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Blueprints for the Little Church: Creating an Orthodox Home
How do we as Orthodox parents keep our children in the Church throughout their lives? It all begins with involving them in the life of the Church from birth onward -- in the parish and also at home. Blueprints for the Little Church provides practical ideas and encouragement -- without judgement -- for incorporating the primary practices of Orthodox spirituality into your family life at every stage of its growth and throughout the church year.
225 pages, Paperback
Published May 18, 2016
57 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Elissa D. Bjeletich
7 books56 followersThis author is also published under Elissa Bjeletich Davis.
Elissa D. Bjeletich grew up in rural Napa Valley and attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied Comparative Literature (English, Spanish, Italian and Danish.) Elissa has five daughters and a son who reposed in 2005. Active in youth ministries and at Orthodox summer camps, she directs and teaches Sunday school at Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Austin, Texas. She sits on the Advisory Board of Youth Equipped to Serve (YES), a ministry of FOCUS North America, and is the host of four popular Ancient Faith Radio podcasts: Light Streams In, Everyday Orthodox, Raising Saints, and together with Kristina Wenger, Tending the Garden of Our Hearts.
Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families written with Kristina Wenger, is a collection of meditations for families, to carry them through Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha. From Bible stories to spiritual lessons to Saints' lives, the meditations both educate and inspire conversation in the home.
Blueprints for the Little Church: Creating an Orthodox Home written with Caleb Shoemaker, is a practical and down-to-earth guide for bringing an Orthodox rhythm to your family's life.
Welcoming the Christ Child: Family Readings for the Nativity Lent is a journey through the Old Testament, with 40 stories from Scripture to read aloud and questions to inspire conversation. Families can choose to read this book together throughout the year, or to make it a 40-day Advent preparation for the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; either way, these timeless stories from Scripture will equip families to engage in fruitful discussion.
The Grace of Being There: Single Mother Saints in our Lives is a collection of essays, in which Elissa contributes a chapter on one of her favorites: St. Helena.
In God's Hands: A mother's journey through her infant's critical illness is her testimony to God's faithfulness through suffering and struggles.
Elissa D. Bjeletich grew up in rural Napa Valley and attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied Comparative Literature (English, Spanish, Italian and Danish.) Elissa has five daughters and a son who reposed in 2005. Active in youth ministries and at Orthodox summer camps, she directs and teaches Sunday school at Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Austin, Texas. She sits on the Advisory Board of Youth Equipped to Serve (YES), a ministry of FOCUS North America, and is the host of four popular Ancient Faith Radio podcasts: Light Streams In, Everyday Orthodox, Raising Saints, and together with Kristina Wenger, Tending the Garden of Our Hearts.
Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families written with Kristina Wenger, is a collection of meditations for families, to carry them through Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha. From Bible stories to spiritual lessons to Saints' lives, the meditations both educate and inspire conversation in the home.
Blueprints for the Little Church: Creating an Orthodox Home written with Caleb Shoemaker, is a practical and down-to-earth guide for bringing an Orthodox rhythm to your family's life.
Welcoming the Christ Child: Family Readings for the Nativity Lent is a journey through the Old Testament, with 40 stories from Scripture to read aloud and questions to inspire conversation. Families can choose to read this book together throughout the year, or to make it a 40-day Advent preparation for the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; either way, these timeless stories from Scripture will equip families to engage in fruitful discussion.
The Grace of Being There: Single Mother Saints in our Lives is a collection of essays, in which Elissa contributes a chapter on one of her favorites: St. Helena.
In God's Hands: A mother's journey through her infant's critical illness is her testimony to God's faithfulness through suffering and struggles.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 18, 2016
Caleb Shoemaker and I wrote this book together, so this is a profoundly biased review.
We set out to create the book we wish we'd had when we began to make our homes truly Orthodox. So many of us will struggle alone to figure out what an Orthodox home looks like, to determine how much we can take on at once -- some of us will overdo it and burn out, and others will be so overwhelmed that we'll never get started.
This book is for everyone who wishes to bring the Church into their home, but isn't sure where to go next. Whether you are a new convert bringing a family into Orthodoxy, or an Orthodox Christian from birth who struggles to work out how to bring the faith to life in their own home, this book is for you.
