Welcome to the Saint Mark of Ephesus Church School Page

Lenten & Paschal Church School Schedule including May (red highlights denote no church school)

2/26: Forgiveness Sunday (no church school)

3/5: Sunday of Orthodoxy (no church school)

3/12: St. Gregory Palamas (church school following the prayers of thanksgiving)

3/19: Veneration of the Precious Cross (no church school)

3/26: St. John Climacus (church school following the prayers of thanksgiving)

4/2: St. Mary of Egypt (church school following the prayers of thankgiving)

4/9: Palm Sunday (no church school)

4/16: Great and Holy Pascha (no church school)

4/23: Antipascha - Great Martyr George (no church school)

4/30: Sunday of the Myrrhbearers (church school following the prayers of thanksgiving)

5/7: Sunday of the Paralytic (church school following the prayers of thanksgiving)

5/14: The Samaritan Woman (church school following the prayers of thanksgiving)

5/21: Sunday of the Blind Man (church school following the prayers of thanksgiving)

5/28: Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council & Last Day of Church School

Church School Curriculum for 2022 -2023

We will begin the church school year by learning about our Classroom Patron Saints and the Nicene Creed. In October, the students will learn how to pray the Jesus Prayer and they will begin learning about the Saints and the Animals that Served Them; this will be an ongoing project that they will work on both in church school and at home. Our main focus, however, will be mainly on each Sunday’s Gospel lesson which you can find on the OCA website at https://www.oca.org. I encourage each child to share the Gospel story we read and learn about in class with their family at home. 

In November, we will learn about the Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos and we will spend the month of December learning about the Winter Saints: St. Herman, St. Lucia, St. Nicholas and the Nativity of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ. For the rest of the winter season, we will learn about the Theophany of Christ and the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple. In Spring, we will learn about the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, Great Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Great and Holy Pascha.

Throughout the year, students will be encouraged to borrow books from the lending library (located in the church school room) – books may be borrowed for two weeks. At the end of the school year, the child who has read the most books will be presented with a very special gift on the last day of church school. As parents and educators, we must continue to encourage our children to read books about their Orthodox faith which will, in turn, enrich their lives and bring them closer to God. 

Church School meets every Sunday (unless otherwise noted) after the Thanksgiving Prayers are read and the duration of the class will be approximately 20 minutes. We accept new enrollments all year long and registration forms are available on the bulletin board in the bookstore. Children of all ages are welcome to attend church school. The last day of church school will be on Sunday, June 4. 

We are blessed to have the opportunity to teach your children and I look forward to the church school year.

Church School Teachers: Subdeacon Peter Condrick & Catherine Condrick