Children’s Education

Orthodoxy is a lived faith and children are included in services from the time they are born. They have roles to play in many parts of the services, can take in as much of the service as is age-appropriate, and they can play quietly with their friends or read during the service.

After the Sunday Liturgy, our Children’s Team volunteers do age-appropriate activities with the children. We currently have two groups – Children and Youth. We have around 10 elementary-aged children and 3-4 upcoming toddlers and preschoolers attending regularly. We have about 8 youth, teens and pre-teens.

Our Youth Club meets every month for fellowship activities.

After lunch, while parents enjoy talking and fellowship, children can run around in the outdoor playground (supervised by the parents of the children using the playground) or play quietly in an indoor area with coloring and books.

Because Orthodoxy is a lived faith, home life is full of teaching moments. Coming to weekly services, prayers before meals, icon corners with your child’s patron saint, and celebrating Feast Days all surround your child with Orthodox traditions. Our Children’s Team and the child’s parents work together to make daily life a blessing.

Adult Education

Discovering Orthodoxy

Contact Fr Andrew if you are interested at 1-250-420-1582 or [email protected]

These sessions are a follow-up to the 6 articles that appeared in the Townsman in December 2023 and which are posted on our website under ‘Father’s Desk’.

Book Study

We often have evening sessions both in-person and online to discuss various Orthodox books.

Our 2025 Fall Book Study offered a 12-week study once a week on Zoom on Wednesdays at 7:30pm. They were 1.5 hr. sessions. The book chosen by Fr Andrew was “Living as a Christian in a World that Rejects God” by a wonderful modern saint, (reposed in 2015) Archimandrite Roman Braga.

The book study will be in the usual format. We will each try to read one chapter a week before the weekly session and will underline or make notes of anything that sparks our attention. We will then take turns reading through the chapter as a group and pause after each page or section to discuss what we may have noted, or anything that stands out as we read. If we fall a little behind, we will add a couple weeks on to the end of the study.There is no requirement to commit to attending every session, just join in as you are able. Please send Fr Andrew an e-mail to confirm you are coming and so he has your preferred e-mail to add to the Zoom link mail out list.

Contact Father Andrew for more information at 1-250-420-1582 or [email protected]

Orthodoxy 101

Times can be arranged with Fr. Andrew.

The 8-week Orthodoxy 101 education class for those interested in joining the Orthodox Church, and open to everyone wether they are already baptised or not, is held in-person or on ZOOM, is a basic overview of who we are, explaining some basic similarities and differences between the Eastern Orthodox understanding of Christianity, the Western Roman Catholic and many-faceted Protestant understanding of Christianity and the Church;  our history, what we are “saved” into, why we worship as we do, the Orthodox understanding of God, the Bible and tradition, etc.

The format is to watch two 20-minute video’s from Fr. Barnabas Powell each session, and have a 20-minute discussion and Q and A period after each video. It takes about an hour and a half for each session.

Journey to Fullness (Fr. Barnabas Powell) 16 lesson Outline (20 min. each)

 1st week:  Lesson 1: Is this trip really Necessary?  Lesson 2: What is the Orthodox Church?

2nd week: Lesson 3: When did Orthodoxy Begin? Lesson 4: Characteristics of Orthodox Christianity.

3rd week: Lesson 5: Mindset Matters, Lesson 6: A Healing Purpose.

4th week: Lesson 7: Truth and Tradition, Lesson 8: How do I understand the Bible?

5th week: Lesson 9: When we say God Part 1; Lesson 10: When we say God Part 2

6th week: Lesson 11: God with us, Lesson 12: Our Ultimate Purpose

7th week: Lesson 13: Salvation as Participation, Lesson 14: Orthodox Worship

8th week: Lesson 15: A Beautiful Rhythm, Lesson 16: The Journey Continues