We set out to create the book we wish we'd had when we began to make our homes truly Orthodox. So many of us will struggle alone to figure out what an Orthodox home looks like, to determine how much we can take on at once -- some of us will overdo it and burn out, and others will be so overwhelmed that we'll never get started.
This book is for everyone who wishes to bring the Church into their home, but isn't sure where to go next. Whether you are a new convert bringing a family into Orthodoxy, or an Orthodox Christian from birth who struggles to work out how to bring the faith to life in their own home, this book is for you.
August 8, 2016
I just finished reading a new book from Ancient Faith Publishing entitled Blueprints for the Little Church: Creating an Orthodox Home. I'm of course all for families finding a way to develop their domestic churches and so my bookshelves are full of books on the topic. Even considering the venerable age of some of these titles, they have held up well over time. There's an immutable quality to the Church that makes bringing a family together in prayer a timeless and priceless enterprise; the true wisdom of one decade is often the wisdom of the next for those who have ears to hear.
Blueprints of the Little Church begins with a discussion of why praying at home is important but also points out that prayer alone is insufficient. As the authors put it, "These three foundation stones for your little church are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving." With this expanded framework the book then walks unearths and then carefully places one stone after another in an organized manner so that by the time you've finished the book you have the beginnings of a strong substructure to build your family on. I don't say spiritual life or church life or any other such thing because these three things (prayer, fasting, almsgiving) should permeate everything. And, as the book points out, a Christian is not only a Christian when praying at home or on Sundays. We are expected to bear the image and likeness of Christ with us everywhere.
There is a lot in this book on how to start praying and how to avoid common pitfalls. No little space is given to prayer corners and developing a prayer rule that works with the family schedule. What it also has, and what I see a lot of value in, is a constant return to realizing that this part of your life will never be perfect. It will never measure up to that "glow in the dark" holy family in the parish that is always at church on time with children who are never at odds with one another or with parents that never seem to lose their tempers. Readers of this book will make mistakes and their children will push back against these formative efforts. As the authors say it is about love reflective of the love of God that will always be a better choice than anger or frustration. This is your family's walk and no one else's so avoid the trap of comparing your family to others you know. To fall down is human. To get up and try again is salvific.
The book moves onto how to begin fasting and how to set realistic expectations. As with much of this book (in fact from the opening words of the Blueprints) there is a recommendation to consult with your priest. This book isn't a replacement for a parish priest, it's in no small way a study guide for how to make the most of the pastoral relationship. This section is followed by some words on stewardship and then an appendix on the liturgical year.
All the above should point to my fondness for the Blueprints for the Little Church. I wouldn't hesitate to give this book to catechumens of mine with small children. Truly, I wouldn't feel awkward putting this in a parish bookstore for "cradle" families to read. It's a handbook for family growth and betterment for those families that want a little direction or encouragement in turning the family towards Christ and His Church.
Let me say, though, that families with older children (say teenagers) may well flip through the pages asking, "Where do I learn how to get my fifteen year old interested in praying with us?" That is somewhat outside the scope of this book. At a pastoral level I can say that this situation has so many unique difficulties that it would need another book entirely to fully address teens and the Church. Convincing a 7 year old to pray and come to church is not the same discussion you will have with a teen. In broad strokes prayer, patience, and love are the same colors to paint with, but Blueprints is not going to speak to that situation in as direct a way as parents of older children may like. This doesn't detract from the merits of the book in any way and I offer this only in clarification.
Blueprints of the Little Church begins with a discussion of why praying at home is important but also points out that prayer alone is insufficient. As the authors put it, "These three foundation stones for your little church are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving." With this expanded framework the book then walks unearths and then carefully places one stone after another in an organized manner so that by the time you've finished the book you have the beginnings of a strong substructure to build your family on. I don't say spiritual life or church life or any other such thing because these three things (prayer, fasting, almsgiving) should permeate everything. And, as the book points out, a Christian is not only a Christian when praying at home or on Sundays. We are expected to bear the image and likeness of Christ with us everywhere.
