Christ

Orthodoxy 101 Syllabus

Fall Series 2008
 
Class Schedule: Saturdays at 4pm (unless otherwise schedule)

                            Fr. Patrick Tishel, Lecturer

e-mail: frpatrick@hrocBoston.org

 

Orthodoxy 101 Syllabus

Fall 2008 Series

 

 

Class Schedule: Saturdays, 4 PM (unless otherwise scheduled)

Fr. Patrick Tishel, Lecturer

617-787-7625 (parish)

617-519-9111 (cell)

frpatrick@hroc Boston.org

 

 

Three Foundation Stones of Catechesis

  • Orientation to the divine services (for newcomers and Catechumens)
  • Having a spiritual life (My Life in Christ)
  • Service (to be a servant of Christ, to be available) for the Church, for others, for God

 

(Please note: topics subject to change. If you are anticipating a particular topic, please email Fr. Patrick to confirm when he will be speaking on it.)

 

Sat. 9/27

Nicene Creed, Article 2

Church history

  • Beginning
  • Middle
  • End (Orthodoxy in America, apostasy)

 

Sat. 10/4

Nicene Creed, Article 3

Orthopraxy/Piety, Part 1

  • 9 Beatitudes
  • 10 Commandments
  • Service-oriented life

 

Sat. 10/11

Nicene Creed, Article 4

Orthopraxy and Piety, Part 2

  • Holy Scripture and Tradition
  • Spiritual reading, literature, and hagiography
  • Veneration of Saints, Angels, Mary, Relics, Icons, True Cross
  • Making the Sign of the Cross
  • Making prostrations

 

Sat. 10/18

Nicene Creed, Article 5

Orthopraxy and Piety, Part 3

  • Spiritual Advisor
  • Monasticism/Marriage/Single-life (Ostrov)
  • Pilgrimages
  • Prayers for the dead

 

Sat. 10/25

Nicene Creed, Article 6

Orthopraxy and Piety, Part 4

  • Parish membership
  • Dabbling in other traditions (Yoga, etc.): warning vs. forbidding
  • American culture and Orthodox spirituality
    • Work, dress, entertainment
    • Time (busy-ness, cell phones)
    • The fullness of faith American-style

§         Schmorgisboard and fast-food spirituality

§         Two most important things on your "to-do" list

 

Sat. 11/1

Nicene Creed, Article 7 (Jesus will come to judge and est. kingdom)

Soteriology

  • Sin
  • Repentance
  • Confession (see confession article)
  • Salvation

 

Sat. 11/8

Nicene Creed, Article 8 (Holy Spirit)

7 Mysteries (or Sacraments)

  • Marriage (male/female relations), Confession, Unction, Ordination
  • Emphasis on: Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist
    • Baptismal name vs. secular name

 

Sat. 11/15

Nicene Creed, Article 9 (Church)

Ecclesiology

  • Church Interior
    • Iconography
    • Architecture
    • Vestments
  • Hierarchy
  • Denominations/Schisms (see also Church history)

 

Sat. 11/22

Nicene Creed, Article 10 (Baptism)

Baptism, Chrismation

Liturgics

  • Keeping Lord's feast on Sunday (vs. Saturday)
  • Cycle of services
    • 12 feasts
    • Fasts

 

Sat. 11/29

Nicene Creed, Article 11 (Resurrection of all people)

Fasting

Home as a "mini-church": shrine, morning and evening prayers, prayers at meals and other times, home blessings

 

Sat. 12/6

Nicene Creed, Article 12

Orthodox worldview in dialogue with pop culture and modern times: social and moral issues

  • Organ transplants
  • In-vitro fertilization
  • Energy work
  • Cloning
  • Evolution