IN THIS LESSON

#1 Introduction to Orthodox Christianity

Scripture Reading (RSV):

·       "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:1-4)

·       "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light" (Genesis 1:1-3)

Key Themes:

The Orthodox Church traces its origins to the apostolic community established by Jesus Christ and continued through unbroken apostolic succession. The purpose of Orthodox Christian education (catechesis) is "to help build up the Church, the Body of Christ, by nurturing every person in the life of personal communion with the Holy Trinity (theosis)". Orthodox Christianity is not merely a religion or system of beliefs, but a way of life—a cure undertaken within the Church for our salvation.


Church Fathers' Wisdom:

St. Ignatius of Antioch (d. 107): "Since there is but one unbegotten Being, God, even the Father; and one only-begotten Son, God, the Word and man; and one Comforter, the Spirit of truth; and also one preaching, and one faith, and one baptism".

St. Athanasius of Alexandria: "For of what use is existence to the creature if it cannot know its Maker? It is we who were the cause of His taking human form, and for our salvation that in His great love He was both born and manifested in a human body".

Discussion Points:

·       What distinguishes Orthodox Christianity from other Christian traditions?

·       Why is the Church essential for salvation rather than individual faith alone?

·       How does worship (latreia), community (koinonia), and discipleship (matheteia) shape Orthodox life?

#2 The Holy Trinity

Scripture Reading (RSV):

·       "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19)

·       "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14)

Key Themes:

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity—one God in three persons—is the foundation of Orthodox Christian belief. The Father is the source of the Godhead; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father. The three persons are co-equal, co-eternal, and of one essence (homoousios). This mystery is revealed, not comprehended by human reason alone.

Church Fathers' Wisdom:

St. Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390): "No sooner do I conceive of the One than I am illumined by the splendor of the Three; no sooner do I distinguish them than I am carried back to the One. When I think of any one of the Three I think of Him as the whole... When I contemplate the Three together, I see but one torch, and cannot divide or measure out the undivided light".

St. Basil the Great: "The Father is the entire substance, but the Son is a derivation and portion of the whole... Thus the Father is distinct from the Son, being greater than the Son, inasmuch as He who begets is one, and He who is begotten is another".

St. Athanasius: "The Word, perceiving that no otherwise could the corruption of men be undone save by death as a necessary condition, while it was impossible for the Word to suffer death, being immortal, and Son of the Father; to this end He takes to Himself a body capable of death".

Practical Application:

The sign of the Cross—made "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"—is the Orthodox Christian's constant invocation of the Trinity and reminder of baptismal identity.

#3 The Nicene Creed

Scripture Reading (RSV):

·       "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16)

·       "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1)

Key Themes:

The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, formulated at the First (325 AD) and Second (381 AD) Ecumenical Councils, is the definitive statement of Orthodox Christian faith. It affirms belief in the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Church, baptism for the remission of sins, the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.

Historical Context:

The First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) was convened by Emperor Constantine to address the Arian heresy, which denied the full divinity of Christ. The Council affirmed that the Son is "of one essence (homoousios) with the Father," establishing the foundational parameter for Christian orthodoxy. The Second Council (381 AD) expanded the Creed to affirm the divinity of the Holy Spirit.

The Nicene Creed:

"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father; by Whom all things were made.

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen".

Church Fathers' Wisdom:

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386): "The Faith is the eye that enlightens every conscience; it gives understanding; for the prophet says, 'And if you will not believe, you will not understand' (Isaiah 7:9, Septuagint)".

Class Notes