Research

The Research activity is an opportunity for participants to go deeper in their faith. They will research, exchange ideas, and improve their communication skills.

Guidelines:

• The research activity could be a solo or group activity for school year 3 and up 

• Group size is 2-7 participants

• You cannot use AI tools like ChatGPT or other text/image/video generators to create any part of your submission. The judges will use detection tools to check for AI-generated content, and any such content will be disqualified.

• The research paper must be related to the Festival theme.

• Below is a list of suggested topics that connect with this year’s theme.

• Submissions must be in digital format, using Arial 12-point font with double spacing. Diagrams with references can be included, but they will not be counted towards the total page limit. Include a plain title page clearly stating your church, your name, age group, and the title of your work.

• Word count per age group:

  • YR.3 and 4: 200-300 words

  • YR.5 and 6: 600-800 words

  • YR.7 to 9: 1200-1500 words

  • YR. 10 to 13: max 2000 words

  • Adults: max 3000 words

• Word count should be added at the end of the research file.

• The research project can be presented as a poster, brochure, or essay. For participants in Year 10 and above, as well as adults, the project must be submitted in the form of an essay.

• A bibliography must be included with the submission, but it will not be counted towards the final word count.

•  The work must be original and written by the participant. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited and will result in a lower score. If the content is deemed inappropriate for the participant's age level, the work will be disqualified.

• Please upload your submission to the Google Drive folder for your respective age group.

Steps for research:

• Select a topic and think of a specific thesis (have a question your research will answer)

• Choose appropriate resources (books, online publications, etc.)

• Identify the key information you will use and its source (through highlighting, annotating, etc.)

• Reword the key information in your own words

• Add the reworded information to your final copy

• Include your source in your bibliography

Evaluation Criteria:

• Is your research relevant to the essay title. 70%

  •  Relevant contents 20%

  • Depth of the contents 20%

  • Logical flow of the discussion 15%

  • Theological accuracy 15%

• Writing Conventions (Spelling, punctuation and grammar): 10%

• Presentation of the Research: 10%

• Bibliography: 10% 

Topics:

Age group 3 to 4:

• Light in Our Lives: Participants can explore how light is important in their everyday lives and in nature (like the sun, stars, and fireflies). They can relate these examples to the idea that God is our light, guiding and comforting us.

• Bible Stories of Courage: Participants can choose a story from the Bible where someone showed courage with God’s help (such as David fighting Goliath). They can illustrate the story and share how it teaches us to find strength in God’s light.

• What Prayer Means to Me: This topic invites participants to express what prayer means to them and how it makes them feel closer to God. They can include examples of prayers from the Bible that show God as a source of light and salvation.

• My Church Family: Participants can explore the role of their church or community in helping them learn about God. They can talk about their favorite church activities and how these help them see God as their light.

• Symbols of Light in Christianity: Focusing on symbols like candles, this topic allows participants to learn why light is used in church and what it symbolises. They can create a simple project or drawing to show what they’ve learned.

Age group 5 to 6:

• Exploring “The Lord is My Light and My Salvation”: Participants delve into this verse (Psalm 27:1), researching its meaning, context in the Bible, and how it can apply to our lives today. They can present their findings in a creative way.

• Heroes of Faith in Difficult Times: Participants can research a biblical figure who showed faith in challenging times (such as Esther or Daniel). They should explore the story’s context, the character’s faith, and the lessons we can learn about relying on God as our light and salvation.

• The Power of Prayer in the Bible: This topic encourages participants to study different prayers in the Bible, focusing on how these prayers demonstrate trust in God as our light and salvation. They can reflect on what these prayers teach us about communicating with God.

• The Role of the Church in Spreading Light: Participants can investigate how the church community supports its members and spreads God’s light to others. They might also explore historical or modern examples of how the church has been a beacon of hope and salvation.

• Christian Symbols of Light Through History: This research topic would have participants explore how symbols of light have been used throughout Christian history and what they represent about Jesus and his role as our light and salvation. They can present on one symbol’s origins, meaning, and how it’s used today.

Age group 7 to 9:

• Exploring the Role of Light in Coptic Orthodox Rituals and Traditions: Participants can research the significance of light in various Coptic Orthodox Church rituals, such as the use of candles during liturgy, the celebration of the Feast of Theophany, and other ceremonies. They can explore how these rituals symbolize Christ as the light of the world and what this symbolism means for believers in their daily lives.

• Saints of the Coptic Orthodox Church as Beacons of Light: This topic invites participants to select a saint from the Coptic Orthodox tradition and research their life story, focusing on how their faith and actions brought light to the darkness and served as a model of Christ’s salvation. Participants can draw inspiration from saints like Saint Anthony the Great, Saint Bishoy, or Saint Mina the Wonder-Worker among others.