There is a lot in this book on how to start praying and how to avoid common pitfalls. No little space is given to prayer corners and developing a prayer rule that works with the family schedule. What it also has, and what I see a lot of value in, is a constant return to realizing that this part of your life will never be perfect. It will never measure up to that "glow in the dark" holy family in the parish that is always at church on time with children who are never at odds with one another or with parents that never seem to lose their tempers. Readers of this book will make mistakes and their children will push back against these formative efforts. As the authors say it is about love reflective of the love of God that will always be a better choice than anger or frustration. This is your family's walk and no one else's so avoid the trap of comparing your family to others you know. To fall down is human. To get up and try again is salvific.
The book moves onto how to begin fasting and how to set realistic expectations. As with much of this book (in fact from the opening words of the Blueprints) there is a recommendation to consult with your priest. This book isn't a replacement for a parish priest, it's in no small way a study guide for how to make the most of the pastoral relationship. This section is followed by some words on stewardship and then an appendix on the liturgical year.
All the above should point to my fondness for the Blueprints for the Little Church. I wouldn't hesitate to give this book to catechumens of mine with small children. Truly, I wouldn't feel awkward putting this in a parish bookstore for "cradle" families to read. It's a handbook for family growth and betterment for those families that want a little direction or encouragement in turning the family towards Christ and His Church.
Let me say, though, that families with older children (say teenagers) may well flip through the pages asking, "Where do I learn how to get my fifteen year old interested in praying with us?" That is somewhat outside the scope of this book. At a pastoral level I can say that this situation has so many unique difficulties that it would need another book entirely to fully address teens and the Church. Convincing a 7 year old to pray and come to church is not the same discussion you will have with a teen. In broad strokes prayer, patience, and love are the same colors to paint with, but Blueprints is not going to speak to that situation in as direct a way as parents of older children may like. This doesn't detract from the merits of the book in any way and I offer this only in clarification.
November 23, 2022
Beautiful encouragements for expecting mothers and families. I would highly recommend this book for 1st generation Orthodox Converts who are expecting children or already have children.
This book discusses fasting, Almsgiving, and prayer, how to approach these as a family and how to make it your own (given each varying family and their circumstance). The appendix has a host of activities and crafts for each of the great feasts through the liturgical year (an great resource to add to homeschool curriculum or simply keep it in your book shelf for creative ways to teach your children about the church).
This book discusses fasting, Almsgiving, and prayer, how to approach these as a family and how to make it your own (given each varying family and their circumstance). The appendix has a host of activities and crafts for each of the great feasts through the liturgical year (an great resource to add to homeschool curriculum or simply keep it in your book shelf for creative ways to teach your children about the church).
October 7, 2019
For a mom who did not grow up in the Orthodox Church, who has two elementary-aged kids as well as an infant, Blueprints for the Little Church is a true blessing. The book provides a thoughtful, modern guide for parents from all Orthodox backgrounds to help them raise their children as faithful servants of the Church and of God. Co-authors Elissa Bjeletich and Caleb Shoemaker, both converts themselves, have touched on a very specific need for modern Orthodox families: an easy-to-use compilation of the wisdom of the Fathers and of Orthodox tradition when it comes to the spiritual life of Orthodox families.
For those who are new to the faith, Blueprints provides a rich introduction to the practices and traditions of Orthodoxy, including those conducted in the home as a family and individually, and those practiced within the church body. However, the book can also be helpful to those who have been Orthodox for years. I was chrismated in the Orthodox Church in my early 20’s, and I certainly learned a great deal as a catechumen and as a new convert, but I don’t recall that I ever read anything so comprehensive as this book when it comes to the day-to-day practices of Orthodoxy in family life. At different times in my journey I’ve had to ask questions about baptisms, house blessings, certain fasting practices, as well as those fun “small t” traditions that happen in every church and Orthodox home. Blueprints offers full explanations of all of these facets of the spiritual journey (and more!) in a way that is encouraging, helpful, and understanding of the need to ease into a fuller Orthodox practice over time. As with any wise counsel, Elissa and Caleb admonish readers to consult their priests on these matters, and to remember that no family is perfect, nor will any family be able to do “everything”. At the same time, their guidance will provide a family with the ability to make their home a place of greater spiritual fruit.
As my husband and I prepare to guide our two older children through the older elementary and teenage years, and begin again at square one with our newest addition, I am certain that Blueprints for the Little Church will be an invaluable resource in bringing them up to be faithful, joyous Orthodox Christians.
