Guide to 8th Grade Final Examination (2024-2025)

Prophets

Prophets were messengers of God. God revealed Himself and His will to people through

prophets. They were foretellers of events, interpreters of law, teachers of religion, advisers to

kings, and reformers who rebuked evil practices of the people.

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel are known as major prophets.

Isaiah

Isaiah means "Help from God" or "God helps"

Known as "Glorious Isaiah" for his heavenly vision describing the Glory of the Almighty.

Known as "Prophet of Salvation" for

● Message of God's promise of delivering people of Judah and restoration to Judah.

● Message of Coming of our Savior (Messiah)

Isaiah is also known as the "Fifth Evangelist". The Book of Isaiah is known as "Fifth Gospel".

Key Messages from Part 1 (Chapters 1 to 39)

God's Justice and Warning: God rebukes Judah for sins, tasks Isaiah with warning of

judgment.

Key Messages from Part 2 (Chapters 40-55)

Salvation and the Messiah: Isaiah foretells the Messiah's arrival for salvation, healing, and joy,

advises faith in God over alliances, emphasizes God's power and loyalty for liberation, and

presents the "Suffering Servant," a figure Christians believe represents Christ, who achieves

justice and salvation through suffering.

Key Messages from Part 3 (Chapters 56-66)

True Worship and Social Justice: Isaiah emphasizes overcoming social injustice as a sin,

salvation through true worship and practicing justice, explains genuine worship, states the

humble and repentant receive God's help, and persistent sin creates separation from God

blocking His blessings and salvation.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah means ‘God is High', 'God will raise', 'extolled by God'.

Jeremiah was the Chosen one. He was chosen by our Lord God at a very young age. When

young Jeremiah said, "I do not know how to speak", the Lord reached out and touched his lips

and blessed him.

Known as Prophet of Judgement

● Jeremiah endured trials and tribulations. Ridiculed, oppressed, imprisoned, tortured, and

stoned, his life, like Jesus Christ's, was filled with challenges. Despite this, he faithfully

delivered God's message of judgment.

Known as Weeping Prophet

● Although Babylonians spared Jeremiah's life, they destroyed the temple of Jerusalem,

and that led Jeremiah to write a sad poem, which is called "Lamentations" in the Holy

Bible.

Key Messages

1. Repentance: Jeremiah preached that despite the Israelites' rebellion, God offers

forgiveness. He urged them to reflect, acknowledge their faults, and genuinely change.

2. New covenant: Jeremiah's "new covenant" envisions a future of internal change where

God's law is written on people's hearts, enabling direct knowledge of Him.

3. Perseverance: Jeremiah showed unwavering perseverance through rejection and

hardship. His resilience inspires holding onto values and purpose during adversity,

finding purpose in fulfilling his divine duty as a prophet.

4. Emotional Honesty with God: Jeremiah, despite his challenging prophetic messages,

openly expressed his doubts and struggles to God. This demonstrates that faith can

involve questioning, and even prophets face weaknesses.

Gospels

Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The word "Gospel" means "Good News" because they share the good news about Jesus

Christ—His life, teachings, death, and resurrection.

Gospels are the beginning books of the New Testament.

St. Mark, an evangelist and disciple of St. Peter wrote the first gospel. The necessary

information was given by St. Peter.

Synoptic Gospels: Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke form the synoptic gospels.

Each Gospel writer had a unique perspective:

● Matthew: Focused on Jesus as the promised King & Messiah

● Mark: Highlighted Jesus' actions and miracles, showing His power and authority.

● Luke: Emphasized Jesus’ compassion and love for all people, including outcasts and the

poor.

● John: Focused on Jesus' divine nature and His role as the Son of God.

What is the difference between apostles and evangelists?

● Apostles are Jesus' disciples

● Evangelists are people who were inspired by Jesus Himself, disciples of the apostles

themselves, and who were so influenced and took upon their mission to spread the

message and life of Jesus Christ.

