Youth Academy partners with parents to help children and teens know Christ, love the Church, and grow into faithful Orthodox Christians. The program is not only a Sunday class. It is a parish formation path that connects worship, Scripture, hymns, prayer, Orthodox doctrine, fellowship, service, and the spiritual life of the home.
Mission
Our mission is to support parents in raising children who live the Orthodox faith with understanding, reverence, and joy. Youth Academy teaches the faith of the Church in an age-appropriate way while helping each child build habits of prayer, worship, memorization, service, and Christian fellowship.
Vision
Our vision is a parish-wide path of formation from the toddler years through college and pre-servant preparation. Each stage should help students belong to the Church, participate in the Divine Liturgy, understand Orthodox teaching, and carry the faith into daily life at home, school, and work.
Goals for Every Student
- Learn the Coptic Orthodox faith through Scripture, Church history, doctrine, sacraments, feasts, fasting, saints, icons, and the life of prayer.
- Grow in love for the Divine Liturgy, the Agpeya, hymns, memorization, and the seasons of the Church.
- Build a real relationship with servants who know, encourage, pray for, and follow up with each child.
- Help parents continue the lesson at home through prayer, conversation, and practical spiritual habits.
- Give children and teens fellowship with Orthodox friends through class life, activities, service, and outings.
- Prepare older students to think clearly about faith, real-life moral questions, service, and their future role in the Church.
Classes Offered
| Class | Students Served | Formation Focus |
|---|---|---|
| St. Mina & Pope Kyrillos | Toddler / 2-year-old class | Early church routines, prayer, simple Bible stories, and comfort in the parish setting. |
| Archangel Raphael | Pre-K | Foundational Bible lessons, hymns, the Lord’s Prayer, Thanksgiving Prayer, crafts, and joyful participation. |
| St. Sophia | Kindergarten & 1st Grade | Scripture, memorization, prayer, hymns, activities, and learning to belong to the Church. |
| St. Mary & St. Timothy | 2nd & 3rd Grade | Growing knowledge of the Church, saints, sacraments, fasting, feasts, and Christian character. |
| St. Stephen | 4th & 5th Grade | Deeper Scripture lessons, service, liturgical awareness, and friendship in the Church. |
| St. Thomas | Middle School | Prayer, Agpeya, apologetics, Church practice, spiritual questions, and applying faith at school and home. |
| St. Moses the Strong | High School | Doctrine, moral life, body and soul, fasting, discernment, service, and mature Orthodox identity. |
| St. Athanasius Pre-Servants | Students preparing to serve | Coptic Orthodox theology, Church tradition, teaching skills, visitation, classroom leadership, mentoring, and service rotations. |
| Three Holy Youth | College and graduate students | Ongoing fellowship, spiritual growth, and Orthodox formation for young adults. |
What Sunday Looks Like
A typical Youth Academy Sunday includes lunch or gathering time, hymns, prayer, memorization, an age-appropriate lesson, and an activity, craft, game, or discussion. The exact timing may change by season or class, so families should check the church schedule and weekly announcements for current details.
For Younger Children
Younger classes emphasize consistency, warmth, prayer, basic memorization, short lessons, and hands-on activities. Children learn that the Church is their home and that prayer, hymns, icons, Bible stories, and feast days are part of normal family life.
For Middle and High School
Older students engage Scripture, doctrine, liturgical life, fasting, real-life choices, apologetics, and service. Lessons are designed to help them ask honest questions, understand the Orthodox answer, and practice the faith with conviction.
Curriculum and Spiritual Formation
Youth Academy uses age-appropriate Orthodox curriculum, including materials approved for use in the Southern United States Diocese/Metropolis where applicable. Class coordinators and servants prepare lessons in advance, review plans, and connect each lesson to the worship and practice of the Church.
Students encounter topics such as Biblical Studies, the Divine Liturgy, the Agpeya, Coptic Church traditions, Church history, fasting and feasts, sacraments, saints, icons, apologetics, comparative theology, Christian virtue, service, and practical spiritual life. For example, students may learn how the Psalms shape the Agpeya prayers, why the body is a gift and temple of the Holy Spirit, or how Orthodox worship forms the way we live during the week.
Parent Partnership
Parents are the first spiritual teachers of their children. Youth Academy is designed to support that calling, not replace it. Servants communicate with families, share lesson themes when appropriate, track attendance, follow up when a child is absent, encourage students on birthdays and milestones, and plan opportunities for fellowship and visitation.
- Keep your family’s contact information current so class servants can reach you.
- Read the weekly announcements and class communication for schedule changes.
- Help your child practice prayers, hymns, verses, and memorization at home.
- Tell the servants about pastoral, learning, health, or family needs that may affect your child in class.
- Use the Home Altar resources to connect Sunday formation with daily prayer at home.
Care, Follow-Up, and Fellowship
Each class is supported by coordinators and servants who are expected to be present, prepared, accountable, and prayerful. Youth Academy also emphasizes relationship: servants follow up with students, classes plan outings and fellowship opportunities, and the program works to help every child feel seen and connected to the parish.
Private class rosters, health notes, attendance records, and internal servant materials are handled by the Youth Academy team and are not published online.