What are the Catechetical Schools

The Council of Palouriotissa

Catechetical Schools

Contemporary Themes 3

Nicosia

(Cyprus)

We say “yes”

Indeed, why people have been so encaged in themselves nowadays?

It is a fact that we forgot how to smile. How to sing. To be approachable. Not even “good morning” we say to the other people. Irrespective of where we find ourselves, in a clinic, in the waiting room of a Ministry or anywhere.

This situation increases the necessity for an opening of the hearts. Here is the time!...

Some years ago, I was invited by the blessed “SYNDESMOS” to visit and give a speech in BELARUS. I didn’t know even its position on the map!

However, it was a start for an even better development. So, today we reached to the point to host young boys and girls in our Camping, within the framework of an even closer cooperation. In parallel way, certain programs developed including visits to BELARUS and elsewhere for speeches.

I bring to my mind a Sunday evening in Minsk. After a short lecture, a discussion of over three (3) hours (yes) followed! In the end, I was asked to close the discussion because the participants had to catch the last train and bus for their homes!

This volume is also a fruit of this big effort.

We didn’t intend to publicise it. However, we were

obliged to do so by the necessity. Additional Campings are anytime established. They require training and development of their members. One quide book is necessary. But where can it be found?

So, we make a step. And may God help us.

I feel that I must express my thanks to all of them who assisted in this task. Protopresbyter fr. Andreas Papavasiliou, Antonis Adamides, Eleni Timotheou, Antonis Antoniou, Antonis Philippides, Maro Solomonidou, Demetris Demetriou and, of course my wife Theodosia. May God keep them well.

So, it’s time for action and work.

We say “YES” to smile. To cordiality. To “open heart”, and we step forward in the task of a genuine love. May God bless...

+Fr. George

(Translated by Antonis Adamides)

WHAT ARE THE CATECHETICAL SCHOOLS

Really! What are the Catechetical Schools, the Groups and the other related efforts?

The reply cannot be any way free from any degree of deontology. This means that the original question is slightly converted into:

a. An opportunity: An opportunity which gives much, without asking for anything.

It is a Christian opportunity.

An opportunity for Christian culture. Its target is to form characters. To introduce the young person into the matters of Faith, of Orthodoxy, of Church.

It is our second family. The child learns to help himself but his fellow person as well. And further, to fly to God.

b. An oasis: And we need so much these oasis today when man ended to be a traveler in contemporary Sahara desert.

c. An intervention: Yes, an intervention in the events of life. The daily but the rest as well. A drop of taste and substance in our daily tasteless life.

d. A moral and spiritual investment: A correct utilization of the material called youth.

e. An offer: But what does it offer? Firstly, the light of the Gospel. The friendship, the healthy entertainment, the guidance within the various paths of society. The National orientation and inspiration.

f. A specific effort: It is a fact that in many cases, various impressions are given to the young people. The impression is created on them that in our society prevail self interest. So, here is the need for an effort to convince them that reality is not so. To see the reality and to see it the right way.

g. A stadium: For spiritual games. For bright victories. But, at the same time, for the proper exercise.

In a stadium of course, we see the seats as well. But these are not for the Christians. On the contrary…

h. A test: An opportunity for tests (examinations). Something which is usually unpleasant. Though, they are necessary. And we have to accept it. Without these tests, our life may become flabby (loose) without interest.

i. A source: From here, all those who are thirsty will drink. Other will find solution to their problems.

Here, will come for a breath and rest all those who feel to choke under the cement and the machines prevailing over the contemporary city.

j. A strengthening injection: Especially during our days. Meaning, targets, fights: All these find their completion in the Catechetical Schools.

k. An entrance: Leading from words and their place to deeds, to consistency. And this is so scared today.

l. A prologue: An introduction to a life real, meaningful, with the correct signs, with the correct directions and other indications (preventive etc.).

+Fr. George

SEARCHING FOR

An individual, in order to live and develop needs certain “deeds” which satisfy the needs of his life and his development.

Man must act if he will continue to live.

Every action of man is a direct effort to satisfy something. But, what this “something might be? It may be one or more desires e.g.

a. Desire for acknowledgment of our value:

This desire is different from person to person. We use all means available to us (sometimes illegal as well), aiming to the acknowledgment of our value by the others. And this, in all possible ways.

b. Desire to achieve response:

Here, we see a strong will for a closer personal contact. The effort for company with a friend, the mother or another beloved person is mobilised.

c. Desire for security:

This is apparent in all events of our life.

Man is fighting and tries to defend his position, his homestead, his beliefs, his fatherland.

Means that can be used, which inspire security: The depositing, the creation of the most correct

family, the establishment of various types of alliances etc.

The Christians and especially the young (have to) support their spiritual security and equilibrium on love, on friendship, on self-understanding and on the common process for the fulfilment of the common Christian targets.

d. The desire to try something new

This is very often, the motive of the pioneer, the scientist, the researcher, but also the average man, even the licentious way. Curiosity exert a terrible attraction and an irresistible power on man.

