Angels + Leaf Seraph Craft
This session was presented on the 6th of November, 2024, and themed around the Synaxis of the Archangels on the 8th. There were 8-10 children, aged 4 to 9.
Introduction
Why didn't we come here this morning for Liturgy? Because we're going to come on Friday instead. Why? For the feast day of the Angels.
Angel Search-and-Find
Introduce the angel cards. Does anyone recognise any of these angels?
Archangel (Gabriel and Michael). Those are the names of the priest and deacon! Make sure to wish them a happy name day on Friday. Can we spot any icons of archangels around the nave? Yes - iconostasis and back windows.
Cherubim and seraphim. How do we know the difference? They both are shown in icons with six wings. But the seraphim are usually red or orange, and the cherubim are usually blue or green. Also the cherubim have lots of eyes! Can we spot any icons of cherubim and seraphim around the nave? Yes - above the windows in the dome.
Thrones. They look the weirdest! They are lots of wheels with eyes. These angels carry God's throne, and with so many wheels they can go in any direction at once, because God is everywhere at once. Can we spot any icons of thrones around the nave? Yes - one on each side of the dome.
Messenger angels. This picture is of three that came to visit someone in the Bible - do we know who? Abraham! Can we see these ones or other angels around the nave? Yes, one icon of the Hospitality of Abraham over the main doors in the iconostasis, and one over the doors out to the narthex.
What other angels are there here? One that looks a bit like the archangel pictures, but is holding a baby/child - that's a guardian angel! We all have a guardian angel. There's also a picture of the angels that look after the sun, moon, and stars.
When we look up at the dome, we can see the angels doing things that the priest and the deacon and some of us do on Sunday and other days - carrying candles, fans, and the Chalice. They were doing it first, before we started, that's why we sing, "Let us who represent the Cherubim."
The Cherubic Hymn
Pass out the music for the Cherubic Hymn. But we can't read music! That's no problem, there's only two things you need to know:
- if the note has a little flag, or is holding hands with other notes, it's quicker; but if the note is empty in the middle, it's longer
- the notes are on a ladder of five lines. When they're higher up the ladder, the note is higher, but when they're lower, the note is lower
Work through the first phrase, "Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim", bar by bar or word by word. Sing it to the kids, then have them sing it with you, then have them sing it back to you. Add another bar or word, and then stack the phrases together until you have the whole first section.
Surprise! Now the tune repeats again! Work through it in small chunks again, but you can go a little quicker this time.
Surprise! Now the tune repeats again. But we know it well now, so we can just launch straight into it. And now we've got the whole first half of the Cherubic Hymn, up to the Great Entrance. At this point, the couple of altar servers told us about who goes in what order during the Great Entrance.
The Seraph Craft
As we head back over to the education centre (remember to cross yourself as you leave the Nave!), find six nice autumn leaves each. Why six? That's the number of wings cherubim and seraphim have each.
Choose a cardboard circle (prepped earlier) and draw a face on it. Some children may want to refer to the angel cards or an icon. Once your face is ready, get the sticky tape and stick the leaves on the back so they stick out like wings!
