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.