What is the Orthodox Commonplace Book System?
Our Orthodox Commonplace Book (OCB) System provides everything you and your older children (middle school and up) need to begin a lifelong habit of copying Orthodox teachings and recording personal spiritual insights in a specialized notebook called a commonplace book.
With the OCB System, you won’t just collect quotesyou’ll actively engage with them. Over time, with our OCB System, you will not only help develop a working memory of what inspires you about your Orthodox Christian faith but also create a beautiful reference and treasury of spiritual insights that speak directly to your heart.
com·mon·place book (noun)
/ˈkämənˌplās ˌbo͝ok/ plural noun: commonplace books
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.
How our OCB System works
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We’ve taken the guesswork out of getting started to make sure you have everything you need with two bundles:
OCB Essentials Bundle - includes the core of your OCB system; and
Great Feast OCB Essentials Bundle - expands your OCB practice with feast-specific materials in conjunction with our Study Journals
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Want to build your own setup or do you already own components of the bundles? You can also purchase individual elements of the OCB System—whether you’re adding extra Great Feast Essential Sticker Sheets or need a new OCB or customizing for your family’s unique needs. We’ve created a shopping list so you know what we include in each bundle to get started.
We are always adding more decorative sticker sheets to our shop to help you customize and decorate your OCB in whatever way inspires.
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Not sure where to begin? Worried about blank page paralysis? We’ve got you covered.
When you purchase the two bundles, you will be provided digital access to our OCB Guide Book and a Great Feast Guide. They have everything you need to get started including quick start steps to setup your OCB, sample layouts to copy or use as inspiration and ideas on how to develop a consistent habit.
“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
Letters from Fr. Seraphim, pg. 143
“We should hunt out the helpful pieces of teaching and the spirited and noble-minded sayings which are capable of immediate practical application–not far far-fetched or archaic expressions or extravagant metaphors and figures of speech–and learn them so well that words become works.”
~Seneca
Why we created the OCB System
Besides the fact the Fr. Seraphim Rose inspired us….
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Do you feel disheartened when you can’t recall a powerful sermon, profound passage, or a simple lesson from your Orthodox Christian studies when you need it most? We do too. That is why we love having an OCB as a personal crafted reference tool to help you remember what wakes you up spiritually.
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An OCB is “not another workbook”. just like our Study Journals are “not another textbook.” Your OCB is something deeply personal that you create based on what speaks your mind and heart when learning about your Orthodox Christian faith. Keeping an OCB should be something you want to do and enjoy consistently doing.
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Whether you start as a middle schooler or high schooler or as an adult, keeping an OCB is a habit with many benefits. It cultivates a growth mindset of lifelong Orthodox Christian learning to help you learn the practice of being attentive towards your faith.
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Crafting personal OCBs as a family is an activity that puts our Orthodox Christian faith in practice. The OCB can help bridge discussions with older children as they transition from childhood to adulthood.
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We need more screen-free quality activities to help the domination of screens in our lives. We need more opportunities to slow down. Many of us read, but OCBs help us take what we read and go a step further. Creating an OCB can be as simple as lighting a candle, grabbing a beloved book and copying your favorite quotes.
Still have questions? Visit our FAQ on the OCB System.