For those who are new to the faith, Blueprints provides a rich introduction to the practices and traditions of Orthodoxy, including those conducted in the home as a family and individually, and those practiced within the church body. However, the book can also be helpful to those who have been Orthodox for years. I was chrismated in the Orthodox Church in my early 20’s, and I certainly learned a great deal as a catechumen and as a new convert, but I don’t recall that I ever read anything so comprehensive as this book when it comes to the day-to-day practices of Orthodoxy in family life. At different times in my journey I’ve had to ask questions about baptisms, house blessings, certain fasting practices, as well as those fun “small t” traditions that happen in every church and Orthodox home. Blueprints offers full explanations of all of these facets of the spiritual journey (and more!) in a way that is encouraging, helpful, and understanding of the need to ease into a fuller Orthodox practice over time. As with any wise counsel, Elissa and Caleb admonish readers to consult their priests on these matters, and to remember that no family is perfect, nor will any family be able to do “everything”. At the same time, their guidance will provide a family with the ability to make their home a place of greater spiritual fruit.
As my husband and I prepare to guide our two older children through the older elementary and teenage years, and begin again at square one with our newest addition, I am certain that Blueprints for the Little Church will be an invaluable resource in bringing them up to be faithful, joyous Orthodox Christians.
October 17, 2025
It was good, just pretty basic. If you’re absolutely brand new to Orthodoxy this could be helpful, but wasn’t very deep. Chrysostom, Paisios, and Theophan the recluse on family life were much more worthy reads.
August 13, 2016
I found most of the information to be really basic, but there were a few tidbits I started to apply to life with my little guy.
September 12, 2019
What a wonderful resource for Orthodox families! I was received into Orthodoxy earlier this year, drawn in large part by how seriously Orthodoxy asks us to take our faith. There is no arbitrary separation of a Sunday morning spirituality versus the rest of the secular week. While I very much want to consciously focus my everyday life around Christ and our faith, it can be overwhelming and challenging to prioritize the changes — especially with children who are not used to them.
I was so grateful to be able to review BLUEPRINTS FOR THE LITTLE CHURCH because it addressed all sorts of practical considerations that swirl around the mind of a new convert like me. Of course I can and do ask my priest about things, but it’s also nice to have other voices of experience to turn to as well. When you’ve never prayed as a family and fasting has just been something you’ve done before an annual physical, where do you start? The authors acknowledge how overwhelming - albeit, of course, fruitful - it can be to begin to build one’s little church at home and wisely distill your first steps down to two simple ones: pray and go to church. That basic start suddenly seems much more manageable. The book even suggests an initial prayer and encourages you to stop what you are doing and pray with your family to get over the initial hurdle.
Another thing I appreciate is that they also address basic questions that converts may have that others simply take for granted. For example, I know that the Orthodox typically have a prayer corner, but I’m always interested in how they’ve chosen to set it up and if there are any rules or practices I’m unintentionally breaking. Similarly, the section on how to prepare for and what to expect of a house blessing was very helpful.
Finally, I really appreciated how the book addressed the presence of children in church. I struggle with some anxiety over what standards to set for my own children during Divine Liturgy, so it was helpful to be reminded that they have a right to participate as well as to be given some specific ideas to make the time more meaningful to them as they grow up. As one page states, "If we can remember we are weak, like the children placed in our care, then we can pass along to them the mercy and forgiveness God has generously poured down upon us." It can be so easy to think of our children as distractions that prevent us from experiencing the services as we would like, but truly, they are also creations of God whom it is my privilege to bring with me. To be honest, I do sometimes need that reminder.
There is a wealth of information here, from fasting to observing the liturgical year, that both encouraged and taught me so much. This would be a great gift from a sponsor to a newly-received family or even to a newly married couple. I also think this would make a great tool in a discussion group for parents.
I was so grateful to be able to review BLUEPRINTS FOR THE LITTLE CHURCH because it addressed all sorts of practical considerations that swirl around the mind of a new convert like me. Of course I can and do ask my priest about things, but it’s also nice to have other voices of experience to turn to as well. When you’ve never prayed as a family and fasting has just been something you’ve done before an annual physical, where do you start? The authors acknowledge how overwhelming - albeit, of course, fruitful - it can be to begin to build one’s little church at home and wisely distill your first steps down to two simple ones: pray and go to church. That basic start suddenly seems much more manageable. The book even suggests an initial prayer and encourages you to stop what you are doing and pray with your family to get over the initial hurdle.
