Launch Date: Sunday, November 24
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the venerable Metropolitans of the Eparchial Synod, and in conjunction with National Archon Sunday and the Feast Day of Saint Andrew the First-Called, all Sunday School students now have a unique and unprecedented opportunity to learn about the central importance of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Church and the world, and about His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (AEP) have created a unique Sunday School program that enables educators to introduce their students to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and to the challenges that His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Mother Church of Constantinople face today. We wish to recognize the generosity of Archon Michael and Robin Psaros for funding this initiative.
This unprecedented and much-needed initiative is known as the Archon Sprout Program. It was developed by Archons in the Metropolis of Pittsburgh under the wise guidance of Regional Commanders Nicholas Tranto and Nicholas Terezis, as well as Archon Ted Argeroplos and two professional educators with 50 years of combined teaching experience: Helen Nixon, Ed.D. and Katina Limberakis Tsatalis, M.Ed. The Archon Sprout Program is age-specific and grade-specific; it covers every grade level from preschool to high school with a pre-prepared curriculum. The curriculum resides in a digital platform that is easily downloaded providing the local Sunday School teacher with specific teaching instructions and education goals of the specific lesson. View the Archon Sprout Program website here.
All Reverend Fathers, Sunday School coordinators and teachers are strongly encouraged to preview this site and watch the teacher training video, in order to become familiar with this all-important upcoming learning event. This pre-recorded session will give educators an opportunity to learn more about the “Sprout” program and to integrate common teaching strategies in the lessons.
Archons Tranto and Terezis are coordinating the release of this program in the Metropolis of Pittsburgh with His Eminence Savas of Pittsburgh and the Metropolis of Pittsburgh Youth Director, Alyssa Kyritsis. The date for the unveiling of this groundbreaking program has been set for November 24, 2024.
Please contact your parish and the parishes near you and make them aware of this unique teaching tool, which His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Eparchial Synod approved on September 13, 2024 in conjunction with National Archon Sunday. Not all parishes have Archons; therefore, it is important that you are aware of this opportunity to share the program and if possible, make a presentation to your own parish.
Individual Archon Action Steps to be Taken ASAP
The date for the unveiling of this groundbreaking program has been set for Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Each Archon should contact their parish priest, PC President and Sunday School Directors and those of the the parishes near you and make them aware of this unique teaching tool, which the Archbishop and the Eparchial Synod approved on September 13, 2024 in conjunction with National Archon Sunday. Not all parishes have Archons; therefore, it is important that you share this Sunday School teaching opportunity with your nearby parishes and make a personal presentation to your own parish. The personal Archon presentation to individual parishes should include the announcement of the establishment of Archon Sunday, to focus on the significance and the importance of the Holy Mother Church in America, the establishment of the Sprout Teaching Program, and the Five Issues of Concern regarding the religious freedom of the EP. If you need written materials for your church, please advise Leah Kats at lkats@archons.org
Finally, if you have any questions, please email the Archon Sprout Committee Co-Chairs Archons Nick Tranto (njtranto@comcast.net) and Nick Terezis (nterezis@mstrategic.com), or the professional educators Helen Nixon, Ed.D., (hapn526@gmail.com) or Katina Limberakis Tsatalis, M.Ed. (Catherine.Tsatalis@centerville.k12.oh.us).
