Details to be announced soon!

Check back for further information.

Central York Middle School

11am to 3pm with performances in the auditorium from 1-3pm including Flamenco dance!

More information soon.

Fr Stephen serves coffee at Agia Sophia Coffee Shop and Bookstore in Harrisburg, PA on Sunday January 15 following a blessing of the Susquehanna River.  The coffee shop was packed full of visitors sampling specialty coffees, some sitting on soft leather sofas, others exploring the carefully arranged bookshelves. It was my first visit and I was impressed! The smell of coffee beans, the sound of friendly chatter,  and intricate  decor  was quite a feast for the senses.

Inspired by the original Agia Sophia in Colorado Springs, CO, this coffee shop is perfectly located at 225 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, opposite the Whittaker Centre.  The classic decor provides a warm and inviting ambience… and  all profits benefit local charities.

Agia Sophia is a relaxing and spiritual haven to enjoy your coffee or tea while browsing classic literature.   Find out more by visiting:

http://agiasophiaharrisburg.com/

Visit Agia Sophia Coffee Shop and Bookstore soon and bring a friend!

In Concert

Sunday February 5, 2012

St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church

2397 N. Sherman Street

York, PA 17406

717 751 4709

“For all the times you’ve felt different…For all the times you’ve been left out and left alone…And for all the dreams that haven’t come true…God has a message of hope for you.”

Crafted by master storyteller Max Lucado with  his three daughters, The Crippled Lamb tells the story of a little lamb who is different, who is left out and left behind. But one starry night, he learns a lesson that is true for us all: “Don’t be sad…God has a special place for those who feel left out.”

A reading of The Crippled Lamb will be aired this week from December 23 on my podcast, Readings from Under the Grapevine on Ancient Faith Radio.

http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/grapevine/

Win a copy by leaving a message below (click on blog title if necessary) by December 30. The winner will be picked by a random draw! I look forward to hearing from you!

Merry Christmas!

Chrissi Hart

Dedicate one of my books for your child this Christmas! Orthodox Christian books that celebrate Greek Cypriot culture:

Under the Grapevine: A Miracle by Saint Kendeas of Cyprus published by Conciliar Press:

“…The writing and illustrations are beautiful, and the story guides both young and old to look to the Saints of the Holy Orthodox Church for Intercession with our Lord. It is even more uplifting to know that it is based on the true story of your grandmother, and her miraculous healing through the intercession of St. Kendeas.

…I would highly recommend your book to all of our parents as a way of inspiring great hope in our children….”

–Metropolitan PHILIP
Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America
The Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

The Hermit, The Icon and The Emperor: The Holy Virgin Comes to Cyprus published by Conciliar Press.

Deeply embedded in the history and hearts of Cypriots and venerated in the Orthodox Church, the icon of the Mother of God at Kykkos Monastery in Cyprus is among the oldest continuously active miracle-working images in the Christian world.  Its legend, already well formed when it was first recorded in the fifteenth century, revolves around recognized historical figures from the early twelfth century in the imperial court of Byzantium, thus rooting the image in the prime of the most enduring Christian empire the world has ever known.

The story of the icon of Kykkos has been retold many times over the centuries, and shaped to serve many different aims and ideals.  In this visually captivating book, its story is told in a way that will enchant children.  Opening a world of splendor and heartfelt feeling to them that will surely arouse their curiosity about Byzantium, the book prompts them at the same time to ponder the deep design that underlies the dramas and traumas of the characters, drawing them together with the icon into a luminous web of divine intention.
– Annemarie Weyl Carr, Professor of Art History Emeritus, Southern Methodist University

Also available in Greek.

$15 with free shipping in the US. Please contact me using the contact page or by email: chrissihart1@gmail.com and give the name of the person you would like the book dedicated to.

Tomorrow is the feast day of Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra! Everything you need to know about this beloved saint, who Saint Nicholas is, stories around the world and how to celebrate the feast day can be found on this website, http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/who-is-st-nicholas/

There is also a special page for children. Read more from the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America: http://www.goarch.org/special/nicholas

In Greece and Cyprus it is a custom to place shoes out for Saint Nicholas to fill with gifts!

There are several stories about this saint on my podcast, Readings from Under the Grapevine on Ancient Faith Radio. These are free to download for you and your children to enjoy anytime:

The Life of Saint Nicholas The Wonder-Worker by Nina Seco (St. Nectarios Press, 1994)

A Perfect Christmas by Dennis Eugene Engleman (Regina Orthodox Press, 2003) read in two parts

The Miraculous Child a Christmas folktale from old Russia retold by Alvin Aleksi Currier (Conciliar Press, 2000)

The Story of Three Girls, from The Life and Miracles of Saint Nicholas, The Wonderworker by Count Michael Tolstoy. The Publishing House of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, 2001. (4.48 mins)

And coming this Friday!

The Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan

Listen to these stories here: http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/grapevine/

Joyous Feast! Happy Listening!

Yesterday was my first presentation at Kids and Cultures summer camp in Lititz, PA where I shared the culture, history, lifestyle, photos and  artifacts from Cyprus,  with 40 children and camp staff.   I  read my book, Under the Grapevine,  A Miracle by Saint Kendeas of Cyprus published by Conciliar Press, with two fabulous kids standing on my right  who volunteered to try on Cypriot traditional costumes.  They looked awesome!

We played a marbles game, wove baskets, played a bean bag game and finished off with some Greek dancing, although we only had 5 minutes before parents arrived to pick up their children!.

Visit Kids and Cultures website for photos,

http://www.kidsandcultures.com/photovideo-gallery.html

We sampled some Cyprus Halloumi cheese, dolmades, halva and watermelon!

Here are a few photos of the costumes close up -

A traditional costume for girls and women

Traditional Headscarves worn with the outfit

Close up of embroidery on dress and jacket

And with a traditional gold coin necklace!

Boy’s outfit, consist of embroidered jacket which is worn over a white shirt, waistband, baggy trousers worn with black leather boots

Close up of boy’s jacket

Back of jacket

Beautiful!

Thank you to the Cyprus  Federation of America for providing traditional Cypriot costumes for this event!