Adult Catechism January 2026
This 6-week catechism course is structured around the Divine Liturgy, following the pedagogical approach of the Orthodox Church in America's Essential Orthodox Christian Beliefs: A Manual for Adult Instruction. The course emphasizes both Orthodoxia (right belief) and Orthopraxia (right practice), integrating doctrinal content with the lived experience of Orthodox worship and spiritual formation. Each week contains 3 sessions, totaling eighteen lessons that progressively build understanding of the Orthodox Faith.
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Course Content
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Week 1: Foundations of the Faith
Lesson 1 introduces foundational beliefs of Orthodox Christianity, emphasizing its apostolic origins. The purpose of Orthodox Christian education (catechesis) is to nurture each person in a life of communion with the Holy Trinity—a process known as theosis. Orthodox Christianity is described not just as a system of beliefs, but as a transformative way of life within the Church, aimed at salvation.
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Week 2: Scripture, Creation, and Christ
The Orthodox Church regards both Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition as sources of divine revelation. God created humanity in His image and likeness, intending communion and participation in divine life. Adam’s disobedience introduced sin and death, corrupting human nature and severing the relationship with God. Through the Incarnation, the eternal Word (Jesus Christ) assumed human nature to restore communion between God and humanity.
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Week 3: The Church and Sacraments
This lesson presents the Orthodox Church as the Body of Christ—one, holy, catholic, and apostolic—governed by bishops, priests, and deacons. Salvation and divine life are found within the Church's sacraments: Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist, Confession, Holy Unction, Marriage, and Ordination.
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Week 4: Worship and Prayer
The Divine Liturgy is the core of Orthodox worship, centering on the Eucharist, where bread and wine become Christ’s Body and Blood. Preparation involves prayer, fasting, and confession. Prayer—both communal and personal—unites believers with God, fostering spiritual growth and communion with the Holy Trinity.
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Week 5: Salvation and Communion
Salvation as Theosis—transformation and union with God as an act of divine grace and human cooperation. Saints, as friends of God, intercede for the Church; veneration honors them, but worship is for God alone. Icons, rooted in the Incarnation, visually teach theology and foster prayerful connection with Christ and the saints.
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