Feature story
Created for children, the initiative offers families and Sunday School teachers an accessible way to engage with Orthodox traditions and teachings.
Fr Eli and a group of curious children, the “Little Saints,” explore the meaning of prayer, fellowship, and faith. Fr Eli’s character draws inspiration from the biblical priest Eli, who guided the young Samuel, reflecting the role of a priest as a spiritual guide who helps children recognise God’s presence in everyday life.
The stories are rooted in the faith and liturgical traditions of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, drawing on scripture, tradition, and the teachings of the church while presenting them in a contemporary and child-friendly format.
The illustrations are created using AI, based on customized prompts and reference images.
The series is published in English, German, and Malayalam - English on the second Saturday of each month, German on the third, and Malayalam on the fourth.
The multilingual approach helps younger members remain connected to the faith and traditions of their parents and grandparents in languages that are part of their everyday lives, while supporting Sunday School education and family faith formation across the wider Orthodox diaspora.
The initiative reflects the pastoral vision of Metropolitan Abraham Mar Stephanos, who has led the Diocese of UK–Europe and Africa since November 2022. With the diocese spanning a wide geographical area and serving communities shaped by migration and changing student populations, faith formation among young people has emerged as a key priority.
“Our priority is the faith formation of our young people - meeting GenZ where they are, on the platforms they use every day. That’s why we’re also moving our scattered, migrating diocese onto one unified Sunday School curriculum,” Metropolitan Abraham Mar Stephanos said.
