Ep 05 | The Tradition of Fairy Tales: An Interview with Dcn. Nicholas Kotar

Once upon a time. The words are an invitation into a world where virtue sparkles and vice is grotesque, and children love to inhabit such a place. But for the mom reading her first set of Grimm’s fairy tales, it’s a different story. They’re dark. There’s magic. Things get a little wild. If you’ve ever found yourself rewriting an old fairy tale on the fly because you weren’t sure it should be read aloud, you’re in good company. But when you’ve been told these are classical must-reads for young children, you have to ask: Why are fairy tales important?I’m joined today by Dcn. Nicholas Kotar to discuss the tradition of and need for fairytales. If our hope, in classical education, is to conform our children’s souls to Reality, we need to teach them to see as things really are.Footnotes for this episode“Russian Orthodoxy, Fairy Tales, and Good Story Telling with Dcn. Nicholas Kotar” | Pints with AquinasNicholas Kotar | WebsiteNicholas Kotar | PatreonIn a Certain Kingdom: Fairy Tales of Old RussiaIn a Certain Kingdom: Epic Heroes of Old RussiaFull book listIn a Certain Kingdom | PodcastSt. Basil’s Writers’ WorkshopTending the Heart of Virtue, Vigen Guroian__________You can find the full episode notes here (including my footnotes for this episode). You can leave the podcast a rating and review here. (I thank you!)---------Join the 800+ mother-teachers in Common House (It’s like a Patreon, but better.) where we think deeply and learn together through full courses, bonus minisodes, monthly Q+A video calls, resources, and more!Right now, you can join a number of self-paced courses like Charlotte Mason Habits 101, and Virtues and Vices!