New site

As of November 2018 

all new coloring pages and crafts will be at

https://sites.google.com/view/sparks-for-orthodox-kids/home

October 2018

Saint Innocent

St Innocent by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

October 6th

Saint Innocent was from Russia. He grew up north of Mongolia! He became bishop of all the tiny islands from Russia to Alaska and also Alaska. These Islands are called the Aleutian Islands. Saint Innocent traveled across the frigid wilderness to foster the Orthodox communities in these tiny villages. He worked relentlessly to educate his churches. He translated the Gospel into many of the native languages. 

Above you can see the Our Father in Iniktitut (from the website below).

http://www.krassotkin.ru/sites/prayer.su/other/all-languages.html

Protection of Theotokos

Protection of Theotokos by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

October 1st 

This is Mary, Mother of our Lord, standing on a

 cloud and holding her cloak out to protect all underneath.

September 2018

A special addition for the Baptism of my little girl!

Baptism by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Saint Kassiani or Kassia

Saint Kassiani by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

September 7th

Kassiani, as we hear so much, was a pretty girl from a wealthy family. She was even chosen for the "beauty pageant" of young girls for the Emperor to choose a wife from! He saw Kassiani was very pretty and wanted to see if she was smart so he said, "From woman sin came into the world." She replied, "and from woman came salvation" (How did Christ come into the world to save us?). She was clever! Well, he didn't like that so picked someone else to marry and she eventually became Abbess at a monastery!

While she lived in the monastery, she had lots of time to write poems and hymns to God! Every year before Pascha, we sing a hymn written by her on Holy Wednesday. She is the earliest known woman composer with hymns still used! 

August 2018

See August 2017 for- John the Baptist, Dormition of Theotokos, and Transfiguration

August 5th

St Nonna By Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Saint Nonna is best known as mother of Saint Gregory the Theologian. She was a Christian woman who married a pagan man. She prayed and worked hard to convince her husband to stop worshiping animals and follow the true God. She was rewarded with a faithful husband who eventually became bishop. She worked just as hard to raise her children in Christian virtues. Three of her children are recognized saints! When her children were adults and had moved away, Nonna got sick and refused to eat. She ate bread brought to her in a vision by her son Gregory. She believed the vision so strongly that he body got stronger.

July 2018

July 1st

Unmercenaries Cosmas & Damian by Sparks

These brothers from Rome both became doctors. They grew up as Christians and their parents taught them to live piously so they didn't take money for healing people. They are called unmercenaries because mercenaries take money for fighting so these brothers are the opposite, they healed for free. It is said that God granted them with the gift of healing many illnesses as well as leading many people to Christianity with their examples of a strong spiritual path. 

July 8th

Saint Morwenna of Morwenstow by Sparks

Morwenna was an Irish princess who became a monk but decided to live in Wales atop a cliff in Cornwall. She carried stones from the bottom of the cliff to the top to build a church for the nearby village. A spring under the cliff marks the place she quarried her stones!

July 8th

Our lady of Sitka by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

This is a special icon of the Theotokos at a church in Alaska! It is said that the gaze of the Holy Mother in this icon can heal. It is a Russian style icon by Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky in the Church of Archangel Michael. 

July 13

Archangel Gabriel by Sparks

Gabriel is one of God's special messengers. It was his job to talk to Mary about being Jesus' mother!

June 2018

All Saints (of America)- June 3rd

All Saints of America by Sparks for Orthodox kids

We just had Memorial Day to remember the soldiers who have defended our country. These saints brought Orthodoxy to our country. All saints of America intercede for us!

The universe offers You the God-bearing martyrs,

As the first fruits of creation, O Lord and Creator.

Through the Theotokos, and their prayers establish Your Church in peace!

Old Testament Prophets
 Elisha (June 14) and Amos (June 15) 

Prophets Elisha and Amos by Sparks for Orthodox kids

The prophet Elisha did many miracles using water. Water is very important in the desert- Why? Elisha also healed Lepers from their disease and brought a man back from death.


Amos was a shepherd in the land of Zebulon. God sent him to warn The People that God was unhappy with King Jeroboam's evil ways. He told the Israelites to repent and follow God's Laws.

Nativity of John the Baptist - June 24th

Nativity of John the Baptist by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Happy Birthday John the Baptist!

Today his mother Elizabeth gave birth to her only baby. John was so special because she didn't think she could have children. 

His father was Zachariah a priest. An Angel told him that God was going to give them a baby. Zachariah didn't believe it because they were old enough to be Grandparents! 

God kept His promise. Have you heard the story of when Mary, the Theotokos, visited Elizabeth while they were both pregnant?

May 2018

Athanasius the Great - May 2nd

Saint Athanasius the Great by Sparks for Orthodox kids

Color St Athanasius like a bishop. 

Leave his belt white, it represents holiness and Truth.

Have you ever pretended to Baptie someone or maybe a toy?

As a boy young Athanasius played "Baptism" at the river with some other boys. The Patriarch Alexander saw the kids doing such a good job that he called the boys and their parents to his house to explain that the baptism was done so well that he sealed the baptized boys with holy oil to complete the Baptism with a Chrismation. The Patriarch kept an eye on young Athanasius and ordained him into the clergy. Eventually Athanasius took over as Patriarch too.

Irene of Thessalonica - May 5th 

Greatmartyr Irene of Thessalonica by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Color her dress in purple and blue

Who else wears these colors?

Irene's father was a pagan and kept Irene inside so that she would not hear about Jesus. Her teacher was a Christian who taught her about God and Jesus. As a teenager she had a dream that her teacher explained. A dove landed on her, representing her education. It had an olive branch for God's grace, flowers showed her future success. Then came a raven and snake showing hard times in her future.

For the rest of her life she was bullied by many people. She refused to get married, instead she worked to teach people about the Good News of Jesus Christ. She taught thousands of people join our Church family.

Saint Brendan the Navigator - May 16th 

Saint Brendan the Navigator by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Color the monks in dark robes.

What color does Jesus wear?

Brendan lived in Ireland but sailed all over spreading the Word of God. He may have even sailed to America before Columbus. Old maps show an island called "St Brendan's" but we don't know what island that is. Brendan sailed by the Holy Spirit, they had no plan. They lived their life on the sea and shared the Word of God with people they met.

Ascension - 40 days after Pascha

Ascension by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Jesus wears white and yellow (yellow)

What color is the circle He sits in?

Ascend means raise up. This is the day we remember Christ going up to Heaven to live with God the Father.