11th Grade Sunday School Final

Purpose of Holy Chrism

Anointed on individual to signify gift of Holy Spirit + get them ready for spiritual life

When Holy Chrism is used (4)

1. Right after baptism

2. Those who are converting to the faith

3. New church buildings

4. Altar table has been moved/church is desecrated

Symbolism of baptismal font

1. Tomb + resurrection (immersion → dying w/ Christ, rising from water → resurrection w/ Him)

2. Mother’s womb (bringing baby into Church’s spiritual family)

3. Washing of sins

4. Holy Trinity (baby is dipped 3x)

Purpose of + why we need to be baptized + chrismated

Baptism: gateway that makes baby member of the Church

Chrismation: the Holy Oil is anointed right after baptism → gift of Holy Spirit, now marked as forever belonging to God + to His service

Significance/meaning of rings + crowns used during Holy Matrimony

Rings: marks promise of lifelong union + agreement to marry is sealed by God Himself

Crowns: establishes couple as rulers of new “domestic church” (their home)

Purpose of marriage in Orthodox Church

Unite a man + woman in love + spiritual alignment, helping each other to grow closer to God + attain eternal salvation

How marriage relates to monasticism

Both have same goal: living life in Christ + achieving salvation

Both are sacraments of love

Both require same spiritual values

Asceticism

Voluntary spiritual disciplines (ex: fasting, extra prayer) practiced to clear body, mind, + soul from worldly distraction

Monasticism

Dedicated lifestyle where monks + nuns withdraw from ordinary life to dedicate themselves to serving God

Holy Unction, who is it used for

Act where believers are anointed with blessed oil to bring healing to body + soul + grant forgiveness of sins

Used for: sick, suffering, for all members during Holy Week

1st interpretation of Parable of the Good Samaritan

Moral: calls believers to demonstrate compassion regardless of who the person is (Jesus makes the disliked Samaritan the hero)

2nd interpretation of Parable of the Good Samaritan

Allegorical: prophecy of Christ’s saving work

traveler → Adam

Priest + levite → old testament: can physically heal, but not spiritually

Good samaritan → Jesus Christ, who was also despised

Oil + wine → sacraments (oil: Holy Spirit in baptism/chrismation, wine: blood of Christ on Cross)

Donkey → Christ taking on incarnation for our sins

Who was present during Christ’s Transfiguration, and what did he do?

Moses + Elijah: spoke with Jesus + to discuss his fulfilling of the Law + prophecies

Who is St. Basil the Great, and what did he do?

A 4th-century Greek bishop, theologian, + Church father → defended Christian orthodoxy against Arianism (heresy denying full divinity of Christ)

Also founded Eastern monasticism

When do we remember Christ’s descent into Sheol?

Great and Holy Saturday (Saturday before Easter)

Intercession in the Orthodox Church

Practice of seeking prayers from Virgin Mary, angels, + departed saints

Biblical stories mentioned during blessing of a home

1. Zacchaeus and Sycamore Tree

2. Baptism of Jesus in Jordan River

3. Jesus visiting the home of Martha, Mary, + Lazarus

4. Jesus’s healing of Simon’s mother-in-law

Why do we do infant baptism?

Belief that faith starts from childhood

Allows infant to be born into the spiritual family

Historical practice

Infants are purified from ancestral sin

Biblical references to support infant baptism

1. Baptism of Lydia + her household

2. Philippian jailer + family

3. Stephanas + family

4. Peter’s proclamation

5. People brought their infants to Christ to baptize

Purpose of Christ’s baptism

To “fulfill all righteousness” -→ perfectly submitted to God’s requirements for humanity

To identify with human imperfection (foreshadowing of how he would sacrifice Himself on Cross)

Public revelation of Holy Trinity

Common misconceptions about orthodox baptism

1. Views unbaptized babies as condemned to hell: baptism isn’t necessarily about escaping damnation, but rather to establish infant as part of Church + introduce to Christ from birth

2. Others baptized in other church branches won’t need this to convert: however, converts need to participate in this to fully enter the faith

Silver Rule

Avoid treating others the way you wouldn’t want to be treated

Golden Rule

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you”

