IntroductionIntroduction toto OrthodoxOrthodox ChristianityChristianity

AA ThreeThree SessionSession ClassClass forfor InquirersInquirers ClassClass PurposePurpose

ProvideProvide aa basicbasic introductionintroduction toto OrthodoxOrthodox ChristianityChristianity

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 2 QuestionsQuestions WeWe WillWill AnswerAnswer

„ WhatWhat isis thethe OrthodoxOrthodox Church?Church?

„ WhereWhere doesdoes itit comecome fromfrom –– andand whywhy havehave soso manymany nevernever heardheard ofof it?it?

„ HowHow isis itit similarsimilar toto andand differentdifferent fromfrom ChristianChristian ChurchesChurches withwith whichwhich youyou maymay bebe moremore familiar?familiar?

„ WhatWhat dodo peoplepeople findfind here?here?

„ YourYour specificspecific questions.questions. OverviewOverview

„ Welcome!Welcome! „ Coffee and soft drinks afterwards „ We love questions…ask them anytime „ The restrooms are located… „ SessionSession OutlineOutline Introduction to Orthodox Christianity Session 1 - Who We Are Session 2 - What We Believe Session 3 - How We Live OrthodoxOrthodox ChristianityChristianity WhoWho WeWe AreAre SessionSession 11 OrthodoxOrthodox ChristianChristian ChurchChurch

„ ISIS NOTNOT „ anan institutioninstitution oror organizationorganization „ ISIS „ aa LivingLiving OrganismOrganism ––thethe peoplepeople ofof GodGod „ AsAs thethe peoplepeople ofof GodGod we:we: „ Gather together in his name „ Share a common faith in love of God „ Affirm truth & fullness of their faith belief & experience „ Proclaim the Good News of Christ in word and deed AnAn OrthodoxOrthodox ChristianChristian……

AA personperson whowho liveslives accordingaccording toto thethe imageimage ofof JesusJesus ChristChrist andand affirmsaffirms thethe fullnessfullness ofof truthtruth hehe revealsreveals

OrthoOrtho doxdox ChristChrist ianian True or correct Belief Jesus Christ One who complete teaching in whom our strives to live doctrine doctrine faith is as Christ did rooted JesusJesus ChristChrist

„ DIDDID NOTNOT …… „ ComeCome toto establishestablish aa religion,religion, beliefbelief systemsystem oror codecode ofof ethics.ethics. „ DIDDID „ GiveGive usus aa modelmodel forfor livingliving basedbased onon lovingloving…… „ God with our very being „ Others as we love ourselves „ OnOn this,this, JesusJesus ChristChrist says,says, everythingeverything elseelse hingeshinges OrthodoxOrthodox ChristianChristian ChurchChurch

OriginsOrigins „ TracesTraces itsits originsorigins toto JesusJesus ChristChrist andand thethe apostlesapostles „ BornBorn onon dayday ofof PentecostPentecost „ 50 days after Christ’’s resurrection when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles „ Apostles went throughout the world proclaiming the Good News of the Risen Christ to all who would listen „ SubsequentlySubsequently spreadspread toto everyevery cornercorner ofof thethe worldworld „ PlantedPlanted inin NorthNorth AmericaAmerica byby OrthodoxOrthodox missionariesmissionaries „ Alaska, 1794 OrthodoxOrthodox ChurchChurch TodayToday

„ ThroughoutThroughout thethe worldworld „ 300,000,000300,000,000 OrthodoxOrthodox ChristiansChristians „ InIn NorthNorth AmericaAmerica „ 2,000,0002,000,000 OrthodoxOrthodox ChristiansChristians „ 28002800 parishes,parishes, missionsmissions institutionsinstitutions andand monasteriesmonasteries „ TheThe ChurchChurch continuescontinues toto inviteinvite peoplepeople toto „ ComeCome andand seesee thethe fullnessfullness ofof thethe faithfaith „ EmbraceEmbrace itit asas theirtheir ownown OrthodoxOrthodox ChristiansChristians

