In the course of our research for the Lives, Miracles, and Wisdom of the Saints & Fasting Calendar, we often run across stories that constantly amaze us. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
The different sacraments are wonderful little milestones in anyone’s life and hold deep significance for all Orthodox Christians. It is important to celebrate these joyous events with family, friends, and, of course, gifts! But it's not Christmas or a birthday, so the gifts cannot be items on a wish list. These events require thoughtful orthodox gift ideas because meaningful gifts can help young people deepen their faith and guide them on their religious journey.
If you’re looking to make someone feel special with sacramental gifts for an Orthodox Christian, then you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about gift ideas for some of the most important sacraments that may be popping up on your calendar!
One of the easiest sacraments to choose gifts for is baptism because, let’s be honest, no baby is going to remember receiving this gift. So the pressure is low and you can’t go wrong here. A great item for baptism is to opt for a small, sentimental item that parents can keep in memorabilia boxes for their children, who can then value the items once they grow up.
So a small rosary an orthodox icon trinket or a card with a thoughtful message are perfect for any baptism!
Another really special time in any Christian’s life. The first of many times when they witness and participate in the wholesome day of praying together with the community. A good gift for this occasion are prayer book. They can help children follow along with others at mass and recite prayers they have not memorized. This can also make it easier for children to learn prayers so they look forward to Mass.
A good option is The Prayer Rope: About the Jesus Prayer - this colorful booklet is perfect for kids and describes the history of prayer ropes, the significance of Jesus prayer, and how to pray for others.
The Rite of Christian Initiation involves receiving sacraments of baptism, the first eucharist, and confirmation - and often all at once, by adults. These sacraments mark their official entry into the Christian community and faith.
RCIA participants profess their faith in Jesus and study religious texts to fully understand the context, teachings, history, and wisdom of their religion. A great gift here is an Orthodox Bible or the Orthodox Psalter with reliable and succinct commentaries that elaborate on difficult passages of these texts.
These inspiring commentaries not only educate on and clarify the teachings of these texts but also expose believers to a range of perspectives - this makes it feel like they are discussing and analyzing the text with a wise scholar, spiking interests and promoting enthusiasm for religious study.
A wonderful time for any couple and their families is the union of two people who are in love and want to stand by each other for better or for worse under the eyes of God. It is an exciting time for any couple but getting married in this era comes with a long list of responsibilities, and it is easy for religion to take a back seat as we struggle to raise a family in the 21st century’s economy.
So something that can keep this young couple grounded, help them pray easily, and make it convenient for them to make religion and prayer a simple part of their routine would be helpful, and valuable for them. If this is what you’re looking for then the Lives of the Saints calenders are really good options.
These are Orthodox Christian resource calendars designed to be a practical tool for praying daily. Each page includes beautiful illustrations and readings on the lives of saints, their miracles, teachings, or their wisdom regarding life and religion. Both 2024 and 2025 calendars are available so you can choose your pick, and the best part is even if the year ends, these calendars will still make good additions to a library, coffee table, or kitchen counter. They do not offer just dates and days but are a rich source of inspiration and information for any spiritual, orthodox believer.
Gifts are the easiest way to make anyone special and sacraments are special occasions that deserve to be celebrated with thoughtful gifts. Meaningful, religious presents not only hold sentimental value and are timeless, but they also help individuals deepen their faith and understanding of their religion, which is easy to ignore in the rut of daily life.