Orthodox understanding of death + belief on cremation + organ donation

Death → temporary separation of immortal soul from mortal body

• body is treated w/ reverence

• belief in body’s future resurrection (from mortal → spiritual incorruptible state)

Cremation: forbidden by Orthodox church originally, but now is allowed under certain circumstances

Organ donation: considers it good now (act of love + self-sacrifice)

• doesn’t have interference w/ resurrection (God can resurrect body regardless of its condition/completeness at death

Different dichotomies of Western church + our church

Authority:

Western church → pope

Orthodox → self-governing national churches (synod of bishops that guide)

Sin:

Western Church → treats sin as offense against divine justice

Orthodox → sin is an illness that requires healing

Holy Spirit:

Western church → HS comes from Father + son

Orthodox → HS comes from Father alone

Why do we need to repent, and also in front of a priest?

For spiritual healing (sin → sickness)

To confess to God in the presence of a priest (priest → witness + instrument of God’s forgiveness), voicing sin out loud requires humility (which breaks pride of sin)

Fire/light, and its association to Heaven + Hell (icon)

Fire/light → presence of divine + Heaven’s glory or hell’s torment

One of icons: river of fire coming from throne of Christ, white light on one side + red/black flame on other → same judge + presence offers opposite experiences based on one’s deeds

Priest as a mediator for sacraments

Christ acts through the priest

Leads community in the Divine Liturgy + performs sacraments (ex: Baptism, holy Communion, + Confession)

Acts as physician + guide to people in their relationship with God

Represents the people when bringing their prayers + needs to God

What is apostolic succession?

Unbroken chain of leadership in church → links today’s bishops directly back to Jesus's apostles

Appointment of bishops is passed from one generation to the next

Apostolic succession’s importance in the church

Ensures that the orthodox church today follows the same guidance + rules that was followed back then

Qurbana + concept of ongoing worship

Qurbana → bread and wine are consecrated as Body + Blood of Christ

• uniting with God

Ongoing worship:

• carrying prayer outside of church service,

• encouragement of daily prayer

• entering the eternal kingdom every time community gathers to worship God

Original sin

Western concept

Humans inherit (Adam’s) sins from moment of conception

→ Adam was representative of human race → all humans are born “guilty” before God + require baptism or grace to be cleansed

Ancestral sin

Eastern concept

Humans inherit spiritually wounded environment + corrupt human nature

→ humans aren’t guilty of sin until they commit own personal sins

Orthodox church’s belief of demons + exorcisms

Demons → tempt humanity by promoting sin + distorting image of God

• believers are therefore taught to focus entirely on Christ

• demon attacks can be subtle (through thoughts and/or daily actions)

Exorcism: act of healing woven into faith that helps a person become free from demonic influence + turn to Christ

Mystery/miracle occurring in Holy Qurbana in our Church

Bread and wine retain their physical appearance, but is spiritually the Body and Blood of Christ → remains a Holy Mystery

Mystery/miracle occurring in Baptism in our Church

Infant mystically dies to sin with Christ, and rises as a “new creation” that is washed clean of sin

Mystery/miracle occurring in Chrismation in our Church

Anointing believer with Holy Myron (chrism) specially blessed by supreme head of church

Miracle: holy spirit actively dwells in + seals believer → grants them spiritual gifts

Mystery/miracle occurring in Holy Confession (Repentance) in our Church

Miracle: priest only functions as witness; Christ Himself is who absolves penitent, reconciles sinner with Church, + heals their spiritual wounds

Mystery/miracle occurring in Holy Matrimony (marriage) in our Church

Marriage → spiritual bond between husband + wife

Miracle: Holy Spirit descends upon couple to unite them + give them grace to live as representatives of Christ + His Church

Mystery/miracle occurring in Holy Orders (priesthood) in our Church

Miracle: priests are empowered by Holy Spirit to shepherd flock, teach faith, + act as physical instrument of Christ to administer other sacraments

Mystery/miracle occurring in Holy Unction in our Church

Anointing of sick with blessed oil

Miracle: Holy Spirit’s grace brings all 3 aspects (physical, emotional, + spiritual) healing + grant believer strength during times of illness or suffering

Difference between monasticism + asceticism

Asceticism (action) → action of self-spiritual discipline

Monasticism (setting) → lifestyle of monks to dedicate themselves fully to fasting + prayer towards God