St. Nicholas Tele-Santa Program for Children 2-12 Years Old

Church

St. Nicholas Tele-Santa Program for Children 2-12 Years Old

December 14, 2021

St. Nicholas - The Spirit_of_Christmas_3x4

The Spirit of Christmas icon by Leonidas Diamantopoulos. (Photo: Courtesy of Leonidas Diamantopoulos)

NEW YORK – The St. Nicholas Tele-Santa Program is a project designed to reach families with children ages 2-12 years old. It will include many Greek Orthodox parishes an ‘Tele-Santas’ who have volunteered for this inaugural pilot program. Fr. Kosmas Karavellas and Tele-Santa Peter J. Poulos are the co-chairs of this effort to connect children with Santa Claus. Many parents, grandparents, and godparents can surprise their children this Christmas with the magical gift of a personal encounter with St. Nicholas Tele-Santa.

The St. Nicholas Tele-Santa Spirit of Christmas Program is blessed and supported by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. His Eminence joined with the inaugural pilot parishes, conveying his best wishes:

“The Saint Nicholas Tele-Santa Program is a timely initiative to reclaim the narrative of our own Church about what is surely the most identifiable holiday in the Western World, the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Gift of the Son of God to the world – for the life of the world, is the perennial message of our Church. This gift can be brought into so many different aspects of children’s lives, and I believe this Saint Nicholas Tele-Santa Program is going to have a tremendous impact.”

The St. Nicholas Tele-Santa Program website went live on December 6, the Feast Day of St. Nicholas. Visit the new website, www.stnicholas-tele-santa.com, and make your reservation with the Spirit of Christmas.

As part of the program, children will learn about St. Nicholas of Myra, the historical person responsible for the character of Santa Claus. A noted Greek Orthodox iconographer, Leonidas Diamantopoulos, was asked by the Executive Committee to paint an image reflecting this connection, and the result speaks for itself.

The Spirit of Christmas is an Icon for children ages 5-12 years old, celebrating the Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The eye of a child will follow the glow of the North Star that leads to the Nativity of our Lord, attended by His Holy Mother and Joseph, His earthly guardian. The Magi are present as well, offering Him their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

For further information and/or to register your child please go to:

http://stnicholas-tele-santa.com/

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