Orthodox {Mom} Book Club

I mentioned on Facebook last week, that I was thinking about starting a book club (or a Book of the Month Club) here on Adventures of an Orthodox Mom.  I haven't ironed out all the details yet but right now I'm thinking it would be great if we can have get through one book per month.  I'll assign a set amount of chapters and then we can meet here on a certain day and time to discuss each assignment.  Skype has a way of creating just chat rooms, so no webcams are involved, that might be another option for our discussions.

There are so many incredible Orthodox books that I really want the focus to be on them, but I love the classics too and wouldn't mind throwing some of them in the mix too.  I'm also excited that several Orthodox titles are now available in e-format!

Everyone is welcome to join in, this isn't just for Orthodox moms.  If you're interested in learning more about the lives of our saints, holy elders and faith, feel free to sign up!  I just ask that everyone be respectful of others opinions.

So...any takers?  I'd love to hear any book recommendations you might have too!  I've never hosted an online book club, so any suggestions on how to better organize this will be appreciated (cough, cough, Mimi)!

Revival of Orthodoxy in Russia

This is so beautiful.  A facebook friend of mine posted this and it brought tears to my eyes.  Watching the people react to the film and the expressions on the children face's while they watched churches being destroyed was so powerful. So many times we forget these things really happened.  Especially, those of us who live in this country and have never encountered anything like this. 

It's so encouraging to see Russia embracing her beloved Orthodox Faith.  I wish this would happen all over the world!  Especially in Orthodox countries like Greece where, sadly, people have forgotten their roots. 

Support Fr. Efrem of Vatopaidi

Most of you have heard by now of the troubling news regarding Fr. Efrem, the abbot of Vatopaidi monastery on Mount Athos.

For those of you who may not have heard, you can read most of the details here.  For news on the latest protest, click here. 

This is so heartbreaking.  It's a sign of the sad condition that Greece is in right now.  I cannot believe that an Orthodox country would start arresting it's monastics to push political agendas.  And there is no doubt in anyone's mind that this is exactly what is going on there.  And what timing!  After 60 Minutes shed some light on life there and introduced this holy place to many people who never even knew it existed, Greece goes and does something like this to discredit the monasteries.  It's such a shame.  My heart cries for the motherland...

It does bring me joy to hear that after Fr. Efrem was thrown into prison with terrorists and other high profile criminals, he began spreading his love for Christ and teaching and confessing many of the inmates there.  What an inspiration! The first thing I thought of when I heard this news was that he is a modern day Fr. Arseny.  Have any of you read that book? It is an incredible book. 

Following is a statement taken from the website Pemptousia, an association of friends of the Vatopaidi monastery, and letter of appealing the courts for the decision to imprison Fr. Efrem:

Dear friends,

We, the Orthodox people, Greeks and non-Greeks, have been astounded and appalled at the unwarranted decision of the Athens Court of Appeals to remand Elder Efrem into custody.
We are, therefore, called upon to express our firm condemnation of this decision and our support to Elder Efrem by signing the following form.

Letter condemning the decision

To
The President of theHellenicRepublic,
The Prime Minister,
The Attorney General

24 December 2011

Your Excellencies,
We hereby condemn with abhorrence the judicial ‘’crime’ committed in Athens on the 23^rd December 2011, against the Church in the face of Elder Efrem, Abbot of the Great, Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi on the Holy Mountain.

The decision to take Elder Efrem into custody was based on hatred and prejudice. This is manifested in the following:

1. The timing of the decision: Christmas Eve
2. The surrounding of the Holy Mountain by armed police forces despite the declaration by the attorney representing the Elder that the latter intended to present himself to the police willingly.
3. The sentence passed is normally given to people who have the intention to repeat the offenses accused of.
4. During the preliminary hearing the reason given for the sentence was the Elder’s recent trip to Russia, when he accompanied the Holy Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God. During this visit millions of people, including the President, the Prime Minister and the Attorney General of the Russian Republic came out to greet them.
5. The investigation lasted more than three years and no incriminating evidence has been found.
6. The offense which the Elder is accused of is ‘aiding and abetting’ even though the suspects of this offense have been acquitted.
7. During the last three years of the investigation, the Elder has taken numerous trips abroad and if he had intended to leave the country he had plenty of opportunity to do so.
8. The Elder, as a spiritual figure, is honored and praised worldwide and constitutes an excellent envoy for Greece.
9. The people who have been revealed as the masterminds of the conspiracy against him have been honored with ministerial posts and are attempting to cover up their deception at all costs.
10. In Greece, enormous scandals have been uncovered and established while those responsible are not only walking free but are also given political posts.