Another thing I appreciate is that they also address basic questions that converts may have that others simply take for granted. For example, I know that the Orthodox typically have a prayer corner, but I’m always interested in how they’ve chosen to set it up and if there are any rules or practices I’m unintentionally breaking. Similarly, the section on how to prepare for and what to expect of a house blessing was very helpful.
Finally, I really appreciated how the book addressed the presence of children in church. I struggle with some anxiety over what standards to set for my own children during Divine Liturgy, so it was helpful to be reminded that they have a right to participate as well as to be given some specific ideas to make the time more meaningful to them as they grow up. As one page states, "If we can remember we are weak, like the children placed in our care, then we can pass along to them the mercy and forgiveness God has generously poured down upon us." It can be so easy to think of our children as distractions that prevent us from experiencing the services as we would like, but truly, they are also creations of God whom it is my privilege to bring with me. To be honest, I do sometimes need that reminder.
There is a wealth of information here, from fasting to observing the liturgical year, that both encouraged and taught me so much. This would be a great gift from a sponsor to a newly-received family or even to a newly married couple. I also think this would make a great tool in a discussion group for parents.
September 29, 2019
“Our job as parents is to help make the soil healthy and ready to receive the words of the Gospel; God will bring the harvest.”
Being a parent is my most rewarding and difficult job. Teaching your children to not only be good people but also how to be Orthodox Christians is an even more challenging job. I highly recommend this book, Blueprint for the Little Church: Creating an Orthodox Home by Elissa Bjeletich and Caleb Shoemaker, as the handbook that every Orthodox parent needs to help your family grow in the Orthodox faith. The book covers many aspects of Orthodox parenting: at church, at home, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Both the seasoned Orthodox parent and those parents who are new to the faith will find this book helpful tool for their family’s faith journey.
“Always remember that we fall down and we get back up, and we fall down and we get back up. This is the true rhythm of the Orthodox life.” This book provides the reader with practical step by step directions for ways to carry out the faith in our homes and with our families. The authors discuss how to create a sacred space, finding a practical prayer rule, different ways of fasting, and the value of giving. They give strategies and suggestions for troubleshooting common problems that families face over the years as their children grow. With four children in our family all at various stages of development, this book gave me practical advice and ideas to help each of my children grow in their faith.
The book concludes with a review of the liturgical year, all of the feast days and fasting seasons. Practical suggestions are provided for each part of the liturgical year with simple explanations and crafts to accompany the teachings of the church. This book will enhance your faith and the faith of your family through it’s thoughtful and practical review of church practice and the way that Orthodox faith is practiced in the home. “We often forget that we are all God’s children first, and parents are merely trusted stewards of His beloved children.”
*Disclosure: This book was gifted to me in exchange for my honest opinion.
Being a parent is my most rewarding and difficult job. Teaching your children to not only be good people but also how to be Orthodox Christians is an even more challenging job. I highly recommend this book, Blueprint for the Little Church: Creating an Orthodox Home by Elissa Bjeletich and Caleb Shoemaker, as the handbook that every Orthodox parent needs to help your family grow in the Orthodox faith. The book covers many aspects of Orthodox parenting: at church, at home, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Both the seasoned Orthodox parent and those parents who are new to the faith will find this book helpful tool for their family’s faith journey.
“Always remember that we fall down and we get back up, and we fall down and we get back up. This is the true rhythm of the Orthodox life.” This book provides the reader with practical step by step directions for ways to carry out the faith in our homes and with our families. The authors discuss how to create a sacred space, finding a practical prayer rule, different ways of fasting, and the value of giving. They give strategies and suggestions for troubleshooting common problems that families face over the years as their children grow. With four children in our family all at various stages of development, this book gave me practical advice and ideas to help each of my children grow in their faith.
