SHAPHIRO - Finding God's beauty in children

 Shaphiro - Reaching out to Orthodox Families with special needs children.

"And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it" – 1 Corinthians 12:26

Shaphiro, derived from the Syriac word for beauty, embodies a project initiated by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC), dedicated to recognizing the inherent beauty in children with special needs. Originating from the deep concern of H.G. Yuhanon Mar Diascoros Metropolitan for families within the church facing emotional, psychological, and financial challenges in raising children with disabilities, Shaphiro has been quietly fostering a more inclusive church environment since its establishment in August 2021.

Currently, Shaphiro comprises clergy and laity members from India and abroad, connected through regular online fellowship meetings. Over 75 Orthodox families from various parts of the world are part of this fellowship, including the US, UK, Ireland, UAE, Bahrain, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kerala, Delhi, Chennai, and Brahmavar.

Responding to the needs expressed by parents within the Shaphiro community, we are pleased to introduce the "Shaphiro Syllabus" tailored for children with special needs. Orthodox Global Online Sunday School (OGOSS), a division of OSSAE, recognized the importance of providing a spiritual education curriculum for these children to learn about our Orthodox Faith and Holy Tradition.

In the first phase of the Shaphiro Curriculum project, OGOSS has developed a unique special needs curriculum comprising 12 chapters from Grade 1 to Grade 10. Each chapter is presented in a user-friendly slide format, with 14 slides per chapter, anchored around a six-word bank basis. Parents of children with special needs can easily download and teach their children using these presentations.

We also encourage Sunday School administrations across parishes to utilize these resources and integrate our special needs children within their regular Sunday School structure.

May this "Shaphiro Syllabus" serve as a foundational tool in equipping our children with a deeper understanding of our Orthodox Faith and Holy Tradition. We express our gratitude to the collaborative efforts of OGOSS teachers and Shaphiro Parents who have dedicated months to preparing this syllabus. May God bless each one abundantly for their love, compassion, and dedicated service to His children.

Yours in Him,

Fr. Dr. Varghese Varghese
Director General, OSSAE