Orthodox Pebbles Great Lent Activity Book Level 2

Great Lent, the Holy

GREAT LENT BOARD GAME

To play the game, you will need:

• The game board on the following page

• One die

• Board game pawns or any small colored objects than can be used as placeholders (buttons, large beads etc.)

How to play

The point of the game is to go over important facts about Great Lent in a fun and interactive way. All placeholders are placed on START. The first player throws the die and moves his/her placeholder a corresponding number of squares.

The player reads aloud the information on the square that s/he landed on. Then s/he has to close his/her eyes and repeat the information in his/her own words. If the player remembers the facts correctly, the placeholder goes back to its original position. If not, it stays where it landed.

After the action is performed, the next player takes a turn. The first player to reach FINISH wins. If there is no time to cover the whole board, the player who moved closer to FINISH wins.

GREAT LENT BOARD GAME

Great Lent is a time to prepare ourselves in order to celebrate Pascha.

On the first Sunday, we celebrate holy icons. On the second Sunday, we celebrate St. Gregory Palamas.

The first week of Lent is called Clean Week. Clean Monday is the first day of Great Lent.

Our preparation includes prayer, fasting, religious study, and being extra kind to everyone.

Great Lent lasts for seven weeks.

Each Sunday of Lent, we celebrate something special.

The last Sunday of Lent is Pascha.

On the third Sunday, we venerate the Holy Cross. On the fourth Sunday, we celebrate St. John Climacus.

On the fifth Sunday, we celebrate St. Mary of Egypt. The sixth Sunday is Palm Sunday.

When we fast, we don’t eat foods that come from animals.

During Great Lent, we try to attend as many church services as we can.

GREAT LENT - CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Fill in the crossword puzzle using the following words:

PRAY - FASTING - STUDY - SEVEN - PREPARATION - PASCHA - HOLY

Across

Down

1. During Great Lent, we try to a lot.

2. During Great Lent, we get ready for this Great Feast.

4. The number of weeks in Great Lent.

5. When we do this, we stop eating certain foods.

6. The week before Pascha is called ... Week.

3. During Great Lent, we ... about our Lord.

7. Great Lent is a time of ... for Pascha.

GREAT LENT - WORD SEARCH

Find the following words:

FASTING, ALMSGIVING, REPENT, PREPARE, PASCHA, ICONS, CROSS, VIRTUES, FEAST

GREAT LENT - WORD PUZZLE

How do we pray during Great Lent? To find out, copy every other letter to the spaces below.

YFEHAFLUOHRJDKALNIDOKPIWNSGEGRRTAFNGTB MCENTJOKSIEDEEMSYGOHWYNKELRARSOERT SYAVNBDNNMOJTHTFODJWUQDAGJEIMOYPBLR SODTFHGETREFUOTROYPOUUJABRVECBXLAES SHSKELDPURNETSODAVGBENSOOPFWAEGGERS

Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian

WHAT DO WE DO AT GREAT LENT?

To find out, follow each trail. Copy the letters along each trail onto each line.

TRAIL 3

Variations of the Cross symbol in the Orthodox tradition

The three-barred Cross

This type of cross is most popular in the Slavonic Orthodox traditions. The short top bar represents the inscription over Christ's head. The center bar is that upon which Christ’s arms were nailed. The bottom bar is the footrest. In earlier Byzantine iconography, the bottom bar wasn't slanted in that way. There are a variety of pious explanations of the slanted position. This type of cross is not very common in the Greek Orthodox tradition.

Chi Rho or the "Monogram of Constantine"

This is the sign of the cross St. Contstantine saw in his dream, according to the Church historian of the 4th century Eusebius Pamphili. It is formed by superimposing the first two capital letters — chi and rho (ΧΡ) — of the Greek word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (meaning "Christ"). It was used by St. Constantine as part of a military standard (lavaron - λάβαρον), and also inscribed on his helmet.

Greek Cross in a circle

The Greek cross has arms of equal length. It is either depicted on its own or placed inside a circle. The circle symbolizes the universal meaning of Christ.

Cross with intersections

This type of cross is popular in church decorations, liturgical items and on vestments of the clergy. In icons, it is especially found on the omophoria of the three Holy Hierarchs.

The Cross of the Great or Angelic Schema

This type of cross is used on the analavos, the distinctive garment of a monk or a nun tonsured into the highest grade of Orthodox monasticism — called the Great or Angelic Schema. The steps represent Golgotha, the hill upon which our Lord was crucified. On the left and right of the Cross, there are the instruments of the Holy Passion: the spear and the sponge. On the analavos, many other symbols and letters surround the cross, which are not shown here.

SUNDAYS OF GREAT LENT Icon Cards

Cut out the cards and laminate, if you wish. Cut out the cards on the following page, copy the troparia onto them, and laminate, if you wish. Use the cards to play a Memory game, matching the icon of each Sunday to its troparion. Alternatively, you can punch a hole on the top left corner of each card and bind them together using a loose-leaf binder ring to make a booklet.

Icon credits:

Triumph of Orthodoxy: 16th-century icon by anonymous artist, Benaki Museum, Athens Greece, photo in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Icon of St. Gregory Palamas photo in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

12th-century icon of the Divine Ascent, Monastery of St Catherine, Mount Sinai, photo in the public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Elevation of the Cross icon photo by hramikona / Shutterstock.com

Palm Sunday icon photo by Julia Raketic / Shutterstock.com

St Mary of Egypt icon, 17th century, anonymous artist, photo in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

SUNDAYS OF GREAT LENT Troparia Cards

THE TROPARIA

Use the links below to find each troparion and copy it onto one card.

