Our 2018 Pascha Menu

 

 

Spiral Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze

Kielbasa and Stone Ground Mustard

Scalloped Potatoes

Roasted Parmesan Asparagus

Hard Boiled Eggs

Greek Pascha Bread

Cheese Pascha
Kulich
Feta and Kalamata Olives
Vegetables and Ranch Dip
Chocolate

Strawberry Blueberry Trifle (with homemade pound cake)

Grapes for Transfiguration...

In the Orthodox Church, we get baskets of grapes* (and sometimes other fruits) blessed at the Liturgy for the feast of Transfiguration. I am so excited that our market carried four different types of seedless grapes: Green, Red, Champagne, and Midnight Beauty. We had fun washing them and putting the children's grapes in little pint sized metal baskets this afternoon... we'll probably bring them to church tonight to keep them from sneaking them before they're blessed!

* from the OCA website: The feast of the Transfiguration is presently celebrated on the sixth of August, probably for some historical reason. The summer celebration of the feast, however, has lent itself very well to the theme of transfiguration. The blessing of grapes, as well as other fruits and vegetables on this day is the most beautiful and adequate sign of the final transfiguration of all things in Christ. It signifies the ultimate flowering and fruitfulness of all creation in the paradise of God's unending Kingdom of Life where all will he transformed by the glory of the Lord.

Lesson Plans for the Mother of God...

I'm a little late mentioning this, but we are really enjoying Katherine's plans for The Mother of God! I put together our candle on Friday night and we have been lighting it at dinner time and reading our Bible story afterward. So far, Sugar Plum has been doing really well listening to the stories, looking for the symbol of the day and remembering to tell Papa what we are learning at bedtime (with a few hints:) ). I am looking forward to continuing this! Now, I just have to order the The Illustrated Life of the Theotokos for Children and The Story of Mary the Mother of God so we have them to read this month as well!

Introducing: Orthodox Home...

I have a lot of fun taking pictures and sharing them on this blog and on Flickr. I was really surprised to find there was no place on Flickr to share photos of homes that reflect the Orthodox Faith. I've just started a group for photo and video sharing called Orthodox Home and would love for you to stop by and join the group and add your photos. Thank you!!