• The Wisdom of the Early Church Fathers: Participants can explore the teachings and writings of the Early Church Fathers of the Coptic Orthodox Church. They can research how these teachings illuminate the path of faith and how the Church Fathers interpreted “The Lord is my light and my salvation” in their spiritual guidance.

• Miracles in Coptic Orthodoxy as Manifestations of Light and Salvation: This topic allows participants to research and present on miracles attributed to the intercessions of the Virgin Mary, the angels, or saints within the Coptic Orthodox Church. They can explore how these miracles serve as signs of God’s light and salvation, offering hope and strengthening faith among believers.

• The Coptic Orthodox Church: A Historical Beacon of Faith: Participants can delve into the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church, focusing on its origins, how it has been a source of light during periods of persecution, and its role in spreading Christianity in Egypt and beyond. They can research specific historical events or periods where the Church played a crucial role in preserving the faith and providing spiritual guidance and salvation to its followers.

Age group 10 to 13:

• Exploring the Use of Light in Coptic Orthodox Rituals and Symbolism: Participants can research how light is symbolically used in Coptic Orthodox rituals, such as the use of candles during liturgies and the significance of light in feast days. This topic can extend to the exploration of light symbolism in icons and church architecture, reflecting on how these elements convey the theme of Christ as the light of the world.

• The Lives and Teachings of Coptic Saints as Beacons of Light: This topic invites participants to select a Coptic saint and delve into their life story, teachings, and how they exemplified living in the light of Christ. It can also include an analysis of how the saint’s legacy continues to inspire the Coptic community today and personal reflections on what participants can learn from these saints about being a light in the world.

• Analysing Biblical Passages Through Coptic Interpretations: Participants can choose specific biblical passages related to the theme “The Lord is my light and my salvation” and analyze them through the lens of Coptic Orthodox exegesis and teachings of the early Church Fathers. This could include a comparison of interpretations and reflections on how these insights enrich their understanding of the Bible and its application to daily life.

• Miracles in the Coptic Orthodox Church: Signs of Light and Salvation: This research topic allows participants to explore documented miracles in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church, analysing the contexts in which these miracles occurred, their significance, and their impact on the faith of the community. Participants can also reflect on the role of miracles as manifestations of God’s light and salvation in the world.

• The Role of Monasticism in Spreading the Light of Christ: Participants can investigate the history and development of monasticism within the Coptic Orthodox Church, focusing on the desert fathers and mothers and their teachings. This research can explore how monasticism serves as a beacon of spiritual light, guiding the faithful towards a deeper relationship with God, and its influence on the wider Christian world.

Adults:

• The Influence of Early Church Fathers on Understanding Light and Salvation: This topic invites participants to delve into the writings and teachings of early church fathers within the Coptic Orthodox tradition. Research can focus on how these figures interpreted and communicated the concepts of God as light and salvation, their contributions to theology, and their relevance to contemporary Christian life.

• Saints as Beacons of Light in the Coptic Orthodox Church: Participants can choose one or more Coptic saints to study their lives, virtues, and the miracles associated with them. This topic encourages exploring how the saints’ lives exemplify the theme “The Lord is my light and my salvation” and how their stories inspire believers today.

• The Role of Miracles in Strengthening Faith: This research topic explores the significance of miracles in the Coptic Orthodox faith, including biblical miracles and those attributed to saints or occurring in contemporary times. Participants can investigate how miracles serve as manifestations of God’s light and salvation, impacting individuals’ faith and the church community.

• Analysis of Coptic Liturgy and Hymnology in Conveying Divine Light: Participants can study specific aspects of the Coptic Orthodox liturgy and hymnology, focusing on how these practices convey the concepts of divine light and salvation. This could include an exploration of the symbolism of light in liturgical rituals, the theological depth of Coptic hymns, and the sensory experience of participating in worship.

• The Role of Monasticism in Preserving Coptic Orthodox Traditions: Investigate how monastic life, beginning with early fathers like St. Anthony the Great, has played a pivotal role in preserving the teachings, rituals, and spiritual practices of the Coptic Orthodox Church. This topic invites participants to explore the history of monasticism within the Coptic Orthodox tradition, including its impact on theological thought, the preservation of Christian texts, and the development of communal and solitary monastic practices. Participants can also examine how monasticism continues to influence the Coptic Orthodox faith today, serving as a beacon of spiritual discipline, prayer, and living out the verse “The Lord is my light and my salvation” in a world of constant change.