23 November 2016

The Eastern Orthodox Alpha Omega Scouting Award

For a Scout to earn the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting's Religious Award for 6th through 12th graders, the following are the requirements:
  1. Be a registered Scout, Venturer, Sea Scout, or Explorer of any rank in the Boy Scouts of America, a Cadette, Senior, Ambassador in the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Navigator or Adventurer in Trail Life USA, or a member of either Camp Fire or American Heritage Girls in the 6th through 12th grade.
  2. Be a communicant member of an Eastern Orthodox Church recognized by The Assembly of Orthodox Bishops (previously SCOBA).
  3. Show your personal Bible and Prayer Book.
  4. Repeat from memory the Trisagion Prayers.
  5. Using your prayer book, and with the aid of your spiritual father (priest), develop and begin a regular program for morning and evening prayers.
  6. Recite the blessing before all meals. Write the mealtime prayer in your notebook.
  7. Demonstrate the proper way of making the sign of the cross. 
  8. Explain the significance of each movement in making the cross. 
  9. Explain when and how the sign of the cross originated.
  10. Begin a program of daily Bible reading after your daily prayer, starting first with one chapter a day of the Gospel of Saint Mark, then the Gospel of Saint Matthew, next the Gospel of Saint Luke, followed by the Gospel of Saint John, then move on to Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles, the Apocalypse/Revelation to Saint John, and then the Old Testament. The Gospels must all be read before you finish this program.
  11. Learn the prayer from the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom preceding the Gospel reading.
  12. Name the most important corporate worship service in the Orthodox Cereal.
  13. Name the two other corporate worship services that are served regularly in your church.
  14. Name the three most commonly celebrated Liturgies of the Orthodox Church. Tell how they differ.
  15. Name the three main parts of the Sunday Divine Liturgy. Explain what each part includes.
  16. Explain what the priest does in the parish. What is his role in the life of the parish?
  17. Explain how the priest is helped in his function by laity. 
  18. List as many ways as you can  see laity in your parish offering their services.
  19. Name the members of your parish council and explain how they are selected.
  20. Know the founding date of your parish.
  21. Explain the terms evangelization and mission, as forms of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ as explained in Matthew 25:31-46.
  22. Explain how the Gospel of Saint Matthew and the Gospel of Saint Luke are different from the Gospel of Saint Mark.
  23. Explain what a parable is. Name some examples.
  24. Explain what a miracle is. Name some examples.
  25. Learn the Symbol of Faith (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed) and recite it to your priest.
  26. Repeat the Oath, Law, and Motto of your Scouting organization to your priest. Explain to him how your organization has many objectives in common with those of the Church.
  27. Sketch the Alpha Omega Award emblem. Explain its significance.
  28. Name the major seven Mysteries (Sacraments) and find Bible passages relating to them in your Bible. 
  29. Explain the purpose and meaning of each of the seven Mysteries of the Church.
  30. Name the bishop of your eparchy/diocese.
  31. Sketch the vestments of the deacon, presbyter, and bishop in addition to the church articles used in preparing and administering the Holy Mysteries.
  32. Attend a Hierarchical Liturgy celebrated by your bishop or a bishop of another jurisdiction or attend a weekday Liturgy at your church or any other Orthodox Church.
  33. Describe the first missionary attempts by the Orthodox Church on the North American continent. Describe what is the status of this diocese today.? Explain how has Father Herman, an early missionary to Alaska, been recognized by the Orthodox Church.
  34. Explain where and when was the first parish church in the continental United States founded and located.
  35. Explain what the Assembly of Bishops (previously SCOBA) is.
  36. Sketch what your church looks like, including the iconostasis.
  37. Sketch a simple iconostasis and show what each icon in each location should represent.
  38. Explain what an icon is and what it represents. 
  39. Explain what it means to venerate an icon. Describe how to venerate an icon.
  40. Explain what the significance of candles is in our Church.
  41. Explain how the Gospel of Saint John is different from the other three Gospels.
  42. Explain the importance and meaning of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion).
  43. Name the most important feast day in the Orthodox Church. Tell how its date is determined.
  44. Explain the significance and give the date or how the date is determined of the following important feast days: Nativity (Christmas), Epiphany, Nativity of the Theotokos, Presentation of our Lord, Annunciation, Presentation of the Theotokos, Transfiguration of our Lord, Dormition of the Theotokos, Entry into Jerusalem, Ascension, Pentecost, Exaltation of the Cross, and the Sunday of Orthodoxy.
  45. Discuss the specific customs of your parish relating to the Feast of Feasts (Pascha) and other Feast days of the Church.
  46. Explain how to prepare the room of a sick person when the priest visits them.
  47. Explain what to have ready when the priest comes to bless your home.
  48. Discuss how the services and feats of the Church can help others learn about Eastern Orthodoxy and help people in the world.
  49. Do four service projects at your church during the time that you are working on the Alpha Omega Program.
  50. Meet with your priest and explain what you learned in the Alpha Omega Program.
  51. Have your parents, priest, and Scouting unit leader sign off that you have completed the activities of the Alpha Omega program and are worthy of the medal.

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