NEW YORK, NY – GNUSA
In the spirit of giving, the Department of Religious Education (DRE) announced a new collaboration with the Saint Nicholas Tele-Santa Program to present a new seasonal series: the Kids Nativity Series, a special holiday initiative designed to bring the true meaning of Christmas into the hearts and homes of our children and their families everywhere.
This holiday season, the Kids Nativity Series offers 12 short stories that celebrate both the Incarnation of our Lord and the life and legacy of Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra. Designed for children, parents, and Sunday School teachers alike, the series connects the Christmas spirit to the meaning of Salvation and the familiar figure of Santa Claus to the real-life saint. Each story offers a meaningful way for children to understand the deeper significance of the holiday, bridging the secular traditions they know with the timeless teachings of the Church.
Families participating in the Saint Nicholas Tele-Santa Program can use the Kids Nativity Series alongside their scheduled calls from “Saint Nicholas.” Parents are encouraged to read the Nativity themed stories with their children before the call. At the same time, the Saint Nicholas stories serve as extraordinary selections for Santas to share during their conversations, creating a truly faith-filled and memorable experience for children.
Each story will be available in both English and Greek and can be accessed online: https://shorturl.at/c2Xv0
Parents and religious educators can request a phone call with Saint Nicholas; calls will take place between December 6 and December 24. To book a call, visit: https://www.stnicholas-tele-santa.com/.
The Spirit of Christmas
The Spirit of Christmas icon, an icon that was created by noted iconographer Leonidas Diamantopoulos at the direction of the Saint Nicholas – Tele-Santa executive committee, is used to help explain the correlation between Saint Nicholas the Saint and the modern -day Santa to children.
The icon depicts the birth of Jesus and shows a symbolic Icon of St. Nicholas passing forward a Cross and a gift to the modern-day Santa Claus. The icon inspires children and adults that Christmas is about remembering and honor the birth of Jesus and encourages LOVE which trumps hate. St. Nicholas was known for his acts of kindness and love. Orthodox Christians venerate our icons to teach our young children about our Orthodox faith.
About the Department of Religious Education (DRE)
The Department of Religious Education (DRE) serves as a leading resource for faith formation, offering tools, programs, and materials to help children, youth, and adults grow in their understanding of Orthodox Christianity. The department strives to nurture the spiritual development of individuals and communities across the Archdiocese.
About the Saint Nicholas Tele-Santa Program
The Saint Nicholas Tele-Santa Program is a free service, in collaboration with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, that brings children closer to the church through a video call from Santa Claus — originally Saint Nicholas of Myra, a priest and bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church.