AttemptAttempt toto serveserve GodGod by:by:

WorshipWorship Public “liturgy” & private prayer

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 11 OrthodoxOrthodox ChristiansChristians

AttemptAttempt toto serveserve GodGod by:by:

FellowshipFellowship By interacting with others in the faith community and beyond

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 12 OrthodoxOrthodox ChristiansChristians

AttemptAttempt toto serveserve GodGod by:by:

DiscipleshipDiscipleship Fasting, almsgiving and reaching out to others, especially those in spiritual and material need

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 13 OrthodoxOrthodox ChristiansChristians

AttemptAttempt toto serveserve GodGod by:by:

StewardshipStewardship Wisely managing the gifts of time, talent and treasure with which God has blessed us. NextNext WeekWeek

SessionSession 22 –– WhatWhat WeWe BelieveBelieve Questions?Questions? OrthodoxOrthodox ChristianityChristianity WhatWhat WeWe BelieveBelieve SessionSession 22 TopicsTopics

„ ScriptureScripture „ TraditionTradition „ TrinityTrinity „ TheThe ChurchChurch „ SalvationSalvation

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 18 HolyHoly ScriptureScripture

TheThe inspiredinspired wordword ofof GodGod andand thethe writtenwritten recordrecord ofof HisHis revelationrevelation toto humanityhumanity

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 19 HolyHoly ScriptureScripture

„ Old Testament „ Records the manner in which God prepared the world for the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. „ New Testament „ Completes and fulfills God’’s revelation… „ by proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord, God and Savior; „ as the very Word of God „ Who came to live in the midst of His people; „ and as the perfect, final and complete revelation of God to the world HolyHoly TraditionTradition

That which is passed on or given over within the Church, from the time of Jesus Christ and the apostles until the present day

„ IsIs…… „ the ongoing life of God’’s People „ that which God’’s People have believed, lived, experienced, celebrated and shared at all times and in all places. „ the living link that unites God’’s people in a common faith, life & experience. „ IncludesIncludes…… „ all that is essential to God’’s revelation and necessary for our salvation HolyHoly TraditionTradition

ConsistsConsists ofof…… „ HolyHoly ScriptureScripture „ PrayerPrayer && liturgicalliturgical worshipworship „ AcceptedAccepted creedscreeds && actsacts ofof thethe earlyearly ChurchChurch’’ss councilscouncils „ WritingsWritings ofof thethe HolyHoly FathersFathers „ LivesLives ofof thethe saintssaints „ ArtisticArtistic andand musicalmusical expressionexpression ofof thethe ChurchChurch HolyHoly TrinityTrinity

TheThe oneone GodGod isis threethree separateseparate andand distinctdistinct PersonsPersons Father, Son and Holy Spirit „ EachEach PersonPerson ofof thethe TrinityTrinity…… „ Shares fully and equally in the divine nature and will ANDAND „ Is infinite, perfect, all knowing, ever existing and eternally the same ANDAND „ Is perfectly united to the other Persons of the Trinity in love. HolyHoly TrinityTrinity (cont(cont’’d)d)

GodGod thethe FatherFather „ TheThe sourcesource ofof allall thingsthings „ MakerMaker ofof HeavenHeaven andand EarthEarth „ AndAnd ofof allall thingsthings visiblevisible andand invisibleinvisible

SummarizedSummarized inin NiceneNicene Creed,Creed, professedprofessed unchangedunchanged sincesince 4th4th centurycentury HolyHoly TrinityTrinity (cont(cont’’d)d)

GodGod thethe Son,Son, JesusJesus ChristChrist „ Sent by the Father into the world for our salvation „ Begotten of the Father before all ages „ Took on human nature & became man while not forsaking divine nature „ Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate „ and on the third day He arose again „ He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead

JesusJesus ChristChrist isis ourour Savior,Savior, whowho leadsleads humanityhumanity intointo GodGod’’ss kingdomkingdom HolyHoly TrinityTrinity (cont(cont’’d)d)

