Monday, April 30, 2018

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.





Constantine the Great - May 21

Saint Constantine the Great by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Color St Constantine purple to show he was emperor

Do you know what famous church he had built?



As emperor he had the power to make Christianity legal. He lived in Constantinople (Constantine's City) and rebuilt the Byzantine Empire. He had a church built in his city. It was eventually destroyed and Hagia Sophia was built on its spot.



Saint John the Russian - May 27th

Saint John "the Russian" by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Color John red to show his victory over death in Christ!

What color does your priest wear?


John grew up a Christian. He defended his country against the Turks, during the Russo-Turkish War, but he was captured. He and the other soldiers were beaten and told to deny Jesus Christ. Saint John refused to convert to Islam so he was sold into slavery. John's master saw his bravery and obedience to Christ was so strong that he stopped beating him and let him be a Christian as long as he did his work. After years, John's master trusted him to go to Church on feast days.
His life was hard. 
John got sick and wanted communion. The priest was so afraid of the Turks hatred of Christ that he brought John Holy Communion hidden inside an apple.
After John died his priest had a dream. The priest brought John's body to the church, where it continues to work hard for God.



Pentecost - 50 days after Pascha

Pentecost by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Color the tongues of fire to show the Holy Spirit

Jesus' disciples wear different colors. Do you know what color the half circle at the top is?

Before the first Pascha, Pentecost was a celebration remembering how God saved the Jews from slavery in Egypt. It was the start of a new life searching for God's Promised Land. God led them on their journey with a cloud during the day and a fire in the sky at night.

After Jesus rose to Heaven on the first Pascha we celebrate Pentecost to remember when the Holy Spirit came down from Heaven onto the Apostles as tongues of fire. We remember this as the beginning of the Church as God leads us on our journey to Salvation.



Mother's Day- May 13

Theotokos by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Here is an extra picture to color for your Mom!

Jesus loved and obeyed His Mom.



Old Testament Prophets of May


Old Testament Prophets for May
Job- May 6
He wears a red cloak and has gems on his clothes to show he was a rich man. He was a follower of God before Jesus lived. Job fell into a very hard time in life when his children died and he became very sick covered in painful rashes. It became his job to show everyone that even in these hard times you can be a strong believer in God and do what God wants you to do. And through God’s mercy his health and riches were restored.

Jeremiah- May 1
He wears a green shirt and brown cloak. He spoke God’s messages to the Israelites for about 30 years. He lived in Jerusalem when it was destroyed and his people became slaves. It was his job to tell everyone to follow God’s laws.

Isaiah- May 9
He wears a blue to show he is from a royal family. He decided to follow God as a prophet when he saw a vision of God on His throne surrounded by angels! It was his job to tell everyone that God was going to have a Son. Powerful people were not happy with the messages that God gave Isaiah to tell and they had him killed.




No comments:

Post a Comment