Introduction to Orthodoxy
A six-week introductory course on the Orthodox Church will begin this coming Thursday, April 30, at 7:30pm in the Parish Hall of Holy Cross Church. The one-hour class will survey the history, spirituality, doctrine, and worship of Orthodoxy.Intended primarily for inquirers and catechumens, all are invited to attend. Questions? .
Current Syllabus
Note: This syllabus is topical, and the topics may cover more than one class date. On some occassions several topics might be discussed in one class.
- resources
- websites (www.holycrossonline.org, www.antiochian.org, www.goarch.org , www.oca.org, etc)
- DVDs and video tapes
- books
- bookstore and library
- tour of the parish interior
- How do we know truth/The Truth?
- Sources of authority and revelation in the Church
- Tradition, Bible, Councils…How does it all fit together?
- tour of parish
- tour of the Liturgy texts (our service books, etc)
- Beginning of the Church
- from all eternity…
- the Old Testament People of God
- the New Covenant and the spread of the Church
- Apostolic Fathers; (see “The Orthodox Faith, vol iii: Bible and Church History”, by Fr. Thomas Hopko, DRE/OCA, pages 3-115 (sections: The Bible, The Old Testament, The New Testament, Salvation History); read on the web.
- Church history: movements (monasticism, iconoclasm) and moments (events)
- the saints over 2000 years (see “The Orthodox Faith, vol iii: Bible and Church History”, by Fr. Thomas Hopko, DRE/OCA, pages 117-233 (section: Church History); read on the web.
- Who are the “Church Fathers”? Dead white males?
- Why do they have authority?
- How are they guides in the Church?
- Corporate prayer: Divine Liturgy, the Hours
- Some quotations from the Church Fathers.
- What is (personal) prayer?
- What is “the spiritual life”?
- What is “asceticism” and the call to “be ye transformed”? How is that accomplished?
- Sacraments and spiritual disciplines/practices. Download the outline.
- Chant: the Church’s own music
- the tones and the liturgical cycle.
- For more on Orthodox music, see:
- Iconography and Icons: “windows into heaven"
- good introductory books found in our bookstore:
- Praying with Icons by Jim Forest (Orbis Books, 1997)
- Sacred Doorways: A Beginner’s Guide to Icons by Linette Martin (Paraclete Press, 2002)
- The Open Door: Entering the Sanctuary of Icons and Prayer by Frederica Mathewes-Green (Paraclete Press, 2003)
- feasts and fasts
- the Church’s Liturgical year
- sanctoral cycle
- daily and personal prayer
- prayer rule
- Church of Antioch
- Holy Cross
- who we are today
- the Church’s ministry of outreach and diaconia (service)
Resources — Books
These titles are also available in our online bookstore:
- The Faith: Understanding Orthodox Christianity by Clark Carlton (Regina Orthodox Press, 1997)
- Introducing the Orthodox Church by Fr Anthony Coniaris (Light and Life)
- What is the Orthodox Church: A Brief Overview of Orthodoxy (pamphlet) by Fr Marc Dunaway (Conciliar Press, 1995)
- Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells by Matthew Gallatin (Conciliar Press, 2002)
- Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith by Fr Peter Gillquist (Conciliar Press, 1989)
- Coming Home: Why Protestant Clergy are Becoming Orthodox ed. by Fr Peter Gillquist (Conciliar Press, 1992)
- A Faith Fulfilled: Why Are Christians Across Great Britain Embracing Orthodoxy? by Fr Michael Harper (Conciliar Press, 1999)
- The Orthodox Faith: An Elementary Handbook on the Orthodox Church, Vol 1 Doctrine, Vol 2 Worship, Vol 3 Bible and Church History, Vol 4 Spirituality by Fr Thomas Hopko (Dept of Religious Ed, OCA, 1976)
- The Orthodox Church: Its Past and Its Role in the World Today by Fr John Meyendorff (St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1981)
- Our Hearts’ True Home: Fourteen Warm, Inspiring Stories of Women Discovering the Ancient Christian Faith ed. by Virginia Nieuwsma (Conciliar Press, 1996)
- The Faith We Hold by Archbishop Paul of Finland (St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1988)
- The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware (Bishop Kallistos) (Penguin Books, 1963)
- The Orthodox Way by Timothy Ware (Bishop Kallistos) (St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1990)
Khouria Frederica Mathewes-Green’s two books which introduce Orthodoxy through the living experience of Holy Cross Church:
- Facing East: A Pilgrim’s Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy (HarperSanFranciso, 1997)
- At the Corner of East and Now: A Modern Life in Ancient Christian Orthodoxy (Tarcher/Putnam, 1999)