Citing the writings of Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain, Elissa demonstrates how the conveniences we have invented to make life easy have actually made it quite a bit harder.

Elissa discusses Orthodox marriage and parenting, focusing particularly on how both involve dying to self.

Elissa shares with us how to get our kids to the place where their worldview is totally dependent on the Christian story.

Elissa interviews Christian Gonzalez, the California deanery youth director of the Antiochian Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, about how we need to rethink our approach to ministering to our youth.

Elissa reminds us that we are temples of God, meant to light up and become a lamp for the world.

Elissa shares some of the youth-centric traditions of her home parish with regard to Holy Week and Pascha.

If you are fasting from meat and dairy products, but you are not praying, studying the word of God, and making an effort to show love and charity, then your fast looks a lot like the devil's fast.

The Sunday of Orthodoxy offers us an opportunity to discuss with our kids the Orthodox understanding of the materiality of this world and its potential for holiness.

Elissa describes the "Psalter group" and its purpose during Great Lent.

Elissa tells the complete story of Noah's Ark to demonstrate how doing so can be used to teach children about why we go to—and participate in the disciplines of—the Holy Orthodox Church.