Lesson 1-4

Christian Denominations

Three main groups of Christianity: Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant.

Orthodox Church

Believes it holds the ‘one, genuine, and uncorrupted Faith’ as the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.

Parable of the Prodigal Son

Represents God's unconditional love, where the father symbolizes God and the sons represent humanity.

Free Will (in the context of the Prodigal Son)

The father's granting of inheritance signifies God's granting humans free will.

Repentance (in the context of the Prodigal Son)

The prodigal son's return symbolizes repentance and God's embrace of those who repent.

Universal Salvation

Orthodox church teaches that all can be saved and that salvation means returning to God.

Holy Qurbana (Eucharist)

Central to Orthodox life, reflecting the unity of the body of Christ.

Closed Communion

Only baptized Orthodox Christians in good standing may receive Communion to maintain spiritual integrity.

Preparation for Communion

Requires confession and repentance to approach the sacrament worthily.

Sanctification

Means to be set apart and made holy, dedicated to God for sacred purposes.

Role of the Holy Spirit

Sanctifies us, making us holy and God's Temple through Baptism and Chrismation.

Chrismation

Seals us with the Holy Spirit, making us part of God's holy priesthood.

Autocephaly

The state of being self-governed, as declared by the Malankara Orthodox Church in 1912.

St. Thomas Christians

Christians in India tracing their origins to the missionary work of St. Thomas, who arrived in Kerala in 52 AD.

Ecclesiology

The study of the church, explaining how it operates and deals with challenges.

Council of Jerusalem

A key early church meeting to decide whether Gentiles needed to follow Jewish customs to become Christians.