian heritage of the people.

They helped children by giving them a religious education and a knowledge of their country. The only children who were allowed to go to school were the ones enlisted by the Turks in the Paidomazoma. The Krifo Scholio gave strength to the adults by giving them a knowledge of their country, and eventually dispelling the turks in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829). The Krifo Scholio helped especially to preserve Greek Orthodox culture because the teachers of the Krifo Scholio were monks, priests, and monastics.

The Krifo Scholio helped children by giving them an education they would not have received otherwise. They learned things that the Turks would not let them legally learn, such as the Christian faith, reading, writing, and their Greek heritage.

My little bright moon
Shine on my footsteps
So that I can go to school
To learn to read and write
To learn God's teachings (Angelos 167).

This is an example of a poem made during the Ottoman oppression in Greece, from the perspective of a child. In the poem, the child is walking, perhaps through a forest at night, with only the moon as a light. It took great courage for the child and the parents to take part in an act of rebellion against such a mighty foe.

They were taught by Orthodox christian Abbots, monks ascetics, and priests, so the Greek orthodox faith stayed strong. In the following poem by Ioannis Polemis, he shows how the people thought of the Church as a Sanctuary from fear and everyday oppression.

On the outside, black desperation,
Tangible shadow of bitter slavery,
But inside in the vaulted church,
The church which assumes every night
The shape of a school,
There is the shivering light of the candle
Lighting up the dreams
And collecting the children of the slaves all around (para. 1).

There are many songs and stories about the Krifo Scholio, and these are some of the most descriptive. The schools were so well hidden and secretive though, that many modern historians doubt the existence of them. These poems and songs are thought of by many of them as folktales and myths.

The Krifo Scholio helped adults by giving them strength to eventually overcome the Turks in the greek war of independence. In the book, The Greek War of Independence, by Peter H. Paroulakis, he states that “The Greeks were a fiercely independent people. They were not prepared to accept the loss of their identity or culture because of economic or political adversary” (para. 6). If the Krifo scholio had not been created by the people, especially the clergy, the Greeks would have lost most of their identity and Orthodox heritage. Athanasios Rakovalis states that Hellenic clergymen made the secret school to preserve their language, culture, and national conscience. They did this to keep the Hellenic nation from sinking into illiteracy, which the conquerors desired (para. 1).

The Krifo scholio is not widely recognized by historians because they, the schools, only existed, gave hope, educated and sustained the people in times of desperate need. There are many accounts of the secret schools, though, such as diaries, articles, paintings and poems. The Krifo scholio was a school run by monastics; they taught reading, writing, and the Christian faith. Children were helped by being given an education of God and their country, along with reading and writing. The children, when they grew into adults, were eventually able to defeat the Turks because they were literate and were given strength through a knowledge of their country and Orthodox identity. The krifo scholio helped them to gain confidence and a desire to fight for their country’s freedom.

Works Cited

Angelos, James. The Full Catastrophe: Travels Among the New Greek Ruins. New York, Broadway Books, 2016.

Polemis, Ioannis. “The Secret School.” St. Kosmas AItolos Homeschool Association. 2018. https://saintkosmashomeschoolassociation.com/krifo-scholio-ioannis-polemis. November 2018.

Paroulakis, Peter. The Greek War of Independence. Hellenic International Press, 2000. https://saintkosmashomeschoolassociation.com/krifo-scholio-the-greek-war-of-independence-chapter-2

Rakovalis, Athanisios. Talks with Father Paisios. Edited by Demetrios Carellos, Translated by Nicholas Palis, Orthodox Kypseli Publications, 2000. https://saintkosmashomeschoolassociation.com/krifo-scholio-athanasios-rakovalis. December 2018.

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