THE CATECHIST
THE ART OF LISTENING AND TEACHING
C U R R I C U L U M
Module I
The Revelation of God and the Orthodox Faith
- 6 Weeks
Week One: Divine Revelation
- Natural revelation
- Phenomenology of religion and diversity of religions
- Supernatural revelation (Scripture and Tradition)
- The role of the Holy Spirit in revelation
- The Church as guardian of truth
Week Two: Holy Scripture
- Inspiration and canon of Scripture
- Old and New Testament unity
- Christ as the fulfillment of Scripture
- How Scripture is interpreted in the Church (Patristic exegesis)
Week Three: Holy Tradition
- Definition of Holy Tradition
- Apostolic succession
- The Ecumenical Councils
- The Church Fathers
- Creed, liturgy, and iconography as Tradition in action
Week Four: “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty…”
- Monotheism
- The Father as “principle” (archē) and “cause” (aitia) of the Son and the Spirit
- Creation ex nihilo
- Divine Providence
Week Five: “And in one Lord Jesus Christ…”
- Eternal generation of the Son
- True God of true God
- The Incarnation
- Theotokos (Council of Ephesus)
- The two natures of Christ (Council of Chalcedon)
- The Cross and Atonement
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension and the Sitting at the Right Hand of the Father
Week Six: “And in the Holy Spirit…”
- Procession from the Father
- The Spirit in creation and salvation
- Pentecost (descent of the Holy Spirit)
- The Spirit in the Church
- The “filioque” issue (brief doctrinal clarification)
Module II
THE CHURCH AND THE MYSTERIES
- 6 Weeks
Week One: “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church”
- Nature of the Church
- Body of Christ
- Apostolic succession
- Unity and conciliarity
- Church authority and councils
Week Two: “I confess one baptism…”
- Baptismal theology
- Remission of sins
- New birth
Week Three: The Mystery (Sacraments) of Baptism and Chrismation
- Death and resurrection in Christ
- Triple immersion
- Chrismation connection
- Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit
- Pentecostal fulfillment
Week Four: The Holy Eucharist
- Real Presence
- Sacrifice and thanksgiving
- Communion and theosis
- Preparation and worthy reception
Week Five: Repentance (Confession) and Holy Unction
- Real Presence
- Sacrifice and thanksgiving
- Communion and theosis
- Preparation and worthy reception
Week Six: Marriage and Priesthood (Holy Orders)
- Crowning
- Domestic Church
- Icon of Christ and the Church
- Bishop, priest, deacon
- Apostolic succession
- Liturgical ministry
Module III
WORSHIP AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
- 6 Weeks
Week One: The Divine Liturgy
- Structure and theology
- Eucharistic sacrifice
- The Kingdom made present
Week Two: The Liturgical Year and the Daily Cycle
- Pascha as the center
- Great Lent
- Nativity Fast
- Feasts of the Lord and Theotokos
- Saints and martyrdom
- Vespers, Matins, Hours
- Sanctification of time
Week Three: Icons
- Theology of icons (Seventh Ecumenical Council)
- Veneration vs. worship
- Incarnational theology
Week Four: The Human Person, Sin, and the Passions
- Image and likeness of God
- The Nous
- Freedom and synergy ·
- “Ancestral” sin
- Corruption and death
- The passions as distorted faculties
Week Five: Salvation
- Theosis (deification)
- Synergy (cooperation with grace)
- Justification and sanctification in Orthodox understanding
Week Six: Prayer and Asceticism
- Fasting · Vigil
- Almsgiving
- Spiritual warfare
- Personal prayer rule
- Jesus Prayer · Fasting and asceticism
Module IV
MORALITY, ESCHATOLOGY AND HOPE
- 6 Weeks
Week One: The Commandments
- The Ten Commandments
- The Beatitudes
Week Two: Sanctity of Life and Social Teachings
- Human dignity
- Marriage and sexuality
- Bioethical issues
- Charity and justice
- Peace and forgiveness
- Christian witness in society
Week Three: Virtues and Good Deeds
- Faith, hope, love
- Humility
- Obedience
- Discernment
Week Four: “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end”
- Death as passage
- Particular judgment
- Memorial services
- The Parousia (Second Coming of Christ)
Week Five: “… and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead” and “…the life of the world to come.”
- Universal bodily resurrection
- Final judgment
- The Kingdom of God: New Heaven and New Earth
- Eternal life
Week Six: The time (καιρός) is fulfilled, and the kingdom (βασιλεία) of God is at hand”
- Political context of first-century Israel / Palestine
- The fullness of time
- Kingdom of God
- Imperial Orthodoxy
- Church and state
- Nationalism
Module V
CATECHETICAL PEDAGOGY FOR PARISH SETTING
- 6 Weeks
Week One: The Ministry of Catechesis in the Church
- Christ as the first Teacher
- The Apostles as catechists
- The bishop, priest, and catechist
- The ministry of teaching as service to the Church
- Catechesis as evangelization and discipleship
Week Two: The Character and Spiritual Life of the Catechist
- Personal holiness and credibility
- Humility and obedience to the Church
- Prayer and ascetical life
- The catechist as witness before teacher
- Cooperation with the parish priest
- A catechist does not merely communicate information but introduces persons into life in Christ
Week Three: The Orthodox Understanding of Learning and Pedagogyn
- Formation versus information
- The heart, mind, and nous
- Learning through worship
- Learning through participation
- The role of beauty in formation
- Teaching through Scripture
- Dialogue and questioning
- Accompaniment and mentorship
- Progressive revelation and spiritual maturity
- Catechumenate in the early Church
- Formation through liturgy and icons
- The role of memorization and repetition
- The importance of spiritual fatherhood
Week Four: Principles of Adult Learning / Teaching Children and Youth
- Understanding adult converts
- Respecting prior religious backgrounds
- Addressing questions and doubts
- Building trust and community
- Encouraging active participation
- Developmental stages
- Age-appropriate instruction
- Storytelling and Scripture
- Liturgical participation
- Family-centered catechesist
Week Five: The Journey of Conversion
- Inquiry
- Catechumenate
- Baptism and Chrismation
- Mystagogical formation after reception
- Identifying common ground
- Explaining differences with empathy
- Addressing misconceptions
- Presenting Orthodoxy positively
- Beginning with natural revelation
- The human search for meaning
- The Gospel proclamation (kerygma) · Introducing Church life
Week Six: Building Community while teaching the Religiously Unaffiliated and the non-Orthodox Christian
- Why Orthodoxy? Welcoming newcomers
- Connecting catechumens with parish life
- Sponsorship and mentorship
- Building community
- Scripture and Tradition
- Saints and icons
- Mary and the Theotokos
- Salvation and theosis
- Contemporary ethical questions