The purpose of Orthodox Christian Education is to help build up the Church, the Body of Christ, by nurturing every person in the life of personal communion with the Holy Trinity (theosis), and thus, through this ministry, to bear joyful witness to God's loving and redeeming work in the world.

The Orthodox Christian Education aims at the communication of the content of Christian truth in the context of concrete Christian living: believing, praying, worshipping, learning, applying, growing, sharing, serving and witnessing.

We accomplish these goals by providing age appropriate curriculum and faithful and enthusiastic individuals to teach our students.

Each Sunday begins with worship by participating in the Divine Liturgy, followed by religious education. The Divine Liturgy begins at 9:30 a.m. Families are encouraged to sit in the first eight pews on the left side of the Nave. These are reserved for Sunday Church School.

Classes are in session from 9/7/2008 to 5/10/2009. There will be no Sunday School on the following dates 11/30, 12/21, 12/28, 4/12, 4/19. Classes begin directly following the distribution of Holy Communion. Classes end promptly at 11:45 am. Parents are asked not to interrupt the classes and to pick up their children from the classroom promptly.

Coffee Talk begins following the Divine Liturgy; Students in grades 9-12 remain in church until the end of liturgy. Coffee Talk takes place in the Church Office conference room and ends at 12:15 pm.

Nativity Program, December 14, 2008
Good Friday Family Retreat - April 17, 2009

SCS Awards Sunday, May 17, 2009
ST. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Parish Level, Date TBA
Vacation Church School, July 2009

The Sunday Church School will recognize its students who have achieved Perfect or Faithful Attendance on Sunday May 17 at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Only those students who meet the attendance requirements from the beginning of the Sunday Church School year will be recognized. Attendance Requirements: Perfect Attendance is 0 absences. Faithful attendance is 1-2 absences.

The purpose of the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival is to provide teenagers with an opportunity to learn, write, and speak about their Orthodox Faith, Church and Heritage. This strengthens their understanding and appreciation of their identity as Greek Orthodox Christians, and cultivates spiritual growth and maturity. The overall Oratorical program is called an Oratorical Festival rather than a contest to minimize the competitive spirit and emphasize a joyful learning experience. Since 1983 the Oratorical Festival has provided thousands of teenagers the opportunity to discover the fullness of the Orthodox Faith!

Students in grades 7-12 may participate. The division breakdown is:
• Junior: Grades 7-9
• Senior: Grades 10-12

The Parish Festival will take place in February or March. 2008. Each Parish sends its finalists to a District Festival.
The District Festivals are composed of parishes in specified areas of a Metropolis. District Festivals take place between March and April and the finalists advance to the Metropolis Festival.

The Metropolis Festival takes place between April and May and includes the finalists from each District. The first place Junior and Senior Speakers of each Metropolis advance to the Archdiocesan Festival.
The Archdiocesan Festival takes place in early June.

All national finalists will receive a college scholarship or a US Savings Bond as follows: The top three speakers in each division receive a college scholarship in the amount of $2000, $1500, and $1000 respectively, and the remaining finalists receive a $500 US Savings Bond. These awards are made possible by many generous donations to the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Scholarship Foundation.

Coming Soon...