Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day
Tomorrow, October 15th, is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day. As Orthodox Christians, we honor the sanctity of the unborn and remember the words of our Lord: “let the little Children come unto me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:4). This belief makes the observance of this day–a secular one–all the more important.
by Mindi Popovich-Schneider
Tomorrow, October 15th, is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day. As Orthodox Christians, we honor the sanctity of the unborn and remember the words of our Lord: “let the little Children come unto me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:4). This belief makes the observance of this day–a secular one–all the more important.
We encourage everyone to stop at noon tomorrow, light a candle, and pray for the souls of all departed children and for peace and comfort for their families. If you would like a list of names to pray for, submitted by Saint Emmelia families, please email us at office@saintemmelia.com.
Below, we have compiled a variety of resources for observing this day, including managing grief and supporting others.
Saints:
There are, of course, numerous saints related to motherhood and children. Some whom you might consider getting to know, praying to and with, and seeking the comfort of are:
The Theotokos – who watched her precious Son die on the cross and knows the grief of loss and the joy of resurrection deeply
St. Emmelia & St. Macrina the Younger – when St. Emmelia’s son Naucratius died as a young adult, St. Macrina reminded her of St. Paul’s words: “we do not mourn as those who have no hope.”
Matushka Olga – a patron saint for all women and children
St. Stylianos – a patron saint of children
St. John the Baptist – who recognized our Savior, even when they were both in the womb, signifying our children’s intrinsic connection to the Lord
St. Maria of Paris – who outlived all three of her children
Prayers:
Service after a Miscarriage or Stillbirth
General resources (including more prayers):
https://www.asceticlifeofmotherhood.com/blog/miscarriageresources
https://www.october15th.com/resources/
https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/miscarriage-loss-and-grief
https://www.rachelsgift.org/about-us
Teachings of the Orthodox Church:
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2912.htm
Dealing with grief:
If you have experienced loss, please consider reaching out to a mental health professional. No grief, no struggle, is too small to justify therapy. If you are unable to afford therapy, consider asking your priest for resources–either financial or local opportunities for more affordable therapy.
https://www.assemblyofbishops.org/directories/mental-health/
https://www.october15th.com/coping-with-grief/
https://www.rachelsgift.org/grief-resources
Give rest, O Lord, to your servants with thy saints, where sorrow and pain are no more; neither sighing, but life everlasting!
New Resource: Activities for the Liturgical Cycle
Ah, curriculum. How on earth do we fit in all the sundry bits of knowledge that we want our children to learn? History, math, geography, biology…and most important of all, our faith! It can feel like there simply aren’t enough minutes in the day to fit in all the information that we need to transmit.
by Mindi Popovich-Schneider
Ah, curriculum. How on earth do we fit in all the sundry bits of knowledge that we want our children to learn? History, math, geography, biology…and most important of all, our faith! It can feel like there simply aren’t enough minutes in the day to fit in all the information that we need to transmit.
In our most recent Saint Macrina Lecture, both of our speakers addressed the need to “encounter” material—or the things that we are trying to learn about. Of course, the best way to do this when it comes to teaching our children the faith is to go to church, to experience the Liturgy alongside the hosts both visible and invisible. But it can be difficult to know how to enrich our children’s understanding of the Liturgical Cycle from home. That is why we’ve compiled a fairly comprehensive list of activities to complete alongside the feasts of the church.
Just in time for Ascension and Pentecost, we offer a collection of resources from all around the Orthodox internet world. For example, to teach children about the Great Commission, you might complete this dye-mixing experiment. Or perhaps you’ll make cloud marshmallows to commemorate Christ ascending into the clouds. Or maybe you want to practice the festal troparion leading up to Pentecost. Included in this document are many lesson plans/discussion guides for the major feats of the Church, as well as for significant saints.
While this is a pretty long list, we know that there are tons of incredible resources out there. If you know of a resource we ought to add, please email us at office@saintemmelia.com!
5 Saint Emmelia Resources You Might Not Know About
Since you’re reading this, you probably know something about our work at Saint Emmelia Ministries, whether it’s our conferences, online discussion groups, or the Saint Macrina Lecture Series. But here are five more resources you might not know about!
by Mindi Popovich-Schneider, Saint Emmelia Ministries Assistant
Since you’re reading this, you probably know something about our work at Saint Emmelia Ministries, whether it’s our conferences, online discussion groups, or the Saint Macrina Lecture Series. But here are five more resources you might not know about!
Our Spiritual Advisors. This board is made up of one priest from each Antiochian archdiocese, as well as a ROCOR and OCA priest (don’t worry, we’re working on the rest of the jurisdictions too). These wonderful priests are knowledgable about homeschooling and are available to help you connect with families and resources in your archdiocese/area.
Hymn Study. I see a LOT of parents asking how to make Ambleside Online’s music study fit better with our faith. Of course, we’ve got you covered! This offers a list of suggested hymns (sheet music included) to study throughout the course of the school year.
An Orthodox Morning Basket. Another question I see a lot, especially from families who are new to Orthodoxy, is how to incorporate the Faith into the school day. Using the Charlotte Mason concept of “the morning basket,” this guide offers many different suggestions so that you can choose what fits your family’s specific needs!
Scholarships/Grants. By God’s grace and the generosity of donors, we’re so blessed to be able to offer scholarships. The Saint Basil Scholarship is specifically for clergy families to use at St. Raphael School or Classical Learning Resource Center (St. Athanasius already has one set up from the same funding source). The Saint Theosebia Scholarship is open to any homeschool family for any education-related need. The Homeschool Co-Op Grant supports any Orthodox co-op and can be used for a wide variety of needs. Finally, the St. Gregory Merit Scholarship is awarded to one high school senior each year, though all applicants receive a certificate and commencement tassel.
Book Recommendations. Our book lists are extensive and constantly being updated! Make sure to check them out to get ideas for your or your kids’ next read!
We have so much more to offer than this, including some things that will be launched very soon! (Hint: it has to do with co-ops!) But we want to hear from you: what resources do YOU need the most?