Name the Feast Day
Which of the following is NOT one of the 12 major feast days of the church?
Epiphany, Good Friday, Pentecost, Nativity of Christ
Mothers, Grandmothers, and Women in Labor
The mother of the Virgin Mary, Saint ____ is venerated as the protector of mothers and women
Saint Anna
Which Greek city was the site of the famous Battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartans fought against the Persian Empire?
Sparta
This icon shows the moment when the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive the Son of God.
The Annunciation of the Theotokos
Which famous holiday figure is based on the legacy of Saint Nicholas?
Santa Claus
Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker. His reputation evolved among the faithful, as was common for early Christian saints, and his legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus, St. Nick.
This feast day celebrates a daughter being born to Joachim and Anna
Nativity of the Theotokos
The Sick, Healing, and Compassionate Care
Known for his great compassion and healing, Saint Nectarios is a modern saint invoked for help with illness
Saint Nectarios of Aegina
How many stripes are on the Greek flag?
Nine!
A theory states that they symbolize the 9 syllables of the Greek national motto, “Eleftheria h Thanatos” which is "Freedom or Death". It reflects the unwavering determination of the Greeks to fight for their liberty, even at the cost of their lives. The motto emerged during the Greek War of Independence against Ottoman rule and was/is a powerful symbol of Greek resistance and a reminder of the sacrifices made during the struggle for independence.
This icon depicts one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on September 14.
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Elevation).
In 326 AD, Empress Helen, the mother of St. Constantine the Great, discovered the True Cross on Golgotha, the site of Christ’s crucifixion. At the location, she found a rare and fragrant flower, later named "Vasiliko" (Basil), meaning "of the King" in Greek, symbolizing the royal nature of Christ. Beneath the basil, she uncovered the True Cross, along with the two crosses used to crucify the thieves, and the inscription, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." To identify the True Cross, a sick woman kissed each one, finding no effect from the first two, but healing when she kissed the True Cross. Additionally, when a dead man's body was placed on each cross, only the True Cross brought him back to life. This event led to the Cross being known as the “Life-Giving” Cross, offering life to all who believe in Christ’s sacrifice and Resurrection.
What is Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of?
Sailors, travelers, children, merchants, students.
On many other occasions after his death as well as during his lifetime, Saint Nicholas has miraculously assisted ships in distress and people making voyages, and so is venerated as the protector of all who sail the seas
The Holy Trinity was revealed on which of the feast days?
Theophany / Epiphany
Soldiers, Scouts, and Farmers
Known for his courage and martyrdom, Saint ____ is a patron saint of soldiers and those in battle
Saint George
Name three songs by Konstantinos Arigros
Athina Mou, Ta Kataferes, Ximeromata, Elpida, Elefteros, etc
This icon depicts a scene from the early life of Jesus, when He is brought to the temple for the ritual purification by His parents, Mary and Joseph. This moment is associated with the Feast of the _____ , celebrated on February 2.
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
When is Saint Nicholas' feast day celebrated?
December 6th
The Annuciation
The Blind, Eye Diseases and Women
She is known for her healing intercession, particularly in curing eye ailments and protecting those with vision problems
Saint Paraskevi
In which year did Greece start to fight to gain its independence from the Ottoman Empire?
1821
This icon represents a crucial moment in the life of Christ, when He is praying in the _____ of ______ before His arrest. It is a deeply emotional scene, showing Christ in sorrow and anguish, while His disciples sleep nearby. he icon is often placed in Orthodox churches during Great Lent, emphasizing Christ’s human nature and His willingness to face suffering for the salvation of humanity.
The Garden of Gethsemane
Where was Saint Nicholas the Bishop of?
Myra
What special feast day described in the Book of Acts was followed by a massive conversion of the crowd after they had each heard the Gospel being preached in their own language?
Pentecost
This Saint is our father among the saints. Archbishop of Thessalonica, the Wonderworker, was a monk of Mount Athos in Greece. He was a preeminent theologian and a proponent of hesychastic theology. His feast days in the Church are November 14 and the second Sunday of Great Lent as the Sunday of St. ___ ____ and he is often associated with the use of the komboskini.
Saint Gregory Palamas
What famous toy was invented in Greece ~440 BC
The Yo-Yo
This icon depicts Christ as the "ruler of all" and is commonly found on the ceiling of churches. In churches without a dome-style roof, this icon may be placed above the altar.
The Pantokrator
Many legends began to appear about Saint Nicholas in the Middle Ages. According to one, he saved three dowerless girls, whose father was going to sell them into slavery, by bestowing upon them three purses of gold (or, according to some versions, three golden balls) while they slept at night. Which Christmas tradition was inspired by this legend?
The Christmas stocking.
According to some versions of the story, the saint deposited the gold in the girls' shoes, which were lined up before the fire; later versions turned the shoes into stockings, which were hung before the fire to dry after being washed. In some parts of the world, such as the Netherlands, shoes are used instead of stockings. In different parts of the world it is tradition to put an orange in the toe of the Christmas stocking to recall St. Nicholas' original gift