Orthodoxy at OG

Term 3 has provided our students with many opportunities to discover that Orthodox Christian Studies is not simply about acquiring knowledge about our Faith, but about encountering Christ and learning to put faith into practice in everyday life.

A particular blessing was our whole-school celebration of the Divine Liturgy for the Ecclesiastical New Year and the Day for the Care of Creation, presided over by His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne. Gathering as one school community in prayer reminded us that worship lies at the heart of our Orthodox Christian identity and that our care for God’s creation flows from gratitude, responsibility and love.

Across the Junior School, regular church visits with our Chaplain, Rev Fr Stavros Kakavas, have continued to give students the opportunity to enter the sacred space of the Church, ask questions and deepen their understanding of Orthodox worship and tradition.

In Prep, students explored Bible stories including Creation, Jonah and the Whale and the Parable of the Lost Sheep, discovering God’s loving care for creation and every person. Year 1 students considered the importance of making good choices through stories such as Daniel in the Lions’ Den and the Parable of the Two Sons, reflecting on faith, courage, obedience and love.

Year 2 students deepened their understanding of Orthodox beliefs and practices while recognising similarities and differences between religious traditions, developing respect for others alongside a stronger understanding of their own Orthodox Christian identity.

Year 3 students explored Brave Like the Saints, discovering how the saints inspire courage, faith and trust in God. Their study of the Armour of God highlighted how prayer, faith, truth and righteousness strengthen us in daily life. Parents were also welcomed into the classroom through the Behind the Classroom Door session, sharing in their children’s OCS learning.

Year 4 students explored the miracles of Christ, considering what they reveal about His compassion, authority and love and how His example can be lived through gratitude, kindness and care for others. Year 5 students experienced faith through practical activities, including making Fanouropites in honour of St Fanourios and creating Holy Crosses while reflecting on the power and centrality of the Cross in Christian life.

Our Middle School students continued to explore the Faith through age-appropriate inquiry and reflection. Year 6 students journeyed from I-Ville to You-Ville, discovering the Christian call to move beyond self-centredness towards humility, love and service. Year 7 students explored the beauty of Orthodox worship, unpacking the Divine Liturgy and discovering the meaning behind its prayers, symbols and actions.

Year 8 students investigated our calling to be Caretakers of Creation, recognising that meaningful environmental change begins with a change of heart, metanoia. Year 9 students explored the Ten Commandments, considering their continuing relevance and applying Orthodox moral teaching to contemporary ethical scenarios and everyday choices.

These experiences reflect an important principle at the heart of Orthodox Christian Studies: faith is not simply something we know; it is something we live. Knowledge finds its fulfilment in praxis, in prayer, worship, service, ethical choices, care for creation and love for one another. Through these experiences, we hope our students continue to grow not only in their understanding of the Orthodox Faith, but in their personal and communal encounter with Christ, who calls each of us to live The Way, the Truth and the Life.
 

Dean Damatopoulos

Orthodox Christian Studies Leader