GodGod thethe HolyHoly SpiritSpirit „ TheThe Lord,Lord, thethe GiverGiver ofof LifeLife „ ProceedsProceeds fromfrom thethe FatherFather „ IsIs worshippedworshipped andand glorifiedglorified withwith thethe FatherFather andand thethe SonSon

TheThe HolyHoly SpiritSpirit fillsfills us,us, sustainssustains usus andand strengthensstrengthens usus inin livingliving aa ChristChrist--likelike lifelife TheThe ChurchChurch

TheThe ChurchChurch isis…… BecauseBecause……

ONEONE „ It is one body with one Head, Jesus Christ „ It cannot be divided or separated because Christ cannot be divided or separated „ It does not posses numerous branches that, while similar, are not the same HOLYHOLY „ the Holy Spirit dwells in God’s people as they respond to His call to salvation and eternal life CATHOLICCATHOLIC „ the Church is whole, complete, lacking in nothing & universal APOSTOLICAPOSTOLIC „ It maintains and continues in the apostles’ teaching, mission, ministry and experience SalvationSalvation

„ TheThe processprocess byby whichwhich wewe prepareprepare toto enjoyenjoy eternaleternal lifelife withwith God.God. „ EndsEnds ourour separationseparation fromfrom God,God, enablingenabling usus toto beginbegin aa newnew lifelife inin accordanceaccordance withwith HisHis will.will. SalvationSalvation

ForFor thosethose whowho…… SpendingSpending eternityeternity inin HisHis presencepresence isis……

„ Love God „ Paradise „ Heaven „ A “fire that purifies”

„ Hate God or, „ Torment „ Are indifferent to Him or, „ A “fire that burns” „ Refuse to place their faith in Him SalvationSalvation

„ IsIs ultimatelyultimately attainedattained throughthrough anan activeactive faithfaith „ FreeFree toto acceptaccept oror rejectreject „ ByBy acceptingaccepting faithfaith wewe commitcommit ourselvesourselves to:to: „ LivingLiving ourour faithfaith „ PuttingPutting itit intointo actionaction „ RecognizingRecognizing GodGod’’ss presencepresence inin othersothers –– eveneven thethe leastleast ofof thethe brothersbrothers NextNext WeekWeek

SessionSession 33 –– HowHow WeWe LiveLive Questions?Questions? OrthodoxOrthodox ChristianityChristianity HowHow WeWe LiveLive SessionSession 33 Service to God Service to Others HowHow WeWe LiveLive

OfferingOffering serviceservice toto othersothers isis rootedrooted inin serviceservice wewe offeroffer toto GodGod inin prayerprayer andand worshipworship

Service to Service to God Others

Private Prayer Fellowship Public Worship Discipleship Sacraments Stewardship ServiceService toto GodGod

PrivatePrivate prayerprayer isis essentialessential „ WeWe communicatecommunicate andand communecommune withwith GodGod personallypersonally

ƒ ToTo discerndiscern GodGod’’ss willwill forfor ourour liveslives

ƒ ToTo obtainobtain thethe meansmeans toto livelive hishis willwill

ƒ ToTo praisepraise andand thankthank himhim forfor thethe blessingsblessings HeHe hashas givengiven usus

ƒ ToTo bringbring ourour burdensburdens beforebefore HimHim whilewhile askingasking forfor strengthstrength toto livelive ourour faithfaith eveneven inin timestimes ofof adversityadversity ServiceService toto GodGod

AboveAbove allall GodGod’’ss peoplepeople areare aa worshippingworshipping peoplepeople

LiturgicalLiturgical WorshipWorship isis „ thethe publicpublic proclamationproclamation ofof GodGod asas LordLord „ the common action, or liturgy, of God’s the common action, or… liturgy, of God’s peoplepeople … ServiceService toto GodGod

