SPS Press

For elementary and middle grade-aged children who are “concrete” thinkers, an elementary math series from 1940s may be of great help. The Arithmetic We Use series was edited by Leo Brueckner and published by the John C. Winston Company for grades one through eight beginning in 1942. This series was preceded by The Triangle Arithmetics series, which was published (as best as we are able to determine) from the 1920s through the introduction of Arithmetic We Use.

These books feature an abundance of friendly illustrations and present mathematical principles in a very natural way, focusing on everyday situations. The books’ focus on practical application may help to overcome the strenuous objections to mathematics expressed by children who are more inclined toward other disciplines. By the time these students have progressed to the Dialectic Stage, they will be ready for more abstract principles such as those found in pre-algebra, algebra and geometry. This is not to say that many students are not ready for these at an earlier age, but for students who struggle with mathematics, this series may be a great boon. We found our copies on Abebooks; they are also available through Ebay.

“YEKATERINBURG, Russia — Scientific tests have confirmed that remains found in Russia last year belong to the last czar’s male heir and his daughter, missing since the royal family were executed in 1918, officials said on Wednesday.” 

Read the rest here.

Through the kind permission of the Very Reverend Father Nektarios Serfes, the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children (along with other beneficial prayers for children) is now available on our site.

Now you can read the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom on our home page.

For your reading pleasure, a new article has been posted about the home school library as a primary resource and how to build one; find it on our Downloads page. 

Also: view the new Featured Link on our Links page.

If you have a resource you would like to add to our Links Library, please contact us at info@saintphotini.com

Have a wonderful Bright Week!

Voistinu Voskrese!

Learn the Paschal proclamation in new languages here.

How this news item from February took this long to reach our inbox is a mystery. Here it is:

Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria (not to be confused with Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand) spoke boldly at the WCC conference held in Geneva this February, asking what, if anything, Christianity has to offer if it molds itself to transient worldly moral standards. Read more here.

Recently appointed Dean Fr. John Behr and Chancellor Fr. Chad Hatfield have boldly come forward with other faculty members of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary in the publication of an open letter to the Orthodox faithful and hierarchs of the Orthodox Church in America.

UPDATE: Read a timeline of events in the OCA Diocese of Alaska at OCANews.org.

For those of you looking for projects to do with your daughters or mothers, here are a number of Rushnyky patterns for sale. Or, if you like, here are some patterns for free.

It is easy to be caught up in the emotional response to the situation in modern Kosovo. The larger story, however, is that the persecution of Christians in that land has existed since the time that the Gospel was delivered. It is in that knowledge that the faithful dwell there today and monasticism continues.

Read the faith-building account of an American nun’s 1996 pilgrimage to Kosovo here.

Our beloved Metropolitan Laurus joined the eternal Feast of the Saints on the Sunday of Orthodoxy. View a news report here.

We are eternally indebted to His Eminence for his work not only in the great things but also in the small.

Belgian parents refused to vaccinate their children for polio, leading authorities to fine each of them 4,100 Euros (approx. $8,000 U.S.) and jail them for five months. Read about it here.

A new review offers insight into the editorial shortcomings of the much-vaunted Orthodox Study Bible.

Bishop Nikolai (Soriach) of Alaska has distributed a letter to OCA clergy in his diocese asking them not to comply with investigation of his alleged misconduct. Read about it here.