“Let everything take second place to our care of our children, our bringing them up to the discipline and instruction of the Lord. If from the beginning we teach them to love true wisdom, they will have great wealth and glory than riches can provide”
St John Chrysostom
The education and involvement of our children in prayer and learning holds high priority within our community. “In children we have a great charge committed to us,” says St John Chrysostom further. In our services you may hear a cry or little voices behind you once in a while, and this is because we allow and encourage our children to fully participate in a life of prayer with their parents. The colors, incense, and all the sensory aspects of Orthodox worship can enrapture children in their own worship and curiosity towards our Creator. We teach them most by our actions and participation in the services with them, and in turn they teach us how to pray even in the midst of their “holy noise” as one of our services calls their little “interruptions.” Children learn primarily through worshiping with their family and community. You would be amazed at the Scripture they memorize and the theology they soak up just by being participants in the Divine Liturgy.
In the Orthodox Church, we do not withhold the Sacraments from children because they have not reached the “age of reason” as is common in Western sects. From the time they enter the church building they are greeted with special prayers and a short time afterwards participate in baptism and holy communion. We do not believe that the sacraments can be fully comprehended by a rational mind, but are mysteries of God that are medicine for the soul. The Savior said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven”(Matt 19:14).
St Joseph Co-op
Once a month the children have a liturgy together on a Saturday where they are free to chant, serve, be epistle readers, etc. Although they are free to do this at any other service, this Liturgy is especially for them with a children’s homily and an activity or time to play together afterwards. The co-op is named after St Joseph of Mount Athos who is a newer and more modern Saint. The Saint was unlearned, yet through prayer and the spiritual life became extremely wise and a gifted teacher of many. Developing the souls of our children is our primary task because we believe knowing about God through book learning and reason is not enough; we want them to know God through experience.
Here are some quotes on the Orthodox Church’s emphasis on children and teaching:
Pray and then speak. That’s what to do with your children. If you are constantly lecturing them, you’ll become tiresome and when they grow up they’ll feel a kind of oppression. Prefer prayer and speak to them through prayer. Speak to God and God will speak to their hearts. That is, you shouldn’t give guidance to your children with a voice that they hear with their ears. You may do this too, but above all you should speak to God about your children. Say, “Lord Jesus Christ, give Your light to my children. I entrust them to You. You gave them to me, but I am weak and unable to guide them, so, please, illuminate them.” And God will speak to them and they will say to themselves, “Oh dear, I shouldn’t have upset Mummy by doing that!” And with the grace of God this will come from their heart.’
St Porphyrios, “Wounded by Love”
Parents must use discernment to help their children draw near to Christ from their early years, and from their childhood to live the joy on high—spiritual joy. When they start school they should learn, little by little, to read spiritual books to help themselves live spiritually. In this way they will become little angels, and their prayers will have greater boldness before God. Such children are spiritual heads of the home.
St Paisios, “The Family Life”
Miracles happen through the prayers of small children. Whatever they ask of God He gives them because they are guileless and He hears their pure prayer. I remember one time our parents had gone out into the field and had left me in the house with my two younger siblings. The sky suddenly darkened and a torrential rainstorm began. “What will our parents do now?,” we said. “How will they get back home?” The two little ones began crying. “Come here,” I told them, “we will ask Christ to stop the rain.” The three of us knelt down before the family’s icons and prayed. In just a few minutes the rain stopped.
St Paisios, “The Family Life”
