Sasha and the Mystery of the Orthodox Cross: an Orthodox Story for Children

Sasha is a bright 13-year-old growing up in beautiful British Columbia with a 🐶service puppy-in-training named Olive and a very opinionated 🐱 cat, Sir Fluffington. When her best friend Anna begins preparing for baptism, the girls’ ordinary weekend—volleyball, a sleepover, and a badminton lesson turns into an amazing adventure with questions that lead straight to the mystery of the Orthodox Cross.Guided by their priest, Father John, Sasha and Anna discover why Orthodox Christians wear a cross, how to treat it with reverence, and what the different shapes mean. A favourite moment comes when Father John explains the slanted foot-bar and the “secret” it carries about repentance and hope. Along the way, readers see that the Cross is not jewellery or “magic,” but a living confession of belonging to Christ.This warm, readable story is ideal for families, catechumens, and parish libraries. It weaves everyday life with clear teaching, so children learn through friendship, play, and the rhythms of Sunday worship.✨ Children will discover:Why Orthodox Christians wear a cross and have it blessedWhat the slanted bar and other elements of the Orthodox Cross meanHow Orthodox crosses differ from Catholic onesThe different shapes of crosses used in the Orthodox ChurchHow faith is lived at home, at school, and in churchWritten and published with the blessing of Father Gregory Wright, our priest of St. Herman Orthodox Church in Langley, Canada.