The book concludes with a review of the liturgical year, all of the feast days and fasting seasons. Practical suggestions are provided for each part of the liturgical year with simple explanations and crafts to accompany the teachings of the church. This book will enhance your faith and the faith of your family through it’s thoughtful and practical review of church practice and the way that Orthodox faith is practiced in the home. “We often forget that we are all God’s children first, and parents are merely trusted stewards of His beloved children.”
*Disclosure: This book was gifted to me in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 7, 2018
When my husband and I decided to become Eastern Orthodox I was so overwhelmed, yet I knew one thing for sure. I wanted to be a part of a church that view my role as a mom as important. Not just on paper, but in practice. So in a massive amount of emotions and confusion I ordered this book(based on the title alone). Having only been attending an Orthodox church for a few weeks this book was a huge source of comfort. The more I read the more I knew that this is exactly what I had been praying for, and exactly how I wanted our home to function. To be honest there were a lot of things that went way over my head(but being in Protestant Christianity for over the past decade, this whole world is completely different to me), yet it was all presented in a very friendly and inviting way. I would highly recommend this book to people just starting out in the Orthodox faith, and wondering how to bring your family and home into this beautiful process. Once I had finished reading it even my husband picked it up, and although he is much more theologically knowledgeable than myself he also enjoyed and appreciated all the knowledge this book has to offer.
October 17, 2020
A beautiful book full of guidance on how to build an Orthodox home on the foundation of Christ.
I appreciated the abundance of concrete advice, from how to set up an icon corner to how to establish a prayer rule. As recent converts, my family and I are still learning how to walk in the wisdom of the Church, so this book was helpful as a window into what our home could look like as our family grows. It also provided much-needed insight into the history and beauty of the many traditions of the Church.
The authors have clearly experienced the joys and struggles of bringing up children in the Lord, and incorporated insights from a wide range of other Orthodox parents as well. I listened to this as an audiobook, and I especially appreciated Elissa’s voice--I felt encouraged to push onwards toward greater holiness for myself and for my family. I was given small, clear, practical steps to take in continuing to build a Christian home.
Listening to this audiobook made joining the Orthodox Church seem much less overwhelming and much more beautiful!
I appreciated the abundance of concrete advice, from how to set up an icon corner to how to establish a prayer rule. As recent converts, my family and I are still learning how to walk in the wisdom of the Church, so this book was helpful as a window into what our home could look like as our family grows. It also provided much-needed insight into the history and beauty of the many traditions of the Church.
The authors have clearly experienced the joys and struggles of bringing up children in the Lord, and incorporated insights from a wide range of other Orthodox parents as well. I listened to this as an audiobook, and I especially appreciated Elissa’s voice--I felt encouraged to push onwards toward greater holiness for myself and for my family. I was given small, clear, practical steps to take in continuing to build a Christian home.
Listening to this audiobook made joining the Orthodox Church seem much less overwhelming and much more beautiful!
July 20, 2020
Well, it took me a long time to finish this short and easy (when it comes to style, not content) read! I guess that’s what happens when you have another newborn baby!
I’ve taken this time to cut back on my fiction and read up on the things that matter most in life - namely my faith and the way I will raise my little ones. My wife asked me to read this book, and I’m glad she did.
“Blueprints” helps any Orthodox Christian family set up their home as a “little church” so that the family will always focus on God and prayer.
This book does deal primarily with Orthodox theology, but I would argue that this book is excellent for any Protestant or Catholic family, too, that wants to center their home life on the Faith.
It’s a good read, and it includes a wonderful Appendix with activities for families to do together that revolve around the liturgical calendar.
I’ve taken this time to cut back on my fiction and read up on the things that matter most in life - namely my faith and the way I will raise my little ones. My wife asked me to read this book, and I’m glad she did.
“Blueprints” helps any Orthodox Christian family set up their home as a “little church” so that the family will always focus on God and prayer.
This book does deal primarily with Orthodox theology, but I would argue that this book is excellent for any Protestant or Catholic family, too, that wants to center their home life on the Faith.
It’s a good read, and it includes a wonderful Appendix with activities for families to do together that revolve around the liturgical calendar.
March 24, 2019
This is a perfect book for anyone who is new to Orthodoxy or are new parents trying to implement Orthodox beliefs and practices into their family in ways that their children will understand and appreciate. It's full of practical advice on prayer, fasting, almsgiving, church services, and even includes an appendix with crafts and ideas on celebrating every major feast day as a family. It's both convicting and encouraging for parents who may be struggling with how to bring their kids up in the faith. I hugely recommend it to every Orthodox parent looking for practical, spiritual, down-to-earth, and realistic parenting tips as well as learning more about their own faith.
