Dr. Philip Mamalakis wrote a successful and wonderful book on Orthodox parenting called “Parenting Toward the Kingdom”. On December 7, 2025, he talked with a small group of parents here at Holy Archangel Michael Church in Southbridge, MA.
Dr. Philip Mamalakis teaches pastoral care and is Director of the Field Education program. His professional interests are in Orthodox pastoral theology and marriage, family, and parenting.
Session by Dr. Philp Mamalakis, Professor of Pastoral Care Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, at the Missions Institute of Orthodoxy Christianity’s “Speaking to Secular America” Conference on October 29, 2015.
It’s easy to get caught up in perfectionism in a world that gives us so much to worry about and so many “perfect” families to measure ourselves against.
What does it mean when we say that children are icons of Christ? And how should that awareness impact the way we relate to our kids?
We won’t be able to stop kids from acting like kids, but we’ll talk about how we can respond best, as parents, to all our kids misbehaviors as we raise kids to grow healthy, happy, and toward the Kingdom of God.
Dr. Mamalakis discusses how we enter into relationships. How much is just instinct and how intentional can we be? What works and what doesn’t work…and why? And… how can our faith serve to help us enter into and sustain healthy friendships and intimate relationships?