Orthodox Christianity 101
The 2026/2027 Orthodoxy 101 class will begin again on September 16, 2o26
The class will be held on Wednesdays at 7 pm both in person and via Zoom.
Registration for the 2026/2027 class year is NOW OPEN!
The purpose of this class is to provide a broad overview of the Church’s faith and life, beginning with our worship. It’s intended for those who wish to explore Orthodoxy; for those who wish to become members of the Church here at St. Paul’s; and for those members of our parish family already Orthodox but interested in broadening and deepening their faith.
We will look at the Liturgy and the sacramental life: why do we worship the way we do? We’ll explore the Bible and look closely at the New Testament and who the Lord Jesus is. We’ll study the history of the Church, looking specifically at the question: where did all the many thousands of different denominations come from? We’ll discuss repentance, personal spiritual disciplines like prayer, almsgiving and fasting, stewardship, Christian moral values, dealing with our sins, the development of the virtues and living faithfully. And the most important question of all: what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in Orange County in 21st century America?
Please join us!
COURSE CONTENT
Click on Date to expand and contract each night’s content
September 2026
September 16, 2026
TOPIC
What on Earth is the Orthodox Church? And Basic Principles of Living in Preparation for Becoming an Orthodox Christian.
READINGS
Chapter 1 of Orthodoxy by Metropolitan John Zizioulas (PDF)
“A Rule of Prayer” (web link): https://orthodoxyoftheheart.com/2021/10/23/a-rule-of-prayer/
September 23, 2026
TOPIC
A Tour of St Paul’s: Art, History, Theology and Jesus
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
September 30, 2026
TOPIC
Liturgy: Why Do We Worship the Way We Do?
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
October 2026
October 7, 2026
TOPIC
Looking at the Divine Liturgy: A Commentary & Explanation – Part 1
Excerpted from Orthodox Christianity 101 Notebook
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
October 14, 2026
TOPIC
Looking at the Divine Liturgy: A Commentary & Explanation – Part 2
oc101
Excerpted from Sacred Symbols that Speak (Volume 1)
Excerpted from The Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
October 21, 2026
TOPIC
Looking at the Divine Liturgy: A Commentary & Explanation – Part 3
READ: Worshipper’s Guide to the Divine LiturgyWATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
October 28, 2026
TOPIC
Saint Paul’s Feastday Great Vesper – No Class Tonight
November 2026
November 5, 2026
TOPIC
Looking at the Divine Liturgy: A Commentary & Explanation – Part 4
Finish Reading: Divine Liturgy with CommentaryWATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
November 12, 2026
TOPIC
Preparing the Bread & Wine for Worship
November 19, 2026
TOPIC
Living A Sacramental Life: Baptism, Chrismation, Marriage, etc.
READINGS
READ: Pages 163-196
Pages 163-196: “What We Believe About the Sacraments”
from Introducing the Orthodox Church by Anthony Coniaris
From the Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
oc101
From the Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
From the Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
From the Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
November 26, 2026
TOPIC
Come for Liturgy: Thanksgiving Eve Celebration of the Liturgy — No Class Tonight.
December 2026
December 3, 2026
TOPIC
What Are Icons & Why Do We Have Them in Our Churches?
READINGS
“What We Believe About Icons” from Introducing the Orthodox Church
Excerpted from the Orthodox Christianity (OC) 101 Handbook
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
December 10, 2026
TOPIC
Living Icons, Being Holy: The Saints and their Witness to Jesus – Part 1
READINGS
READ: Pages 119-138
“What We Believe about the Saints and the Theotokos”
from Introducing the Orthodox Church by Anthony Coniaris
Everything Is Like an Ocean: On the Essential Role of the Saints
Everything Is Like an Ocean: On the Essential Role of [...]
The Way of the Saint
The Way of the Saints by Father Thomas Hopko [...]
December 17, 2026
TOPIC
The Liturgical Year: Seasons of Feasting and Fasting
READINGS
READ: Pages Pages 93-110
“What We Believe about the Church Year”
from Introducing the Orthodox Church by Anthony Coniaris
Read: Epiphany and the Blessing of Water
https://stpaulsirvine.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Eiphany-and-the-Blessing-of-the-Water.pdf
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
December 24, 2026
TOPIC
NO CLASS TONIGHT. Attend Christmas Services!
READINGS
December 31, 2026
TOPIC
NO CLASS TONIGHT. Attend Services for New Years and Epiphany!
READINGS
January 2027
January 6, 2027
TOPIC
Living Icons, Being Holy: The Saints and Their Witness to Jesus #2
READINGS
READ: “What Is A Saint?”
an excerpt from The Experience of God by Father Dumitru Staniloae
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
January 13, 2027
The Church: The Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the Family of God
READINGS
READ: Pages 4-18 and 74-93
Pages 4-18: “The one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church”
Pages 74-93: “We are the Church of the early Fathers”
from Introducing the Orthodox Church by Anthony Coniaris
MATERIALS ON THE EARLY CHURCH
READ: Which Came First: the Church or the New Testament
by Father James Bernstein
from The Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
READ: What is the Orthodox Church? A Brief Overview of Church History
by Father Marc Dunaway
from The Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEO
January 20, 2027
TOPIC
The History of the Early Church: The Apostle Paul
READINGS
MATERIALS ON SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE
View: Page on St. Paul
Check out our webpage on St. Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles for resources, podcasts and more on St. Paul and his life.
January 20, 2027
TOPIC
The Church of the 7 Ecumenical Councils & the Nicene Creed
READINGS
READ: Pages 19-43 and 62-73
Pages 19-24: “What we believe about the Nicene Creed”
Pages 25-30: “What we believe about Jesus”
Pages 31-43: “What we believe about the Holy Trinity”
Pages 62-73: “What we believe about salvation”
from Introducing the Orthodox Church by Anthony Coniaris
The Creed with Scriptural References
The Nicene Creed with Scriptural References Select the [...]
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
February 2027
February 3, 2027
TOPIC
Where Did All These Churches Come From? The Great Schism and Protestant Reformation
READINGS
Click on image to enlarge or download
A Timeline of Church History
Click on image to enlarge or download
Major Christian Churches of the 20th Century
Please read:
The Great Schism between Eastern and Western Christendom
https://stpaulsirvine.org/the-great-schism/
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
February 10, 2027
TOPIC
Reading the Scriptures: The Bible as Sacrament
READINGS
5READ: Pages 197-224
Pages 197-224: “What we believe about the Bible”
from Introducing the Orthodox Church by Anthony Coniaris
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
February 17, 2027
TOPIC
Studying the Bible: Being a Disciple of Jesus and Doing the Truth
READINGS
READ: The Bible in the Orthodox Church
by Father Steven Tsichlis
from The Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
READ: Bread for Life: Reading the Bible
by Father Theodore Stylianopoulos
from The Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
READ: Practicing Christianity, Living the Faith: Excerpts from the Letters of St. Paul
by Father Steven Tsichlis
from The Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
READ: Faith Alone and Faith and Works: An Orthodox Approach
by Father Steven Tsichlis
from The Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
February 24, 2027
TOPIC
Reading the OLD Testament: Getting our Feet Wet
READINGS
READ: The Book of Psalms and the Wisdom of Sirach
from Orthodox Study Bible or use online links below:
Read the Psalms online here >
Read Wisdom of Sirach online here >
Watch
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
