Orthodox Homeschooling Gets a Boost with New Liturgical Planner
Myrrhbearing Millennial Press launches faith-centered planner and resources for Orthodox Christian families
When a beloved Orthodox homeschooling company closed its doors earlier this year, thousands of families suddenly found themselves without a vital resource — a planner that integrated the liturgical life of the Church into daily academic schedules. For Jillian Hughes, homeschooling mother and creator behind the “Myrrhbearing Millennial” Instagram account and podcast, the need was obvious. The solution? Launch Myrrhbearing Millennial Press (MBM Press) and fill the gap.
Hughes, who has homeschooled her daughter since preschool, had already been creating supplemental Orthodox educational materials for personal use. “There’s not a lot of Orthodox-specific homeschooling content out there,” she explained. “Private Orthodox classical schools are wonderful but can be far away or financially out of reach. Many families, especially larger ones, need affordable resources that still nurture the faith.”
When the popular planner disappeared from the market, Hughes’ husband encouraged her to start with that. In just two months, she produced two 312-page planners — one for the New Calendar and one for the Old — each integrating feast days, saint commemorations, fasting periods, and the full liturgical cycle. “The difference with this planner is that it truly honors our liturgical calendar,” she said. “It’s not just a homeschool planner — it’s a tool to help families live the Church year together.”
Hughes also designed the Little Arrows Orthodox Homeschool Planner to accommodate up to six children, so parents don’t have to buy multiple copies. Consumable pages can be photocopied at home or downloaded in digital format, further easing costs. “Affordability was a huge part of the vision,” she said. “We're really trying to make it as accessible for families as possible, especially larger families because costs can add up fast.”
The planners were carefully reviewed by priests, matushkas, and experienced homeschoolers. Printing is handled by Spencer Printing, an Orthodox-owned company, allowing MBM Press to offer the planners at $50 — matching the price of the previous edition and the market more broadly — and in both print and lower-cost digital formats. The digital version lets families print at home or use the planner on a tablet, making it accessible for those on tighter budgets. Many of the consumables can be printed as often as a family may need them.
But MBM Press is not stopping there. Hughes envisions the press as a hub for Orthodox homeschooling resources, including unit studies focused on the Twelve Great Feasts and major saints. Each study will blend geography, history, crafts, music, recipes, and faith formation seamlessly into the curriculum. For example, an Ascension unit might include baking “cloud” gelatin, learning the troparion, and exploring the historical setting of the feast. “We want kids to immerse themselves in the world of the saints,” Hughes said, “understanding their culture, the times in which they lived, and their enduring witness in the life of the Church.”
The units also weave in many small but meaningful local traditions from across Orthodox cultures — everything from Slavic Pascha baskets to Middle Eastern fasting recipes. Hughes is collecting these customs in part through her podcast, which in its upcoming season will feature interviews with cradle Orthodox and converts about the traditions that shape their family life. “It’s so beautiful to see how in America all these Orthodox cultures mix,” she reflected. “I want kids to grow up with that richness — knowing they are part of something ancient, beautiful, and alive.”
Looking ahead, Hughes hopes MBM Press will eventually produce a full Orthodox classical curriculum for preschool through 12th grade — one that parallels well-known secular and Protestant programs but is firmly rooted in Orthodox theology, liturgy, and history. While this ambitious goal could take several years to realize, initial steps are already underway, including talks with Orthodox educators and technology partners to create an online hub for lessons, resources, and community support.
For now, MBM Press is steadily expanding, with plans to expand its series of studies on lives of the saints, illustrated alphabet cards featuring icons and church imagery, and perhaps Orthodox-themed Montessori-style materials. “I never imagined I’d be running a publishing company,” Hughes said with a laugh, “but God has opened the door. We just want to give Orthodox families the tools they need to live — and teach — the faith fully.”
Purchase the planner and unit studies at the MBM Press Shop.
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