Gospel of St. John

John, son of Zebedee and brother of James, wrote the Gospel, the three epistles, and the Book of Revelation.

John and James were called 'Boanerges', which means 'Men of Thunder' because of their

intense zeal and reactive tempers like asking Jesus to 'call down fire to destroy the enemies'.

John, "the disciple whom Jesus loved," had a special relationship with Jesus. He was entrusted with Mary's care at the crucifixion, was likely the youngest disciple, and held a place in Jesus’

inner circle.

St. John was the only apostle believed to live a long life and die of natural causes, spending his

final years in Ephesus. He was arrested and imprisoned on Patmos before his death.

After Jesus' death, St. John worked closely with Peter. Peter focused on administrative work,

while St. John primarily handled preaching and messaging.

St. John's motivation to write the Gospel

● Jesus is the Messiah. St. John wanted people to believe Jesus is the Son of God and

one have eternal life through Faith in Jesus.

● Jesus' divinity and humanity. St. John wanted to establish true faith by refuting any

blasphemous teachings where some denied Jesus' divinity, and others rejected His

humanity.

● Jesus as the Alpha and the Omega. Unlike Saints Matthew and Luke who begin with

Jesus' birth, St. John sees Jesus as the beginning and the end.

References from St. John highlighting Jesus' divinity i.e. Jesus is God

● "I am telling you the truth. Before Abraham was born, I am" (John 8:58)

● "The Father and I are one" (John 10:30)

References from St. John highlighting Jesus' humanity i.e. Jesus was complete Man

● "Jesus wept" (John 11:35)

● "I am thirsty" (John 19:28)

Miracles that only St. John has recorded

● Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11)

● Curing the son of a government official in Capernaum (John 4:46-54)

● Curing the sick man laying at the Bethseda pool for 38 years (John 5:2-15)

● Curing the man born blind (John 9:1-17)

● Resurrecting Lazarus (John 11:1-44)

St. John describes several people confessing the true nature of Jesus.

● John the Baptist - "Here is the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!"

● Thomas - "My Lord and my God!"

St. John describes Jesus through many metaphors (Learn any 3)

● I am the bread of life

● I am the light of the world

● I am the good shepherd

● I am the resurrection and life

● I am the way, the truth, and the life

● I am the real vine, and my Father is my gardener

Interesting Facts

● St. John used the term "Sign" for "miracles"

● Jesus feeding 5000 people - only miracle in all gospels

● Most quoted verse - "For God so loved the word that he gave his only begotten Son, that

whoever believes in him shall not die but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)

● Another verse - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the

Word was God" (John 1:1).

● St. John is called the "Apostle of Love".

● St. John's Gospel notes three Passovers, indicating a three-year ministry for Jesus, in

contrast to other Gospels which mention only one.

Epistles

The Gospels recount Jesus' life, death, and resurrection to inspire belief in him as the Messiah

and offer guidance on prayer, living, and connecting with God.

The Epistles are letters encouraging Christian faith, providing theological insights and details

on the Church's development, and explaining how to live as a Christian without Jesus' physical

presence.

General or Catholic Epistles mean they were not specifically written for a church or individual.

There are 21 epistles - Paul wrote 14, John wrote 3, Peter wrote 2, Jude and James wrote 1.

Epistle of St. James

James, considered Jesus's brother through Joseph's prior marriage, initially doubted Jesus's

divinity. However, after a post-resurrection appearance, he became a key leader in the early

Church and the first bishop of Jerusalem. He is honored as the first chief priest of Jerusalem,

an apostle, and a martyr. He is distinct from James, son of Zebedee, who was executed early

and could not have written an epistle.

Key Message

● Written to the 12 scattered tribes of Israel (from Dan to Beersheba). Targeted the

dispersed Israelites, not just those in Canaan.

● Stresses treating poor fellow believers with brotherly love.

● Emphasizes that faith should be demonstrated through actions.

● Warns about the danger of an uncontrolled tongue despite it being a small part of the

body, and encourages humility.