A huge effort is needed for the man not to retreat. Previously, knowledge was painful. Today, the transmission of data and information has become less painful. The media work for us, with TV prevailing. We have nothing to do than absorb all those offered to us.

Automatically, ways of thinking, ideas, behaviour rules of other people are transmitted to us.

Of course, the “Orthodox” way for the acquisition of new capabilities and news, prerequisites certain basic loaning rules, such as:

1. The word: the beginning. This is often mentioned by Christ. A beginning for a better process. Everyone who stays with the words only, is a “clanging bell”.

2. Repetition: Is considered (and correctly) the mother of knowledge. How much? It depends on the persons, involved.

3. Comprehension: This is achieved through various repetitions. This is the “sine qua non” of the (correct) learning.

4. The Belief or acceptance: How can we posses something, if we do not accept it?

5. Application: If the principles owned by a man,

a) are not applied in practice

b) do not become a motive of man in his daily life, they cannot be considered as a part of the man.

We must add something here: The will of somebody to implement his principles is not necessarily accompanied by the ability to apply them.

We must never forget that the people of every age, origin or sex deserve respect.

It is natural that many obstacles exist or intervene in the fulfillment of these desires. These obstacles drop him, often to various situations, such as:

a) Dreaming or imaginary situations: Imagination works as a substitute, with himself as a hero of (a) or (b) grade.

b) Counterbalancing: In his effort to counterbalance his incapability, or lack of ability he drops himself to

c) boasting, to haughtiness, to teasing, to frightening may be, to tendency of influencing on others, etc.

d) Excuses and preterxts: Usually, they are not real. They are used as an easy weapon, but at the same time improvised. Sometimes also, man tries to justify the unjustifiable.

e) Defence – Escape: Escape of what? But of course, the consequences of his deeds. The following are used: Upsetting, anger, excitement, over criticism, nostalgia of the past, bad behaviour, hysteria.

Following all these, it becomes clear that there are no “good” and “bad” people but only acceptable and unacceptable ways of behaviour.

Our target is to indicate acceptable and (why not?) correct ways of behaviour.

+Fr. George

DISCUSSION

It is correct if the subjects are selected in a way so that they are closely related to the problems faced by the children.

It can be something which happened

a. during the group meeting

b. during athletic games or group games (football etc.)

c. During any other (common) occasion.

The discussion

a. must be developed naturally and evenly

b. cannot be “pressed”

c. must follow but also be connected to the matters

interesting the Group

d. cannot include personal observations

e. cannot deal with generalities and vague words

f. must face all sorts of views

g. presupposes encourage of the children for expression

of their views.

Matters

a. matters of faith (Apologetics etc.)

b. of dilemmas (problematism)

c. general orientation

d. of world theory

e. matters related to the relation with the other sex

f. matters urging to a spiritual struggle and bringing enthusiasm for this

g. matters creating interest for heroism in spiritual

sphere

h. national-patriotic-historical

i. cultural – educational.

WAY OF NARRATION

A good story

a. is pleasing every child

b. must be interesting

c. must be impressive, but above all convincing

d. must be necessarily narrated in a right way

It needs

a. imagination

b. creative ability

A. Selection of the Story

a. its purpose is the pleasure and benefit

b. the moral conclusion must be preferably drawn by the audience

c. moralization must be avoided.

B. Preparation of the story

a. we must know it well

b. right, but simple description (if needed) of the

place, the time, the person and of any other relative element.

c. we must not slutter in narration

d. No mechanical memorizing

C. Narration of the story

a. we address it to the specific audience

b. we make the story live with face expressions

c. voice expression

d. we must speak simply and frugally

e. we speak to the others on equal basis

f. slowly with clarity and distinctness

g. the narration starts as soon as the audience is

completely quiet.

Stories from the Bible

Friends	John 15: 12-17
Perjury	Matt. 5: 33-37
The character of the Christian	Matt. 7: 24-27
	5: 3-12
	5: 21-24
	Psalms 1, 8, 23, 46, 57, 91
	Luke 18: 9-14
Culture of the talents	Matt.25: 14-30
Abasement	John 13: 5-9
Mutual assistance	Luke 10: 30-37
Co-operation	Rom. 12: 1-13
Courage	Jesus Navi 1: 1-9
Honesty	Luke 19: 1-10
Preparation	Matt. 24: 1-13
Preoccupation	John 1: 43-47
Home-Family	Gen. 37: 3-36
Home-Family	Ruth 1: 8-10
Home-Family	Ruth 1: 14-18
Insistence	Matt. 7: 7-11
Good fame	Matt. 7: 15-20
Sincerity	Matt. 6: 1-4
Devotion	Mark 8: 27-35

+Fr. George

Дата добавления: 2015-10-23