GOOD STORIES, WRITTEN BY A NUN

As promised, here is my post about Mother Melania and her wonderful books for children...

Chapel at Holy Assumption Monastery

Mother Melania, who I am blessed to call my friend, is the acting superior of the Orthodox community of Holy Assumption Monastery in Calistoga, California.  She has authored two series of children’s books:  her first series, "Halo Stories", includes the collections The Twelve Great Feasts for Children; The Three-Day Pascha Set; and Old Testament Stories for Children. These books all feature beautiful watercolor paintings done by artist and iconographer Bonnie Gillis.

On fire-preparedness day, the Duck Pond 

neighbors are all cleaning up – all except Greedy,

 a bit of a hoarder. His loot causes his home to 

burn, and he learns a difficult lesson.

"Good Neighbors", the newest series of books written by Mother Melania, teaches children about being good neighbors through the comical adventures of the animals who live around Duck Pond - who must often be saved from the consequences of their foolish choices by Fearless the Fire Duck. The illustrator for this whimsical series is Cayce Kruse Halsell.

The idea for these stories came when members of Mother Melania's former community - Saint Barbara Monastery in Santa Paula, CA - were evacuated from their monastery due to a fire that swept through the nearby mountains. On their way back home, some of the sisters stopped to buy small gifts for some children and brought home a rubber ducky sporting a fire hat. Immediately, he became Fearless the Fire Duck and soon he had a whole community of friends.

Mother Melania has partnered with THE BENEFACTORY, a 21 year-old publisher of wholesome, nurturing children’s stories. Together they have launched a unique opportunity for work-at-home-moms – who offer storytelling events in homes, schools, libraries and churches.  These storytellers sign on for their own home-based business, hold events for other parents or parents with children, read stories to the children, and set them up with art activities, while parents browse the products.

Mother Melania with some of her books...

Sales of all Mother Melania's book series are available through THE BENEFACTORY, and help support both Holy Assumption and St. Barbara Monasteries. (The Benefactory also publishes a third series of books, "True Friends" - written by various authors about animals, the sales of which benefit 12 nonprofit animal protection organizations.)  If you'd like information about becoming a Storyteller with The Benefactory or to order books, CLICK HERE.

OTHER BOOKS IN THE "GOOD NEIGHBORS" SERIES:
A vain and self-centered cat learns humility. In attempting to match the antics of a squirrel, Capers strands himself in a tree. Harry, his bloodhound pal, and Fearless the Fire Duck come to the rescue.

The only words Mimi seems to know are ‘me’ and ‘mine’ – until she is saved by others, during a neighborhood disaster. Through this she begins to think of others.

THE GREAT BLESSING OF THE WATERS

Great Blessing of the Waters by Boris Kustodiev

During the Orthodox service for the feast day of Theophany (or Epiphany), the priest makes the Sign of the Cross over the water with his hand and prays specifically for God's blessing to be invoked upon it. At the climax of the service, he immerses the hand cross into the water three times in imitation of Christ's baptism to the singing of the festal troparion:

When Thou wast baptized in the Jordan, O Lord,
The worship of the Trinity was made manifest.
For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee,
And called Thee His beloved Son.
And the Spirit, in the form of a dove,
Confirmed the truthfulness of His word.
O Christ God, Who hast revealed Thyself,
And hast enlightened the world, glory be to Thee!


THE THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD by Sister Elayne (now Mother Melania), with illustrations by Bonnie Gillis.  Beautiful watercolor illustrations accompany the beautiful poetic text about the Orthodox Church's celebration of Christ's baptism.

"CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!"

Artwork by Niko Chocheli

This is the greeting that is happily proclaimed among Orthodox Christians on Christmas Day.  Not that there's anything wrong with "Merry Christmas!" - we exchange that greeting as well - but "CHRIST IS BORN!  GLORIFY HIM" just really says it all, as it carries in it the meaning of life for us as Christians.  And I can't think of two better books that "say it all" for December 24th and 25th, than these:

PREPARE O BETHLEHEM:  THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY, by Niko Chocheli. Luminously illustrated verses from Orthodox hymns of the prefeast and feast of the Nativity.  To read my past post about this artist and his books, click here.

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD by Sister Elayne (now Mother Melania), illustrations by Bonnie Gillis.  Beautifully rendered watercolors accompany the poetic telling of the birth of Christ.  To read more about Mother Melania and her books, click here.  (Be watching for a post from me about all her books, coming soon!)

That's the end of my "40 Books for 40 Days" Advent Christmas book list.  I hope you liked it!   Have a Merry Christmas as we celebrate our Lord's Nativity...

What shall we offer You, O Christ, 

who for our sakes has appeared on earth

as a man?

Every creature made by You 

offers You thanks,

the angels offer You a hymn;

the heavens a star; the magi gifts;

The shepherds, their wonder; the earth

its cave;

the wilderness, the manger;

and we offer You a virgin mother.

O pre-eternal God, have mercy on us!

-THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD

DECEMBER 25

VESPERS