Orthodox Christianity Course Content Part 2
COURSE CONTENT
Click on Date to expand and contract each night’s content
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
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
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
March 2027
March 3, 2027
TOPIC
Reading the NEW Testament: Getting Our Feet Wet
READINGS
READ: The Gospel of Luke and the First Letter of John in the Bible
from Orthodox Study Bible or use online links below:
Read the Gospel of Luke online here >
Read the First Letter of John online here >
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
March 10, 2027
TOPIC
Life, death, Life after death/Praying for those who have gone before us
READINGS
READ: Pages 139-162 & 241-247
Pages 139-162: “What we believe about eschatology or life after death”
Pages 241-247: “What we believe about prayers for the dead”
from Introducing the Orthodox Church by Anthony Coniaris
READ: Prayer & the Departed Saints
by Professor David Ford
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
March 15, 2027
March 15: ATTEND THE PURE MONDAY MINI-RETREAT / GREAT LENT BEGINS
March 17, 2027
TOPIC
Being a Disciple of Jesus: Personal Encounter and Spiritual Discipline
READINGS
READ: Pages 1-133
from God and You: Person to Person: Developing a Daily Personal Relationship with Jesus
by Anthony Coniaris
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
March 24, 2027
TOPIC
The Spiritual Disciplines of Great Lent: Prayer, Fasting & Almsgiving
READINGS
READ: Lent – Preparing for Joy
by Norman Wirzba
from The Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
READ: 5 Reasons Christians Practice the Discipline of Fasting
by Father Steven Tsichlis
from The Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
Please read: Prayer and Life
https://www.mitras.ru/eng/eng_05.htm
March 24, 2027
TOPIC
Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer and the Jesus Prayer
READINGS
READ: The Jesus Prayer
by Father Steven Tsichlis
from The Orthodox Christianity 101 Handbook
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
April 2027
April 7, 2027
TOPIC
The Monastic Witness to the Gospel
READINGS
READ: Monasticism: The Biblical Call
by a Nun of the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration
from The Orthodox Christianity Handbook
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
April 14, 2027
April 21, 2027
TOPIC
Preparing for Holy Week and PASCHA
READINGS
READ: Palms: Symbols of Victory, Surrender & Alliegiance
from Sacred Symbols that Speak by Anthony Coniaris
READ: Good Friday: The Epitaphion & the Tomb of Jesus
from Sacred Symbols that Speak by Anthony Coniaris
WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS
April 28, 2027
The mystery of **Holy Unction** is celebrated today, the **sacrament of anointing with oil** for healing and the forgiveness of our sins (James 5:13-15).
**NO CLASS TONIGHT** | Please consider attending the **Service of Anointing**.
The service is offered at two times — **3:00 pm** and **7:00 pm**
May 2027
May 2, 2027
GREAT & HOLY PASCHA
May 5, 2027
LAST CLASS / POTLUCK CELEBRATION /
Given All This – What is Expected of Us?