In 2002-03, the Department developed a web magazine, The Cross and Quill, written by teens, for teens, about our faith. Each issue was thematic, and offered features such as "Ask Sayidna," "Ask Abouna," "He said/She said," as well as "Focus on the Feastday." These are archived on this page. The articles have also been taken out of the publication and are indexed individually. Each comes with discussion questions, and most are still relevant today.
The Cross and the Quill is no longer in publication, but archived copies of every issue are still available to download.
The free Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed in order to properly view each issue. If you do not already have the Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can download it from the Adobe Web Site.
Issues of the Cross and the Quill:
2002
January, February, March, April, May, June, December
2001
January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December
Topics from the Cross and Quill:
- Message of Bishop Basil
- Why Did God Allow This to Happen?
- Prejudice Against Arab-Americans
- This Time of Sadness
- How We Cope With Disaster
- Message from Father Purpura
- Reflection: Rush of Emotions
- Abortion: An Orthodox View | PDF (January 2001)
Ask Abouna (w/Father Anthony Yazge)
- What is important about the dance of Isaiah at weddings?
- What is the significance of the wedding crowns?
- Why in the Orthodox tradition do we wear the wedding ring on the right hand?
- Why do we bless the grave and the body of the dead when the soul has already ascended?
- Why do people have out-of-body experiences?
- What is the Church's view on ghosts?
- Why does the date of Pascha differ from Western Easter so much?
- A lot of relationships end badly...
- Does the Church believe in the possibility of life beyond this planet?
- I recently checked the organ donor box for my driver’s license. Is this acceptable in terms of Orthodox teaching?
- With the Nativity Fast (Advent) upon us, what’s the point of this season?
- How come on Sunday at the Divine Liturgy some people kneel in church and some don't?
- Do Pets go to Heaven?
- Why aren’t girls allowed to cross their legs while in church?
- What is the Western Rite?
- How far is too far in terms of the physical aspects of a relationship?
- Why do little children die?
- Why, after all these years, are the Orthodox jurisdictions in this country still divided?
- If we go to hell, can we ever get to heaven?Why doesn't the Church allow non-Orthodox Christians to receive Communion?
- What is the meaning of cutting someone's hair when he gets baptized?
- If you were brought up by non-Orthodox parents or not in the Orthodox Faith, does that mean you automatically go to hell?
- Do we as Orthodox Christians take the Genesis account of Adam and Eve literally, or are they figurative characters?
- Is there anything in the Bible that gives reference to dinosaurs, because they have been proven to have existed? Isn't this troubling as we don't believe in the theory of evolution?
- If God is all-knowing, doesn't this negate our free will?
- As Moses and Elias were only mortal men, wouldn't they have suffered the same fate as all those who came before Christ, including Adam and Eve, who were only freed from Hades when Christ descended there?
- What is the difference between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic understandings of original sin?
- What came first, the Bible or the Church?
- Are Angels higher than man, or is it the other way around?Are there any people, besides Christ, who are now in heaven not just in soul, but physically as well?
- If a person has led a good life and not broken any of the Ten Commandments, but isn’t a Christian, are they still condemned to hell?
- Life Out There (Getting Started)
- Life Out There (Balancing One’s Schedule)
- Life Out There (Focus and Choices)
- Life Out There (Stress)
- Life Out There (Growing Up)
- History Repeating
- Life Out There (Preserving Our Faith)
- Going to College
- Living the Single Life
- What do you look for in a member of the opposite sex?
- When is the right time to start a relationship?
- What is Love?
- How do you feel about inter-SOYO relationships?
- Trials of Dating in College
- Is there a difference between dating someone from church vs. someone at school?
- How do you get over someone?
- The Way, The Truth, and The Light
- Life Out There
- Communicating with God
- Do You Believe in God?
- New Year’s Resolution
- A Note From College
- Where Does Orthodoxy Live?
- Letter to an Arsonist
- Theophany | PDF (January 2001)
- Annunciation | PDF (March 2001)
- Pascha | PDF (April 2001)
- Ascension | PDF (May 2001)
- Pentecost
- Dormition
- Entrance into the Temple of the Theotokos
- Theophany (II)
- Lenten Discipline | PDF (March 2001)
- Life Out There
- Life Out There (II)
- None at this time. Please check back at a later time. Thanks.
- What are the top three things you don’t understand about the opposite sex?
- Do parents treat boys and girls differently?
- Should women be allowed to serve at the altar?
- Do you ever wish you were the opposite sex and why?
- St. James
- St. John of Damascus
- St. Seraphim of Sarov
- St. Abraham of Harran
- 40 Holy Martyrs of Sebaste
- Great Martyr Saint George
- Holy Prophet Job
- Virgin Martyr Febronia
- Protomartyr Stephen
- The Whale Shark | PDF (May 2001)
- Why We Do What We Do
- Project Mexico
- How far is too far in terms of the physical aspects of a relationship?
- Life Out There (Sex)
- What are the pressures that society puts on teenagers to have sex, and how is the Church a place of refuge?
- How Important is Self-Image?
- Should there be restrictions on TV programs, music, or any other form of entertainment?
- Why is there so much emphasis on material possessions?
- Napster: Right or Wrong?
- How Real is Reality TV?
- The Value of Secularism
- Valentine's Day | PDF (February 2001)
- Life Out There (Valentine’s Day)
- Mother’s Day | PDF (May 2001)
- Holy Smoke
- A Step-Daughter’s Story / Know God, Know Peace
- Logos: The Orthodox Word Game
- Get Real!
- Les Miserables
- What is the best thing a person can be remembered for?
