hat is a Saint and what can we learn from their lives, trials, and examples? The Orthodox church honors Saints as friends of God. In learning about their life, we have examples of repentance, piety, and humility to help us in our everyday lives. The Saints of the Orthodox Church are our role models for today as they were all once ordinary people who chose to live their lives dedicated to God.

In this course, students read various poems and short stories and compare these texts and characters to various Saints' lives. Students practice annotating texts and write both essays and poetry. They gain a greater understanding of the saints as they reflect on point of view, analyze characters, and explain the connection between the Saint’s life and the literature studied in the course. Assignments include analysis, synthesis, and written responses including several essays. Students receive feedback from the instructor on written essays with opportunities for revision.

Students should be able to read independently, understand basic story elements, know a little about their own patron Saint, and be able to participate in general discussions with classmates. Reading materials will be provided.