● Praying for and anointing the sick with oil in the name of the Lord.

Epistles of St. Peter

Differences between 1st Epistle and 2nd Epistle of St. Peter

1 Peter prepares us to suffer without losing hope, and 2 Peter prepares us to stay vigilant

without losing truth.

1 Peter prepares early Christians from outside challenges such as persecution and ridicule,

while 2 Peter prepares early Christians from internal challenges such as false teaching and

moral decay.

In 1 Peter, St. Peter asks us to stand firm with gentleness and holiness by following Jesus'

example in suffering, and in St. Peter asks us to stay rooted in truth and spiritual growth until

Jesus' second coming.

Prayers & Holy Cross

Things to remember

1. Pray facing east "this has been followed from the apostolic ages"

2. Face the east and draw the cross and place your hands on your chest and pray.

3. Stand while you pray.

4. Kneel and bow at specific times. No kneeling down on Sundays, Maranaya, on the days

from Easter to Pentecost, on the days on which we received holy communion.

a. Specific occasions where we must kneel - Confessions, Ordination service,

Pentecost service "kneel down and pray".

When praying, how should we ask for our needs?

● Reflect submission to God's will.

● Prioritize truth, righteousness, and goodness over selfish desires.

● Seek God's glory and blessings for others rather than personal gain at their expense.

● Be offered with strong faith.

● Ensure its answer if aligned with God's will.

How will prayer with faith be answered?

1. Yes, So let it be.

2. No, but a different reply.

3. Be patient.

What are the various prayers?

● Public Prayers: Group prayers such as liturgical prayers, prayers for specific occasions,

and family prayers. (evening, soothara, midnight, morning, third hour, noon, ninth hour)

● Private/Personal Prayers: Prayers of thanksgiving for personal blessings and petitions

for one's own needs. Short prayers of praise can be offered mentally or verbally at any

time, regardless of one's activities.

● Intercessory Prayers: Prayers directed to saints, asking them to intercede before God

on our behalf.

Why should we draw the cross?

1. When we draw, we escape from all Satanic influences and reach out to the Holy Cross,

our fortress of refuge.

2. Drawing the cross serves as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice, which has made us

inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. Specifically, it recalls Christ's suffering.

3. Moreover, when drawing the cross, we signal our willingness to endure any

hardships.

4. It is a declaration of victory; the act of drawing the cross becomes a point of honor.

To summarize, when we trace the cross from forehead to chest, it symbolizes the Son of God's

descent from heaven to earth for humanity's salvation. The movement from left to right

represents our transformation from being followers of Satan to becoming children of God.

Why is bowing before the cross not idol worship?

Christ's crucifixion on the cross gave us salvation. Crucifixion of Christ symbolizes salvation of

mankind, freedom from sin and defeat of Satan

Holy Qurbono

Holy Qurbono is called the Queen of Sacraments, as it allows us to participate in the birth,

public ministry, death, resurrection and the Second Coming of our Lord.

Partaking of the Body and Blood of Jesus uses all 5 senses.

The four (4) components of the Holy Qurbono are:

● Celebrant: bishop/priest

● Recipients: congregation

● Sacramental Items: Items used in the Holy Qurbono (bread, wine, etc.)

● Holy Liturgy: Thaksa

Sacramental Items

• Curtain (Thirasheela): visualize opening of heaven, a separation between heaven and earth

• Thronos (Table/Throne): represents tomb of Christ, the table of life

• Cross (Sleebo): represents the Lord’s sacrifice

• Candles: 12 candles represent the 12 disciples, 1 candle in the middle to represent Christ

• Tablitho (tablet): blessed with Holy Mooron, without the tablitho, the HQ cannot be celebrated, symbolizes cross on with Christ was crucified

• Virikootam (tricolor spread): covers tablitho,

  • red = universe

  • green = world

  • white = Holy Church

• Chithola (Altar covering): divided into 3 parts to represent the Holy Trinity

• Dargo (step): step in front of the Thronos used by the celebrant only after the Nicene Creed from the Anaphora onwards