TheThe DivineDivine LiturgyLiturgy (Eucharist)(Eucharist) is:is: „ TheThe centralcentral actact ofof worshipworship „ DuringDuring whichwhich we:we: „ Proclaim God’’s word as revealed in scripture „ And respond in Thanksgiving through the reception of Holy Communion – the body and blood of Jesus Christ

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 37 ServiceService toto GodGod SacramentsSacraments Our Sacraments bring God’’s presence into our lives as we: Baptism & Become members of Christ’’s Body Chrismation Holy Communion Proclaim Christ’’s death, Resurrection and Second Coming Confession Be forgiven by & reconciled with God and His People Marriage Share His love and the commitments it entails Ordination Dedicate our lives and our work to Him in specialized service Holy Unction Receive His healing grace ServiceService toto GodGod SacramentsSacraments

BaptismBaptism && ChrismationChrismation Become members of Christ’’s Body

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 39 ServiceService toto GodGod SacramentsSacraments

HolyHoly CommunionCommunion Proclaim Christ’’s Death, Resurrection and Second Coming Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 40 ServiceService toto GodGod

SacramentsSacraments

ConfessionConfession Be forgiven by & reconciled with God and his people.

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 41 ServiceService toto GodGod SacramentsSacraments

MarriageMarriage

Share His love andDiocese the of the commitmentsMidwest - Orthodox Church it in entails America 42 ServiceService toto GodGod SacramentsSacraments

OrdinationOrdination Dedicate our lives and our work to Him in specialized service

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 43 ServiceService toto GodGod SacramentsSacraments

HolyHoly UnctionUnction Receive his healing grace “…unto the healing of soul and body.”

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 44 ServiceService toto OthersOthers

OneOne cannotcannot bebe aa ChristianChristian independentindependent ofof othersothers

Volunteer and child at Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage Guatemala City, Guatemala ServiceService toto OthersOthers

FellowshipFellowship „ The Church is God’’s people who: „ Are united in a common faith, life and journey to the kingdom of God „ Share their common union in the Christian community „ The roots of fellowship are: „ Mutual love & respect „ Hospitality „ Acknowledgement that, while we belong to Christ, we also are members of one another

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 46 ServiceService toto OthersOthers (cont(cont’’d)d)

DiscipleshipDiscipleship A disciple is more than a follower… …rather a co-worker with Christ… bringing the Good News of salvation to all who listen and receive it. „ Discipleship includes: „ Strengthening our faith „ Reading, studying, discussing „ Living out our faith „ In words and actions „ Sharing our faith with others „ Especially those who have yet to hear the fullness of the Good News of Jesus Christ ServiceService toto OthersOthers (cont(cont’’d)d) StewardshipStewardship … wisely managing the countless gifts bestowed by God.

„ TimeTime „ TalentTalent „ TreasureTreasure SummarySummary

WhatWhat DoDo PeoplePeople FindFind Here?Here? 1. DoctrinalDoctrinal integrityintegrity andand continuitycontinuity withwith thethe originaloriginal apostolicapostolic "deposit""deposit" thatthat doesdoes notnot shiftshift withwith thethe timestimes oror withwith prevailingprevailing fads.fads.

Church of Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 49 SummarySummary WhatWhat DoDo PeoplePeople FindFind Here?Here?

2. AnAn emphasisemphasis onon thethe experienceexperience andand atmosphereatmosphere ofof worshipworship inin whichwhich wewe acknowledgeacknowledge thethe holinessholiness andand majestymajesty ofof God.God. Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 50 SummarySummary WhatWhat DoDo PeoplePeople FindFind Here?Here?

3. AnAn overover--allall ChristianChristian "world"world view"view" thatthat isis meantmeant toto bebe livedlived outout asas aa "way"way ofof life."life."

Diocese of the Midwest - Orthodox Church in America 51 ThankThank YouYou ForFor YourYour TimeTime andand YourYour Attention!Attention!

DioceseDiocese ofof thethe MidwestMidwest OrthodoxOrthodox ChurchChurch inin AmericaAmerica