THANK YOU for your interest in our Holy Week Craft Kit! We are very excited to be taking this Christ-centered creative journey together with you. Please scroll down for a tutorial on how to make today’s craft and for additional teaching resources.
Holy Friday is a day of mourning, but also of anticipation: Christ is taken down from the Cross and placed inside the Tomb and the whole of creation is lamenting – while watchfully expecting the moment when sorrow will be transformed into joy. Today’s craft focuses on the Epitaphios tradition, an unforgettable religious experience unique to Holy Friday evening. Please see the additional resources at the end of the page for more information on the Epitaphios.
In Greece where we originate from, it is customary for young children to carry a lantern instead of a candle during the Epitaphios procession on Holy Friday evening, and this is where the inspiration for this craft comes from. The end result is a small lantern that the child can actually hold during the service. The color combination is based on purple, which is the color associated with mourning in the Orthodox tradition. The best effect is achieved when using an LED votive candle, so that the child can actually light up the lantern, while safely holding it and moving around. In the absence of an LED votive, we have provided a flame template that you can use instead, to pretend there is a fire lighting inside the lantern.
THE EPITAPHIOS TRADITION
DIY lantern
You will need:
- The printed template provided in the kit
- A pipe cleaner
- Decorative ribbons and/or additional decorations
- A pair of scissors
- Stapler and/or Scotch tape
- Glue
- An LED votive candle (optional)
How to make the craft
Cut out the template pieces.
Fold the lantern template as shown in the video and photos below. Scoring the template with the back of a craft knife before folding makes it easier to fold in neat, straight lines.
Glue the lantern closed as shown below.
If you want to use the flame template, glue the two flame templates together back-to-back, leaving the white rectangle on the bottom unglued. Fold the white rectangles up, each one to the opposite side of the other. Glue the flame on the inside of the base of the lantern. If you have an LED votive candle, it can be used instead of the flame template.
Glue or tape any desired decorations onto the lantern, then staple or tape the pipe cleaner handle. For sturdiness, fold up the end of the pipe cleaner that is protruding below the tape or staple. Tie the two ribbons into bows around the pipe cleaner handle.
If you want to use the LED votive candle instead of the flame template, just turn it on and insert it into the lantern.
Ready! The lantern’s shape is reminiscent of the Sepulcher, to help discuss the Epitaphios tradition and the proceedings of Holy Friday evening. See below for helpful background.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
BIBLE READING
The Gospel readings for the Vespers of Holy Friday are:
Matthew 27:1-38, Luke 23:39-43, Matthew 27:39-54, John 19:31-37,
Matthew 27:55-61.
The Epitaphios
Learn about the Epitaphios icon and the relevant service.
Extra lesson plan
“Four icons for Pascha”. Includes animation video.
Printable packet
Planner, fact sheets, worksheets, and flashcards.
Digital activities
Animated slideshow and a variety of games.
HANDS-ON TEACHING RESOURCE
Pascha fabric learning set
A colorful fabric learning set made out of soft fleece that is used like a felt board to help explore fundamental Pascha concepts and traditions.
BACKGROUND
- Great and Holy Friday, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
- Great and Holy Friday, Orthodox Church in America
- Holy Friday Evening, video by the Greek Orthodox Church of America
- Hymns of Great and Holy Friday, audio files, Greek Orthodox Church of America
This tutorial is part of the HOLY WEEK CRAFT KIT
by Orthodox Pebbles.
Special thanks to Presbytera Destinie of Ascetic Life of Motherhood for exploring our resources with her sweet little children and sharing wonderful photos with us.
Orthodox Pebbles 