In the Classroom
The Faith/Catechesis:
Formal Training in Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition
Upper-grade students observe as Fr. Stephen prepares and bakes the prosphora for Divine Liturgy. (Proskomedia was performed in the center of the nave the following day, so students could observe the service, and hear their names!)
Program Goals
The student will:
-
recognize that the Orthodox Faith is the fundamental reality of life by which we know God and practice our understanding of how and why we exist together in God’s creation.
-
develop and use both a vocabulary and practice of the Orthodox Faith appropriate to the level of study.
-
recognize and use the sources of the Orthodox Faith, that is, Holy Tradition: Holy Scripture, the Liturgy, prayers and hymns of the Church, the Mysteries (sacraments), the Nicene Creed, the Seven Ecumenical Councils, iconography, the canons of the Church, the writings of the Church Fathers and the lives of the saints, ascetics and martyrs.
-
demonstrate extensive knowledge of the content and meaning of Scripture within Holy Tradition.
-
demonstrate extensive knowledge of the content and meaning of the Liturgical Cycle: the daily hours, the Divine Liturgy, the Church Year and the Great Cycle from birth to death.
-
demonstrate extensive knowledge of Orthodox Church History both in its defense against heresies and in its elucidation of truth.
-
demonstrate extensive knowledge of the content and meaning of the icons of the Orthodox Church, particularly the icons of Christ, the Theotokos and festivals.
-
develop the skills needed to live a disciplined life of faith, particularly giving attention to man’s tripartite (trinitarian) constitution of body, soul and spirit (nous) and the ascetical disciplines appropriate for the healthy development of each aspect.
-
develop the skills of discernment necessary to lead a repentant life pleasing to God, struggling against and overcoming passions and temptations.
-
develop a life of love and service to God in the communion of the Church, with family, neighbors and all in the community and surrounding world.
-
develop the ability to communicate the Orthodox Faith in word and deed in the variety of vocational situations present in life.
Scripture Lesson Units
Unit |
Year 1, 5, 9 |
Year 2, 6, 10 |
Year 3, 7, 11 |
Year 4, 8, 12 |
|
1 |
Creation
Week |
The
People Complain to the Drink Offerings |
The
Temple Built and Its Dedication |
Jesus’
Birth and Early Life |
|
2 |
Eden
through the Flood |
The
Rebellion of Korah through Joshua’s Ordination |
Solomon’s
Wealth through the Divided Kingdom |
John
the Baptizer and Jesus |
|
3 |
Babel
through Ishmael |
Moses’
Exhortation to the Promise of the Prophet |
The
Disobedient Man of God through Elijah’s Flight |
Jesus
Calls People to Follow Him |
|
4 |
Circumcision
through Abimelech |
Bringing
the Firstfruits through Joshua Taking Moses’ Place |
Elijah
and the Widow through Jehoshaphat’s Death |
Jesus
Teaches the Kingdom in Word and Deed |
|
5 |
Isaac’s
Birth through Abraham’s Death |
Rahab
the Harlot through Jericho’s Destruction |
Elijah’s
Departure through Elisha and Naaman |
The
Mission of the Twelve and Christ’s True Family |
|
6 |
Jacob
and Easu through Jacob’s Children |
Achan’s
Sin through the Death of Joshua |
The
Ax Head Floats to Elisha’s Death |
Jesus’
Parables to the Feeding of the 5,000 |
|
7 |
Jacob’s
Flight and Return |
The
Conquest of Canaan to Gideon’s Victory |
The
Story of Jonah |
True
Greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven |
|
8 |
Joseph
Becomes Ruler of Egypt |
Jephthah’s
Vow through Samson and Delilah |
King
Uzziah to the Assyrian Exile |
The
Sending of the Seventy to Healing on the Sabbath |
|
9 |
Joseph’s
Family Reunited in Egypt |
The
Story of Ruth |
King
Hezekiah to the Reforms of Josiah |
The
Narrow Gate to the Prodigal Son |
|
10 |
Job’s
Suffering and Restoration |
Samuel’s
Birth through His Judging of Israel |
Jeremiah’s
Ministry to the Babylonian Exile |
Stewardship,
Faith, and Repentance |
|
11 |
Moses’
Birth to Addressing Pharaoh |
Israel
Demands a King through Saul’s Coronation |
The Ministry of the Prophet Ezekiel |
Disputes
with Jesus; the Good Shepherd |
|
12 |
The
First Nine Plagues |
Saul’s
Unlawful Sacrifice through David and Michal |
The
Prophet Daniel and His Three Friends |
The
Raising of Lazarus to Palm Sunday |
|
13 |
The
Passover to the Red Sea (7) |
Saul
Persecutes David and David’s Flight |
Daniel’s
Faith and Visions |
Jesus’
Teachings of Final Judgment |
|
14 |
The
Water of Marah to Mount Sinai (6) |
David
Spares Saul through Saul’s Death |
Ezra
Begins the Reconstruction of the Temple |
Parables
of the End to the Garden of Gethsemane |
|
15 |
The
Covenant and Tabernacle |
David
Mourns Saul to God’s Covenant with David |
Ezra
and Nehemiah’s Reforms |
The
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ |
|
16 |
The
Golden Calf to the Tabernacle |
David’s
Victories and Affair with Bathsheba |
Nehemiah
Dedicates the Wall of Jerusalem |
Resurrection,
Ascension, and Pentecost |
|
17 |
The
Types of Sacrifice |
Amnon
and Tamar through Absalom’s Death |
The
Story of Esther |
Ananias
and Sapphira to Herod’s Death |
|
18 |
Priests
Begin and the Yearly Cycle |
David’s
Return to His Sinful Census of Israel |
The
Story of Tobit |
Saul’s
(Paul’s) Early Missions to the Gentiles |
|
19 |
The
Census to the Priestly Blessing |
Preparations
for the Temple |
The
Story of Judith |
Paul
Goes to Jerusalem, Then to Rome |
|
20 |
The
Dedication Offering to the Departure from Sinai |
Solomon
Becomes King of Israel |
The
Maccabees and the Rededication of the Temple |
The
Revelation of Christ to the Churches |