[TeftyJokip]

Would someone please give me some information on how Orthodox Catechism classes are done? Like, do all of them last at least six months? Do you get a text book for the classes? And, basically just anything else, because I would just like to know a little of what to expect.
Thanks & God Bless.

[Savviioor]

Hi James:
From a newbie perspective, when the others had Sunday school after Liturgy, our priest took us all into another room and taught us the basics of the faith. If we were previously Baptised we did not have to attend as long as those that are unbaptised. Those that were in quasi communion or were already within a faith that "similarily" had beliefs with EO stayed even less. It normally took 6 months to 2 years +/- to complete the course. No books were used. This was just him teaching us the rules and the reasons behind them.

The only thing that got to me after a while, was if we had more questions and class was over for the week, his answer to them was always "all mysteries will be revealed". This was his fun way of saying "same bat time, same bat channel."

It brought us back the next week to get more answers to our questions and why we had been taught the way we were taught from our converted faiths.

Once he felt we had completed "the course", he had baptism twice a year. At Nativity and at Pascha time. Classes kinda just ended at those times. Very convenient.

Hope this helps your questions from a newbie perspective. Try not to be too prepared or have preconceived notions of what to expect. Everyone is I am sure different.

Paul

[UTHZzJ6f]

Dear James,

Religious instruction has been one of the areas that does not have an uniform application in the Orthodox Church. For primary through secondary levels of education depending on the jurisdiction and diocese there may be a uniform curriculum that would include text books and teaching aids and materials. These are generally in most cases delegated to educated or trained laypersons that would deliver this instruction at a set day or time throughout what would coincide with the regular school year, generally at the church.

For adults, both inquirers and those that are already members of the church, I have found that what is used from parish to parish and how it is delivered and taught varies greatly. Generally in some cases the parish priest would be the one teaching such classes, but is not always the case. Text materials vary according to the desire of the parish priest, and I have found very little uniformity in what is used for instruction.

I believe that a standard must be set for what is used especially for inquirers. The time that one would have to spend in instruction would vary for the individual depending on how they grasp and internalize the materials presented.

There are a number of good books that can be used as instructional materials, but I believe that a standard must be set in what is used and delivered. I hope this answers your question some.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+