Light a candle in front of an icon of Saint Euphrosynos. Place where child can see it.
The Life of Saint Euphrosynos the Cook
A monk named Euphrosynos lived in a monastery. He served the other monks by laboring in the kitchen, practicing obedience, and fasting. He treated the other monks with great humility, not as men, but as if they were God Himself. A certain priest who lived at the monastery prayed to God. He asked to see the heavenly reward for those who love God. The priest soon had a dream that he was standing in a beautiful garden! There were trees filled with delicious fruits, and pretty flowers. And there in the beautiful garden was Euphrosynos!
The monk walked over and said, “Brother Euphrosynos, what is this place?” Saint Euphrosynos replied, “It is paradise!” and gave the priest three apples. The saint wrapped them in a kerchief. At that moment the priest woke up to the sound of Matins beginning. He thought that he had been dreaming, but there in his kerchief were the three apples! A beautiful fragrance came from the apples. The priest placed them in his bed and went to church, in search of Euphrosynos.
“Tell me, brother, where were you last night?” the priest asked. “Forgive me, Father; I have been in that place where we saw one another.” he replied. “What did you give me in Paradise when I spoke to you?” the priest asked. “I gave you three fragrant apples which you have placed on your bed in your cell. Forgive me!”
After Matins had finished, the priest told the monks what had happened the night before, and showed them his apples from paradise. All were amazed. But when they looked for Saint Euphrosynos, he had disappeared! No one could find him. The apples were cut into many pieces and shared among the monks. They also gave away pieces to people, especially those who were unwell.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, and Saint Euphrosynos,
Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us!
The monk walked over and said, “Brother Euphrosynos, what is this place?” Saint Euphrosynos replied, “It is paradise!” and gave the priest three apples. The saint wrapped them in a kerchief. At that moment the priest woke up to the sound of Matins beginning. He thought that he had been dreaming, but there in his kerchief were the three apples! A beautiful fragrance came from the apples. The priest placed them in his bed and went to church, in search of Euphrosynos.
“Tell me, brother, where were you last night?” the priest asked. “Forgive me, Father; I have been in that place where we saw one another.” he replied. “What did you give me in Paradise when I spoke to you?” the priest asked. “I gave you three fragrant apples which you have placed on your bed in your cell. Forgive me!”
After Matins had finished, the priest told the monks what had happened the night before, and showed them his apples from paradise. All were amazed. But when they looked for Saint Euphrosynos, he had disappeared! No one could find him. The apples were cut into many pieces and shared among the monks. They also gave away pieces to people, especially those who were unwell.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, and Saint Euphrosynos,
Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us!
Chant together the Megalynarion:
By thy holy meekness and lowly life, * thou, thrice-blessed Father, * didst live righteously in this world, * and didst prove a keeper * of Paradise; for thy soul * was deified by grace, O blessed Euphrosynos.
Ask child questions about the story:
Q: What was Saint Euphrosynos’ job at the monastery?
A: Worked in the kitchen
Q: What did Saint Euphrosynos give to the priest when they were in the garden?
A: Apples
Q: When the priest woke up, where did he hide the apples form paradise?
A: In his bed
By thy holy meekness and lowly life, * thou, thrice-blessed Father, * didst live righteously in this world, * and didst prove a keeper * of Paradise; for thy soul * was deified by grace, O blessed Euphrosynos.
Ask child questions about the story:
Q: What was Saint Euphrosynos’ job at the monastery?
A: Worked in the kitchen
Q: What did Saint Euphrosynos give to the priest when they were in the garden?
A: Apples
Q: When the priest woke up, where did he hide the apples form paradise?
A: In his bed
Activities
Have a snack of apples
Act out the life of Saint Euphrosynos with felt (pattern below). Make your own felt board by wrapping a large sheet of felt around a sheet of foam core board, and hot glue the edges to the back. For more detailed directions go HERE.
Act out the life of Saint Euphrosynos with felt (pattern below). Make your own felt board by wrapping a large sheet of felt around a sheet of foam core board, and hot glue the edges to the back. For more detailed directions go HERE.
Apple Tree Play Dough Table
Invite the children to practice their skill of rolling the play dough to make apples for our apple tree. Create a tree with bare branches out of tape on a cookie sheet or table. Have red play dough available as well as brown pipe cleaners cut to be about an inch long each. Encourage children to make their own apples and put them on the tree.
Apple Scented Rice Sensory Activity
What you need:
apple scent (from our apple soap)
bag of rice
gel and liquid food coloring- red
a little bit of water
What to do: Pour the rice into a bowl. In a smaller bowl, drop in a lot of gel and liquid food coloring. Add in a little apple scent and a little water to this bowl and pour it over the rice. Mix well. Don’t add a lot of water to start with - just add a little at a time. You only want enough water to help mix the food coloring around. Once mixed, pour it over a tray lined with a paper towel. Leave it over night to dry. Pour it into a plastic tub, along with some plastic apples, measuring cups, a funnel, cinnamon sticks, and anything else your child might enjoy playing with. (From http://frogsandsnailsandpuppydogtail.com)
apple scent (from our apple soap)
bag of rice
gel and liquid food coloring- red
a little bit of water
What to do: Pour the rice into a bowl. In a smaller bowl, drop in a lot of gel and liquid food coloring. Add in a little apple scent and a little water to this bowl and pour it over the rice. Mix well. Don’t add a lot of water to start with - just add a little at a time. You only want enough water to help mix the food coloring around. Once mixed, pour it over a tray lined with a paper towel. Leave it over night to dry. Pour it into a plastic tub, along with some plastic apples, measuring cups, a funnel, cinnamon sticks, and anything else your child might enjoy playing with. (From http://frogsandsnailsandpuppydogtail.com)
Apple Pie Cloud Dough
Sensory Activity
What you need:
5 cups of flour
1 cup of oil
red gems (you can get these at any dollar store)
What to do: Measure the flour directly into the bin and then add the oil. Let the child squish it around and mix it up. Such a great texture and not as messy on the hands as cornstarch mixtures can be.
Have a pie dish and some red gems available to make a pie. Let the child fill the dish with a “crust” and spread out the “apples.” You could add apple scent to the cloud dough as well! (From littlebinsforlittlehands.com)
5 cups of flour
1 cup of oil
red gems (you can get these at any dollar store)
What to do: Measure the flour directly into the bin and then add the oil. Let the child squish it around and mix it up. Such a great texture and not as messy on the hands as cornstarch mixtures can be.
Have a pie dish and some red gems available to make a pie. Let the child fill the dish with a “crust” and spread out the “apples.” You could add apple scent to the cloud dough as well! (From littlebinsforlittlehands.com)