Welcome to Catechism I Class!
CATECHISM I
Thank you for joining us for Catechism I. To begin this class, you must have completed our Inquirers Class with Fr Seth. If you have not done so and have found yourself here, please let Fr Seth know along with your desire to take the Inquirers Class the next time it is being offered.
In Catechism I, we begin by discussing more in depth some of the fundamental beliefs and doctrines of the Orthodox Church. These classes are to help you not only become more informed, but importantly, formed, specifically into the image of Christ. This should be the goal of all of us who claim to be Orthodox Christians. To become what we were created to be.
For this class, we’ll begin by going through Fr Thomas Hopko’s The Orthodox Faith, a 4 volume set of books that go through the Orthodox understanding of Spirituality, Worship, Doctrine and Scripture, and Church History.
In Catechism I we will begin with Volume 4: Orthodox Spirituality.
Spirituality in the Orthodox Church means the everyday activity of life in communion with God. The term spirituality refers not merely to the activity of man’s spirit alone, his mind, heart and soul, but it refers as well to the whole of man’s life as inspired and guided by the Spirit of God. Every act of a Christian must be a spiritual act. Every thought must be spiritual, every word, every deed, every activity of the body, every action of the person. This means that all that a person thinks, says and does must be inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit so that the will of God the Father might be accomplished as revealed and taught by Jesus Christ the Son of God.
. .. whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor 10.31).
Doing all things to the glory of God is the meaning and substance of life for a human being. This “doing” is what Christian spirituality is about.
-Fr Thomas Hopko
After our study of spirituality, we’ll delve into Orthodox Worship.
You can order a copy of Orthodox Spirituality from the below:
used or new paperback or ebook at amazon
or if you’d like to read it for free online, you can do so below:
I’d also like those who become catechumens to begin practicing a Prayer Rule. These are morning and evening prayers as practiced in the Orthodox Church. If you don’t have a prayer book, you can print out the below pdf:
In addition to the volume that we’ll be studying, I will give everyone the opportunity for some supplemental learning. This will consist of other books, articles, podcasts, and audio lectures. The below is suggested reading and most should be found in the Church bookstore
Journey to the Orthodox Church-Frederica Mathewes-Greene
Arise O God!-Fr Andrew Stephen Damick
From The Corner of East and Now-Frederica Mathewes-Greene
Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells- Matthew Gallatin
Becoming Orthodox- Fr Peter Gillquist
The Orthodox Way- Metropolitan Kallistos Ware
For the Life of the World- Fr Alexander Schmemann