We are convinced that the decision is a deliberate political act intending to defame the Holy Mountain and the Church.

We call upon you to do the utmost to reverse it.

Yours faithfully,

No	FULLNAME	IDENTITYCARDNO	ADDRESS
1
2
3
4
5….

You may also sign the petition via the web. Please click here

Vasilopita 2012

Earlier in the month, I went to Ace's school and baked Vasilopitas with his class.  I wanted something a little less difficult to prep, than the usual recipe I use, since the kids would be baking them and we were on a tight time schedule, so I tried a recipe another recipe my mom had.  

They turned out really good and required a lot less work!  The kids in his class seemed to really enjoy listening to the history of the Vasilopita and were so excited to see you would get the coin. Ace really loved sharing this tradition with them again this year. 

I took the book The Story of the Vasilopita from the Paterikon for Kids by Potamitis Publishing.  Ace and Lucky both *love* this set.  There are 12 tiny little books inside of a box and each story is so unique and full of interesting things.  Egle-Katerina's illustrations are also phenomenal, as usual.  We've all learned quite a bit from reading them.  I love how easily they can be toted around in my bag, too.  

Anyways, since I was so behind with pretty much everything this year, I decided to make this new recipe for home too.

New Years morning, the boys could  hardly wait for DH to cut it so they could search for the coveted coin, but guess who got it this year?  Me!  They were so mad, lol.  It was pretty funny.  :) 

Later on that night, we went over to a friend's house to celebrate his nameday and we cut another one.  Lucky found the coin in that one!  He was so proud and three days later is still carrying his "lucky coin" in his pocket.

I also made a resolution to post more here on my little corner of the internet more often again.  Sometimes, I take a break to take care of all the many things going on at home and to be able to really enjoy my family.  But, I have really missed posting and chatting with all of you!  So, I made a list of all the things I've been meaning, wanting, thinking, about posting and have quite a schedule lined up!  There are some great books, CDs, and other items that I'll be giving away and some topics that have been weighing on my heart for some time, as well.  Hope you'll join me! 

Egg Bread Bowls {recipe}

 

If you're looking for a quick and easy breakfast idea for New Year's Day, (because who really feels like cooking that morning?) these egg bread bowls are perfect!  They look so lovely and literally require just a few minutes.

Ingredients:

• pack of 8 Chicago hard rolls (or any dinner rolls with a hard crust)
• 8 eggs
• heavy whipping cream
• salt
• pepper
• oregano
• grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut top off and pull out entire center of each roll.
3. Crack and pour one egg in each one.
4. Pour a small amount of heavy whipping cream on the side of each egg.
5. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, oregano and cheese.
6. Place on ungreased, rimmed cookie sheet.
7. Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until egg yolk is set, not runny at all.

Enjoy!!

a quiet resolution

this year's vasilopita's are baking in the oven and the boys are all outside enjoying the gorgeous florida winter weather, so this seemed like the perfect time to pull out my diary and scribble out my resolutions for the new year that is already knocking quietly at our doors.  i say it every year and every year i mean it; i can't believe an entire year has passed so quickly.

two thousand and eleven was full of memories, though not all good ones.  our family lost some pretty amazing people this year.  it also welcomed some pretty amazing ones too though, and two thousand and twelve will bring a couple more little babes into our fold and already looks full of some pretty amazing promises.

last year, dh bought me the one line a day journal.  i wasn't sure how i'd like it because i usually write pages at a time, so the thought of condensing an entire day into one line made me a little wary but i ended up only missing two or three days and i'm now looking forward to starting a new year in it (it's a five year journal) and looking back on where i was each day of the past year.  

resolutions are sort of like the people who write them.  all different and unique. some are loud and get shouted from the rooftops, others, like mine, are quietly written down and tucked away in a drawer.  my list is usually a variation of the same promises, like this one from last year.  to love more, give more, pray more, are always at the top.  new things are added too, making the list a bit longer and hopefully wiser each year.  i never do all the things i resolve to, many of them, to do well, i know will take well over a year, but as long as i progress accordingly i am satisfied.  writing it all down just somehow makes me feel better.  lighter.  happier.

new year's is sort of like thanksgiving in the sense that many people take a moment to reflect upon their many blessings.  it's important to remember, especially after a trying year, that someone always has it worse than we do.  there are so many people who truly suffer, that i have no room to complain about anything.  no one's life is perfect, and it's up to us to dwell on the imperfections or enjoy the bliss of a perfectly im-perfect life.  i choose the latter.  

i pray you all have a happy, healthy and blessed new year!  cheers!

From Our Family To Yours...

Christ is Born!  Glorify Him!

Wishing your family a blessed and joyous Nativity and New Year!