February 11, 2025
A very helpful quick and easy read for how to implement some of the major elements of the Orthodox Faith into your family life. Some of which you’ll probably already know from catechism, but still helpful nonetheless.
I enjoyed the quotes from real parents, especially in the fasting section, which helped me feel not so alone in not always holding to the fasts perfectly.
Also, in the appendix are creative craft ideas for helping your children to follow along with the church calendar year. I will keep these in my back pocket for when my soon-to-be-born son is old enough for homeschool type activities. They even have a Pinterest page with additional ideas!
I enjoyed the quotes from real parents, especially in the fasting section, which helped me feel not so alone in not always holding to the fasts perfectly.
Also, in the appendix are creative craft ideas for helping your children to follow along with the church calendar year. I will keep these in my back pocket for when my soon-to-be-born son is old enough for homeschool type activities. They even have a Pinterest page with additional ideas!
February 20, 2019
A great book to get rightly oriented towards building a little church in the home. While this book lays the foundations for building this little church, it really is just the blueprints. Much more could still be said in detail, but I really appreciated the short length of the book. The authors leave a lot of room to discuss things with your priest and other parish members and to do your own research.
January 3, 2021
Purely content-wise, this is an incredibly helpful book for those looking to establish an Orthodox home--wherever they're at in their walk.
Not being Orthodox myself, and unmarried/no kids, I'll confess I couldn't relate to a large portion of the read. But, I found it an intriguing window into Orthodox life (particularly as I've long been fascinated by Eastern Orthodoxy, and picked it up for that alone), and did get some takeaways for incorporating liturgy into my own personal faith walk.
Not being Orthodox myself, and unmarried/no kids, I'll confess I couldn't relate to a large portion of the read. But, I found it an intriguing window into Orthodox life (particularly as I've long been fascinated by Eastern Orthodoxy, and picked it up for that alone), and did get some takeaways for incorporating liturgy into my own personal faith walk.
November 1, 2022
This is a wonderful guide for living the life of the Orthodox Church outside of the parish walls. I was encouraged, I was challenged, I have many ideas for implementing our faith in our home. This is a must-read for any Orthodox Christian whether you’re raising children or not. I especially appreciated the elaborate appendix, which I will use as a reference throughout the year as we celebrate the feasts.
October 27, 2020
Incredible resource. The book was engaging and hammered 3 principles down (prayer, fasting, & almsgiving) with incredible examples on how to execute this plan. Too often we find help books that don't lay out practical application, and not only does this book do it in the chapters, but in the appendix as well. I highly recommend this book if you are an Orthodox Convert.
July 7, 2021
There's definitely some gems in here. It's extremely practical. Very "mom to mom" tone. A few topics are delt with in a manner that would cause me not to recommend the book to new converts, who are the targeted audience, but there's a lot of individually good ideas in here that it's almost better for Orthodox Christians who already established in the faith.
February 2, 2020
I devoured this book! I highlighted soooo many parts. I took notes. I copied and pasted things I wanted to remember. I’ve already applied much of what I learned and felt affirmed that I’m heading in the right direction.
June 6, 2024
Good book, lots of insight for expecting and current Orthodox parents. The last third was a little slow to get through but this books has many good ideas for how to structure spiritual life in the home and follow a liturgical cycle.
January 28, 2019
A great resource.
February 11, 2019
A great resource to refer back to. A lovely introduction to the fullness of the faith at home and what that means for many different families.
October 29, 2022
Perfect for cradle Orthodox or converts!!
December 22, 2022
Really encouraging and helpful, with great ideas for creating routine around the church year.
September 17, 2023
Such a practical and thorough guide to walking out Orthodoxy with your family. Excellent examples of how to make your way through the liturgical year together.
June 4, 2025
Very encouraging.
July 15, 2023
A treasure trove of ideas and ways to guide one's family through life. Also great reminders that not everyone has their stuff together so relax while you're in liturgy! Will warrant a re-read for sure as the family grows and changes.
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