Frequently Asked Questions

General

  • We created two helpful resources to answer this question: The One-Pager and The Deep Dive. Visit our What is Family Chotki page to download these resources.

  • In Russian, chotki (pronounced chyotki) means prayer rope or as Greeks call them, komboskini.

    But we don’t sell prayer ropes. So why did we choose this name?

    Our prayer ropes are a tool we use to help us in our prayer life. Similarly, we are creating tools that help you nurture your entire family’s spiritual growth.

    We like to emphasize that these tools are just as much for parents as they are for children. Parents lead by example and must invest in their own spiritual lives so they can show their children a real living authentic faith.

    So we are creating family tools…or Family Chotki.

  • Yes, we know! Home is where the Orthodox is isn’t standard grammar—but that’s intentional. We wanted to play off Home is where the heart is to emphasize the central role of the family home in both parents’ and children’s spiritual formation.

    Parish Sunday Schools are just the cherry on top—your home, your little church, is where the real formation happens. In the Sacrament of Marriage, a new family church is established, and it’s our job to nurture it—through our icon corners, family prayers, rhythms, and even how we approach technology and daily life.

    When we enter the Church for services, it should feel like an extension of what’s already happening at home. So yes, our slogan breaks grammar rules—but sometimes, that makes it all the more memorable.

  • Yes! Please visit our Wholesale page to learn more.

  • Please see our Terms of Service & Policies page.

  • Our shop is not enabled for international orders.

    Please visit our International Orders page to discover different options for ordering our products.

  • Please see our Terms of Service & Policies page.

  • Yes! Please visit our Wholesale page to learn more.

    • For Gmail on your phone: Hit the 3 dots at top right corner, click "Move to" then "Primary."

    • For Gmail on your computer: Back out of this email then drag and drop this email into the "Primary" tab near the top left of your screen.

    • For Apple mail users: Tap on our email address at the top of this email (next to "From:" on mobile) and click "Add to VIPs."

    • For everyone else: Please follow these instructions.

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Great Feast Study Journals

  • Our Study Journals, affectionately known as "Catechism through the Great Feasts," are a unique book series for families to deepen their faith by living in sync with the Church calendar. These journals guide you through the significant feasts, helping you and your loved ones grow spiritually with each season. While we don't label them officially as catechism to ensure they're welcoming for all, they serve as a practical tool for learning and engaging with the faith's rich traditions and teachings. Whether you're new to Orthodoxy or have been part of the Church from birth, our journals are designed to bring the vibrancy of the Orthodox faith into the heart of your home.

  • With sections covering overview, context, icon theology, significance, application, and lessons, this journal provides a comprehensive journey through the feast. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Orthodox Christian tradition, renew your Christian spirit, and discover the timeless wisdom and ineffable glory found in each of our Great Feast Days. Whether you’re a seasoned Orthodox Christian or new to the faith, the Study Journals are an invaluable resource that will inspire, enlighten, and guide you to grow in your spiritual life. Learn more on our Study Journals page.

  • When you study the Orthodox faith through the Great Feasts with our Study Journals, you will discover everything you need for a solid foundation of catechesis. This reinforces your knowledge and helps you live out your faith more fully. Year after year, the Great Feasts will always ground you and bring you back to the Light and the Truth through this form of catechism study. The Great Feasts will bind you to your faith in a way that becomes your own pattern of living and breathing.

  • The brain map is actually a feature that you either love it or hate it. For some customers it’s confusing and makes no sense. For others it speaks to them in a very visual way.

    The brain map helps different types of learners to see the bigger picture of the feast in a different way. We talk a lot about diving deep deep and getting curious and the Brain Map helps us visually see where we are headed. We also love to use the Brain Map as a sort of litmus test. Instead of a traditional quiz or test to see what you already know about the Great Feasts, try and create a Brain Map to see what connects to each Great Feast for you. It shows that there is so much going with each Great Feast and how much we have yet to learn as Orthodox Christians.

    1. The Mother of God Shows Us the Way (Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple)

    2. Putting on Christ (Baptism of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ)

    3. Climbing Your Mt. Tabor (Transfiguration)

    4. Rekindling the Fire in Your Heart (Pentecost)

    5. Seeking a Christian Ending to Your Life (Dormition)

  • We did not set out with a specific age in mind for the Study Journals as there is content for every family member. Here is a list of ideas of how to use the Study Journals with different age groups in mind.

    Ages 0-12: This age group will most likely need an adult to read through the content to discuss and help define words. When used in a family read-out loud context, the Study Journal is best for this age group. For younger children, there are free Activity Pages to keep them occupied while older children discuss prompts and questions from the study Journal.

    Ages 13-18: This is an age where you can hand over the Study Journal for independent study or assigned study in homeschool. This is a great age for encouraging children to take ownership of their faith with the support of parents to keep guiding. The Study Journals encourage this type of ownership with the questions and prompts.