Orthodoxy

Visit the link: tinyurl.com/ orthodoxy-troparion

St. Gregory Palamas

Visit the link: tinyurl.com/ palamas-troparion

Veneration of the Cross

Visit the link: tinyurl.com/ veneration-troparion

St. John Climacus

Visit the link: tinyurl.com/ john-climacus-troparion

St. Mary of Egypt

Visit the link: tinyurl.com/ mary-egypt-troparion

Palm Sunday

Visit the link: tinyurl.com/ palm-sunday-troparion

WHAT TYPES OF PRAYER ARE THERE?

Cut out the cards and use them to make a booklet for prayer time. First, write your own prayer on the back of each card. Laminate the cards, if you wish. Then, punch a whole at the corner of every card and bind them together using a loose-leaf binder ring or a piece of ribbon.

• A prayer asking God for His blessing or protection

• A prayer that says “I love you” to God

• A prayer asking God to help someone else

• A prayer that says “I’m sorry” to God

• A prayer that says “Thank you” to God

THE GOSPELS - WORD PUZZLE

What does the word "EVANGELION" mean? Use the code to find out.

THE GOSPELS - MAZE

Help each Evangelist find the way to his symbol.

Saint Matthew

Eagle

Saint Mark

Ox

Saint Luke

Angel

Saint John the Theologian

Lion

HUMBLENESS GRID

This is an activity to help practice humbleness in real life. Write your own ideas of humble acts in the blank boxes. During the following days, cross off each humble act as you perform it. Try to cross off the whole grid!

Let others go before you in line

Make sure your friend gets to play with the toy you want the most

When you lose at a game be nice and happy for the winner

Ask for help with something you can’t do well

Apologize for something you did wrong Wait patiently for your turn

Do something nice for someone and don’t say it was you

Don’t get upset when someone corrects your work

Play the game your friend wants even if you don’t like it

When offered a treat, let others take the best one

Don’t get upset if you get something wrong

Let your friend choose what you will play together

VIRTUE CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Solve the crossword puzzle using the words mentioned below. (Ignore the dash in the word “self-control”).

THE VIRTUES

OBEDIENCE REPENTANCE FORGIVENESS SILENCE

SELF-CONTROL PURITY

GENEROSITY

MEEKNESS HUMILITY

MATCH THE VIRTUES AND PASSIONS

Draw a line from each virtue to its corresponding passion.

VIRTUE

OBEDIENCE

REPENTANCE

FORGIVENESS

SILENCE

SELF-CONTROL

PURITY

GENEROSITY

MEEKNESS

HUMILITY

PASSION

SELF-SATISFACTION

HATRED PRIDE

UNCLEANLINESS

ENVY AGGRESSIVENESS

GREED

BOASTFULNESS

DISOBEDIENCE

I AM KIND WHEN...

In the spaces below, write or draw a picture of a way to be kind.

At home

To older people

To my friends

SAINTLY WORDS OF WISDOM

To see what St. Gregory the Theologian is teaching us, follow each trail. Copy the letters along each trail onto each line.

ANSWER: A faithful friend is more precious than gold.

St. Gregory the Theologian

I E N D

TRAIL 2

SAINTLY WORDS OF WISDOM

To see what St. John Chrysostom is teaching us, circle every other letter beginning at the start. Copy the letters onto the blanks below. The first letter is done for you.

NBOIMKAYTNT DEKRPHWODWS JOUJSETBYZO AUGRHWXOURO DXSFMQAZYKB

TEYWCHSEZNBY LODUTSCPQEBA

JKHWDILTRHIAXN FGTEWRSYVOKUL

RGUEIPNTASLXL St. John Chrysostom

Abba Poimen

in everything.

to be quiet has found peace

Someone who knows how

Unknown Father

translator: Archbishop Chrysostomos of Etna.

sions and perfection in Christ ,

from the Evergetinos on pas -

St. Ephraim the Syrian

crown of victory.

forgiveness will earn the

the one who first asks

If two brothers quarrel,

proud.

humble than win and be

I’d rather lose and be

Unknown Father

desert: Translated narratives

The Ancient Fathers of the

adapted from the book:

The sayings are freely

Unknown Father

a person who is mean.

tue, do not be friends with

If you want to grow in vir -

like you are attacking too.

bad things about him, it is

brother when others say

If you don’t support your

Abba Zenon

else you ask for.

quickly give you whatever

are mean to you, God will

If you pray for people who

After reading the card, the child has to describe a situation in their own life where the saying would apply.

Cut out the cards, and use them to reflect on the sayings of the Ancient Fathers of the Desert.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM THE FATHERS OF THE DESERT

SUNDAY 1 SUNDAY 2

SUNDAY 3

SUNDAY 5

SUNDAY 4

Sundays

SUNDAY 6

GREAT LENT PLANNER BOTTOM PAGE

We celebrate...

We celebrate...

We celebrate...

We celebrate...

We celebrate...

We celebrate...

Glue cover page here.

Sunday of Great Lent:

Sunday of Great Lent:

Today's craft is based on...

Today we think about...

The Gospel Reading is...

Draw a picture inspired by the icon or the traditions of this day.

A PHRASE FROM TODAY'S TROPARION: