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

October 5–November 13, 2026

  • 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 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)

Week Six: “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

Module II​

THE CHURCH AND THE MYSTERIES

November 30, 2026–January 22, 2027 (no classes between December 19, 2026 and January 3, 2027)

  • 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​

January 25–March 5, 2027

  • 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​

March 15–April 23, 2027

  • 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​

May 3–June 11, 2027

★ Certification Track Only
  • 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
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