    Ages 19+: As adults, it is important to keep growing in the faith and fortifying the foundations of your understanding of the faith. The Study Journals can be used as a refresher course to help adults get re-centered in what the Orthodox faith teaches and to not only learn but practice the faith through the Great Feasts.

    Here is feedback from a customer on how they use the Study Journals in their family setting: “The smallest ones can listen to us read them aloud, but they are interesting even for the adults. I learn new things and I've been a priest's wife for 20 years!”

  • Our Study Journals uniquely combine art and document design with theology in an exciting visual educational journey within the context of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church. Although each Study Journal revolves around a specific Great Feast, the lessons, themes and subthemes are applicable throughout the year. We pair our text with interactive conversational questions and activities to engage curious readers and interest all ages to dive deeper into their Orthodox Christian faith. Learn more on our Study Journal page.

  • We offer our Study Journals in the following two formats:

    Paperback book & Family Use License digital pdf.

    We also sell paperback Study Journals in a 4-pack value set that you can customize yourself.

  • We provide the option to purchase the Study Journal in a digital format (pdf) under a Family Use License. This digital product you purchase from Family Chotki is owned and licensed by Family Chotki. The Study Journal is instantly sent after payment is received.

    A Family Use License allows you to use the file just for you and your immediate family’s needs and is non-transferable. You are allowed to print hard copies just for your family needs.

    Thank you for honoring our Copyright Policy. It enables us to continue to offer you the speedy delivery of products with the ease of digital download (without the annoying encryption password coded documents that are common today).

    Orthodox Christians tend to be among the most ethical customers in the world of business and we thank you for that high standard of behavior.

  • Yes! Please visit our Wholesale page to learn more.

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OCB System

  • Orthodox Commonplace Book

    This idea was inspired by Fr. Seraphim Rose:

    “Do  you have a notebook for taking down quotes from Holy Fathers in your reading? Do you always have a book of Holy Fathers that you are reading, and can turn to in a moment of gloom? Start now - this is essential.”

    ~Fr. Seraphim Rose to Fr. Alexei Young in Letters from Fr. Seraphim, pg. 143

    Definition of Commonplace Book:

    A book in which noteworthy quotations, passages, poems, comments, reflections, speeches etc., are written. It can also include the individual's own thoughts, reflections, and insights, such as annotations, commentary, and connections.

  • The OCB system is designed with middle and high schoolers in mind who want to start the habit of keeping an Orthodox Commonplace Book. Middle school-aged children may benefit from guidance and support from a parent or older sibling. High school students, who love to craft, will find the process of keeping an OCB very calming and edifying. If crafting is not your thing, check out The Orthodox Christian’s Notebook more focused on copy work and less crafting.

    All Guides and the Guide Book are written at a middle school level and encourage an independent ownership of this habit.

    Our stickers can be a bit tricky to peel, so small hands may struggle. We do include hacks and ideas to make stickers more usable for small hands in the back of the Guide Book. Buying sticker sheets individually is a great way to include younger kids in this habit.

  • No. They are for dry use only. Our stickers are printed on matte clear sticker paper in order to easily blend into your layouts.

  • No. They are illustrations intended for educational purposes to help with learning about the Orthodox Christian faith. The stickers are an extension of our Study Journals: illustrations created to help visual learners and create beauty in our personal OCBs.

  • They are highly recommended and will streamline your experience. We want to say, yes, they are required; however, you can navigate without them with extra research and resources. However, we do include them in our Great Feast OCB Essentials Bundle. It just is not the same experience we set up. However, we also want the OCB System to be adaptable to your needs too.

    Our digital Great Feast OCB Guides refer to specific page numbers in the Study Journals. Working with the Study Journal with the digital Guide will help you dig deeply into spiritual literature to learn what to add to your OCB and learn to make it your own. It is also a great way to further engage with our Study Journals, which have so much content to absorb. We sell both physical and digital Study Journals.

  • We recommend you provide:

    If crafting is not your thing, check out The Orthodox Christian’s Notebook as a more straightforward alternative to our OCB System.

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Stickers

  • No. They are for dry use only. Our stickers are printed on matte clear sticker paper in order to easily blend into your layouts.

  • No. They are illustrations intended for educational purposes to help with learning abut the Orthodox Christian faith. The stickers are an extension of our Study Journals: illustrations created to help visual learners and create beauty in our personal OCBs.

  • Our stickers are designed to blend seamlessly into your layouts, but they can be a bit tricky to peel off the sheet. Here are some tips to help:

    • Go slow: Peel the stickers slowly and gently.

    • Use sticky tape: For die-cut stickers (single, no sticker sheet), attach some sticky tape to the backing of the sticker. This can help get the peel started.

    • For parents: To help younger children peel stickers off sheets more easily, place Scotch tape on the front of the sticker sheet where there are no cutouts (like an upper corner). Then carefully peel the negative space around the stickers. This method requires some patience, but can be effective in helping younger children work more independently on their OCBs.

    Remember, the key is to be patient and gentle when peeling the stickers to avoid tearing or damaging them.

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