Washington, October 2, 2026
Photo: oclife.org
Orthodox Christians for Life (OCLife) has announced its first-ever Orthodox Pro-Life Essay Contest, open to high school juniors and seniors, with a $500 scholarship and a paid trip to Washington, DC, for the winner.
Students are asked to write 750 to 1,000 words responding to one of two prompts, showing critical thinking and offering creative solutions to moral challenges facing the Church today.
The first prompt cites the 2024 Pew Religious Landscape survey, which found that 60% of self-identified Orthodox Christians believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Contestants are asked why they think this is, and what should be done to solve what the prompt calls a “catechetical crisis” within Orthodoxy in America.
The second prompt asks how youth leaders and Orthodox camps can best support Orthodox youth in resisting the pressures of secular society, especially when it comes to practicing chastity. It notes that Orthodox Christians are called to lives of chastity, which for unmarried people means reserving sex for marriage.
The winner will receive the $500 scholarship at the OCLife Supporter Reception on Thursday, January 21, and will take part in the 2027 March for Life on Friday, January 22, and attend the National Pro-Life Summit on Saturday, January 23.
For full contest rules and submission requirements, see the OCLife website.
The contest is named for Mary A. Riordan, whose bequest to the organization initiated the revival of Orthodox Christians for Life.
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