Sunday School

Holy Trinity

One God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Father

The First Person of the Holy Trinity; the Begetter

Son

The Second Person of the Holy Trinity; begotten of the Father

Holy Spirit

The Third Person of the Holy Trinity; proceeds from the Father

Begetter

A title for God the Father

Begotten

Describes the Son's relationship to the Father

Proceeds

Describes the Holy Spirit's relationship to the Father

Filioque

The phrase "and the Son" added to the Creed in the West

Eternal

Having no beginning or end

Uncreated

Not made or created

Divine Essence

The one nature shared by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Fasting

A spiritual discipline that helps us grow closer to God

Self-Control

The ability to control desires and actions

Prayer

Communication with God

Confession

The sacrament through which sins are forgiven

Spiritual Growth

Growing closer to God in faith and holiness

True Beauty

Beauty that comes from being created in God's image

Distractions

Things that pull us away from God and can be fasted from

Liturgical Calendar

The Church's yearly cycle of feasts and fasts

Pascha

The celebration of Christ's Resurrection (Easter)

Great Lent

The major fasting season before Pascha

Wednesday Fast

Remembers Christ's betrayal

Friday Fast

Remembers Christ's crucifixion

Feast

A celebration of an important event in the Church

Fast

A period of repentance, prayer, and self-discipline

Salvation History

God's plan of saving humanity

Symbolism

Using visible signs to teach spiritual truths

Cross

Symbol of Christ's victory over sin and death

Spiritual Reality

A heavenly truth revealed through symbols

Invisible Grace

God's unseen help and blessings

Worship

Giving honor and praise to God

Sanctity

The holy value and dignity of human life

Image of God

The divine image present in every human being

Conception

The moment human life begins

David

King who wrote that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made"

Breck

Fr. John Breck, author of A Consistent Life Ethic

Deontological Ethics

Ethics based on rules, duties, and commands

Teleological Ethics

Ethics that focuses on outcomes and ends

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Stem cell research involving the destruction of embryos

Cloning

Artificial genetic replication of an organism

Priests

Spiritual guides who help with ethical decisions

Compassion

Showing care and understanding toward others

"For to me, to live is…"

Christ

Theosis

Union with God and becoming like Him

Behr

Fr. John Behr, author of Becoming Human

St. Ignatius of Antioch

Bishop who desired martyrdom and wrote to the Romans

Martyrdom

Giving one's life for Christ

Selflessness

Living for others instead of yourself

Love

The primary Christian virtue

Eternal Life

Life in Christ that cannot be destroyed by death

Prodigal Son

Parable about repentance and returning to the Father

Free Will

God's gift allowing humans to choose freely

Joy

Divine happiness experienced through God's grace

Obedience

Submission to God's will

"Thy Will Be Done"

Asking for God's will to be accomplished

Dismayed

The missing word in Isaiah 41:10 ("Fear not… be not dismayed")

Trust

Complete dependence and reliance on God

Health

Mental, emotional, and physical well-being

Professionals

People through whom God often works to help those with mental illness

Not Alone

The truth Christians remember during suffering

Wealth

What the rich fool trusted instead of God

Success

Measured by faithfulness to God, not riches

Lord

The source of our strength

Courage

The opposite of fear

Peace

Inner calm given by God

Good

The condition in which God originally created humanity

Art

A metaphor describing humanity as God's unique creation

Genesis

The biblical book describing creation

Dust

What God used to form Adam's body

Breath of Life

What God breathed into Adam

Adam

The first human being

St. Jacob

Syrian saint who described Adam as a "god of flesh"

Garden of Eden

The paradise where God first placed humanity

Satan

The evil one who caused humanity's fall

Resurrection

Christ's victory over death that transformed creation

Communion

A loving relationship of shared life with God

Image

The root of goodness placed in humanity at creation

Likeness

Growth into God's holiness and character

Jesus Christ

The perfect human who reveals the image of God