Catechumen Class

Fall 2025 Theology 101 Intro Class

Spring 2025 Theology 101 Intro Class

1. Introduction to Orthodoxy

2. Holy Scripture & Sacred Tradition

3. The Sacraments/Mysteries of the Church

4. The Nicene Creed & Orthodox Theology

5. Prayer & Liturgical Worship

6. Christian Living & Ethics

7. Saints & Church History

8. Final Preparation & Reception into the Church

Summer 2024 Classes – Introduction to Orthodoxy

Join us on Tuesdays online at 7pm – Zoom Link – https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9544296002

Completed classes below. Click to watch.

1 – Introduction and Church Tour

6 – Fathers, Saints, and Theotokos

7 – The Holy Sacraments (Mysteries)

11 – On Becoming and Remaining an Orthodox Christian

Also very helpful: How to Become an Orthodox Christian by Bible Illustrated

Older Classes

6 Sessions on the Divine Liturgy

Session 1 – Introduction – September 12, 2023

Session 2 – Preparation of the Priest and of the Holy Gifts – September 19, 2023

Session 3 – The Liturgy of the Word/Catechumens – September 26, 2023

Session 4 – The Liturgy of the Eucharist/Faithful (Cherubic Hymn and Great Entrance) – October 3, 2023

Session 5 – The Liturgy of the Eucharist/Faithful (The Holy Anaphora and Consecration) – October 17, 2023

Session 6 – The Liturgy of the Eucharist/Faithful (Holy Communion) – October 24, 2023

Spring 2023 Classes

Preliminary Class – Tuesday, May 2, 2023 – Introduction

Direct Links to Videos used

Fr Thomas Hopko – Advice for Beginners in Orthodox Christianity, Pt. 1
Fr Thomas Hopko – Advice for Beginners in Orthodox Christianity, Pt. 2
Fr Stephen Freeman – For Enquirers
Fr Stephen Freemen – Common Pitfalls

Class #1 – Tuesday, May 9, 2023 – The Creation

Class #2 – Tuesday, May 16, 2023 – The Savior

Class #3 – Tuesday, May 23, 2023 – The Holy Spirit

Class #4 – Tuesday, May 30, 2023 – The Church

Class #5 – Tuesday, June 6, 2023 – Orthodox Way of Life – Repentance and Asceticism

Self Examinations to help prepare for Confession
Based on the Beatitudes – http://saintspyridon.church/post.php?EID=450
Based on the 10 Commandments (and another on the Beatitudes) – https://www.goarch.org/-/preparation-for-holy-confession

Class #6 – Tuesday, June 13, 2023 – The Church Temple and Icons

Class #7 – Tuesday, June 27, 2023 – Worship and Prayer

Fall 2022 – Entering the Orthodox Church

Class 1 covering the first Catechism (pages 43-51) (9/19)

A question that came up during class regarding St Cyprian of Carthage’s (3rd Century) statement regarding salvation. In Latin: “Salus extra Ecclesiam non est” which means: “outside the Church there is no salvation.” Fr Thomas Hopko once said the following:

But as the saying once said, “The true Church has sinners in it, and the false churches and the churches that are not completely and totally accurate and clear and true, they also have sinners in them. They also have saints, holy people, who, by the grace of God and by faith and grace and the Holy Spirit, live very holy lives. Here we would say it’s certainly a dogma of the Orthodox Church, that outside of the Orthodox Church the grace of God does act. The Holy Spirit blows where he wills, and there are righteous, holy people who are in other Christian churches, in no Christian churches. It’s all a great mystery here.

For more commentary on this topic, please see:

Outside the Church there is no Salvation

Salvation Outside the Church

How Should Orthodox Relate to Other Christians?

Class 2 (9/26) – The Christian God

Class 3 (10/3) – Man and his Fall

Links following our last class:

On the Nous:

WHAT IS THE NOUS – https://orthochristian.com/79038.html

The Orthodox Understanding of the Nous – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8p8l33uhXw

The Gospel in Chairs – Another version

Gospel in Chairs with Brad Jerak – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7FKhHScgUQ

Local Monasteries – (Fr Alex has not yet visited)

Holy Convent of the Annunciation
https://www.holyannunciation.org/IMEe/IMEe-default.htm
13486 N. Highway 225
Reddick, FL 32686
Tel: (352) 591-1803

Holy Monastery of Panagia Vlahernon
https://www.panagiavlahernon.org
12600 West Hwy 318
Williston, FL 32696
Tel: (352) 591-1716

Class 4 (10/17) – The Church and her Work

Class 5 (10/24) – The Clergy and the Saints

Apostolic Succession – List of the Patriarchs of Antioch – https://orthodoxwiki.org/List_of_Patriarchs_of_Antioch

Image of Discos/Paten with the Bread and meaning

Diagram of the Discos/Paten with the cut bread

The Seal on the loaf before baking

Baked Loaf of Prosfora

A Sunday at St Philip Church

Class 6 (10/31) – Aspects of Repentance, Nominal Christianity, Attributes of the Growing Christian, Intro to Creed

Class 7 (11/14) – The Creed, especially the first portion

Class 9 (11/21) – The Creed, the second portion “And in one Lord Jesus Christ”

Class 10 (11/28) – The Creed, moving into the Divinity of the Holy Spirit

Class 11 (12/5) – The end of the Creed