Discover a Church that has withstood 2,000 years of changing politics, fashionable trends, and cultural adaptation by continuing to practice and preach the Christianity of the early Church. Find a two-thousand-year history of consistent theology, reverential worship, and salvation through the fullness of living as Christ taught and the Apostles witnessed. Learn how the early Church worshipped, what the Old and New Testaments tell us about the early Church, and how the Church continues to live scripturally then and today. Embrace the Christianity you know in your heart. Come and see the early Church.
Class meetings begin on Sunday, September 15, and continue through March 9, 2025. We will use Rev. Michael Shanbour's “Know the Faith” and prepared handouts. Classes meet in the small hall shortly after Sunday fellowship. For more information, please contact Fr. Christopher Flesoras at frchris@saintanna.org.
September 15, Welcome!
Welcome to the Orthodox Church
Overview of Study
September 22, Lesson 1
A Walking Tour of our Sanctuary
September 29, Lesson 2
What is the Church? (Handout)
Shanbour, Chapter 1: the Church
October 6, Lesson 3
Worship, Prayer, the Jesus Prayer, and a Prayer Rope (Handout)
Shanbour, Chapter 2: Grace
October 13, Lesson 4
Shanbour, Chapter 3: Salvation
The Aim of the Christian Life (Handout)
October 20, Lesson 5
Shanbour, Chapter 4: Justification by Faith
The Rites of Christian Initiation (Handout)
October 27, Lesson 6
Shanbour, Chapter 5: Tradition and Scripture
What Orthodox Christians Believe (Handout)
November 3, Lesson 7
Shanbour, Chapter 6: The Eucharist and Liturgical Worship
Introduction to the Liturgical Day (Handout)
November 10, Lesson 8
The Liturgical Day Continued…
Great Vespers, Compline, and Orthros (Handout)
November 17, Lesson 9
The Liturgical Day Continued…
The Divine Liturgy (Handout)
November 24, NO CLASS
December 1, Lesson 10
Shanbour, Chapter 7: Ordination and Priesthood
The Ordained Ministries (handout)
December 8, Lesson 11
Shanbour, Chapter 8: Confession and Repentance
The Mystery of Confession (Handout)
December 15, Lesson 12
Holy Unction & Anointing (Handout)
December 22, 29, & January 5, NO CLASS
January 12, Lesson 13
Shanbour, Chapter 9: Icons, Veneration, and Worship
Revisiting the Holy Sanctuary
January 19, Lesson 14
Shanbour, Chapter 10: Intercessions of the Saints
Canonization (Handout)
January 26, Lesson 15
Holy Relics (Handout)
February 2, Lesson 16
Shanbour, Chapter 11: Veneration of the Virgin Mary
Most Holy Theotokos intercede for us! (Handout)
February 9, Lesson 17
Asceticism, Monasticism, & Chastity (Handout)
February 16, Lesson 18
Sacrament of Marriage & Family Life (Handout)
February 23, Lesson 19
Orthodox Christian Missions (Handout)
March 2, Lesson 20
Orthodox Christian Stewardship (Handout)
Prayer for our Catechumens (after the Liturgy)
March 9, Lesson 21 March 9
Preparing to be received into the Church (Handout)