• Casa (Chalice) & Peelasa (Paten): used to hold the bread (paten) and the wine (chalice)

• Kaukbo (star): star that covers the paten, represents the star of the Nativity

• Kablono (cover): used to cover the paten and the chalice, represents the cloth that covered Christ in the tomb

• M’Shamshonitho (bowl): used to mix water and wine, celebrant washes fingers with this

• Tharvodo (spoon): used to give out HQ, represents the tongs that the angel used for the burning coal in Isaiah’s vision (Isaiah 6)

• G’mourtho (cushion): pillow used to place spoon on, represents the sponge the soldiers used to give Christ the sour drink on the cross

• Sussefo (sossappa/veil): used to cover paten & chalice; represents the stone rolled over the tomb of Christ and shows that there is a divine mystery

• Censer:

  • 4 Chains → Father, Son (Manhood and Divinity), Holy Spirit

  • 12 bells → 12 disciples

  • 72 links per chain → saints, prophets, martyrs

  • Bottom cup → womb of St. Mary

  • Burning Charcoal/Incense →sinners sins are burning and forming the children of God through the Holy Spirit, the prayers are rising to Heaven

• Marbasa (fans): represents the presence of angels the “fluttering of their wings”

• Gospel Stand (evangelion): where the Gospel is read, known as the “second thronos”

How do we prepare for the Holy Qurbono?

● Prayer & Meditation through scripture reading

● Reconciliation with brethren with those whom we have hurt

● Abstinence from worldly things, fasting, coming in silence

● Hoosoyo (Absolution) prayer

Preparatory Service

Preparatory Service also called Thuyobo happens during the morning prayer. Sanctuary is

concealed by the veil at that time.

There are two main parts to the preparatory service:

Order of Melchizedek

● It was with Melchizedek that we see priests as mediators in the worship of God.

● The priest, like Melchizedek, offers to God bread and wine.

● Through this, we are reminded sacrifice of Christ is for all mankind

Sequence of events

1. Preparation begins with a prayer of repentance.

2. Celebrant wears a black cassock, enters the altar after required prayers, faces the

congregation, asks for forgiveness (Shubkono).

3. Celebrant then walks around and kisses the four corners of the Thronos.

4. Celebrant steps onto dargo, kisses the altar three times, and then arranges the paten

and chalice on the tablitho.

5. Celebrant placed the bread in paten, the chalice is prepared with equal amounts of water

and wine

6. Celebrant covers the paten and the chalice, steps down, kisses the thronos in the middle

and completes a set of prayers of penitence.

Order of Aaron

● Symbolizes the offerings of Aaron and his sons

● God ordered Moses to make sacred garments for Aaron to give dignity and honor - and

therefore the clergy wears special vestments during the Holy Sacraments.

Sequence of events

1. Celebrant wears proper vestments, kneels before the altar and prays

2. Celebrant then ascends the dargo, lifts up the paten and chalice in the sign of the cross

3. Celebrant then says separate prayers for Mother of God, Saints, for the sick ,for the

penitent, for the faithful departed, and for the celebrant's relatives.

4. The celebrant then covers the paten and the chalice with shushefo and then censes the

Holy mysteries.

5. Concludes the order by huthomo, qaumo and saying the Nicene Creed, all inaudibly

inside the altar.

Mass of the Catechumens

This part of the Holy Qurbono is intended for the new believers who are not baptized yet.

Sequence of events

1. The veil (thirasheela) is open to proclaim the birth of the New Testament age, and

opening of heaven to the faithful.

2. Celebrant begins the public celebration by quoting Mother Mary and John the Baptist.

3. Celebrant does a procession around the Thronos symbolizing the public ministry of our

Lord across the four corners of the world.

4. The deacon holds the candle, walks backwards representing John the Baptist who

prepared the way for our Lord.

5. Incense symbolizes purification of the altar.

6. Hymn called Manisso is sung

7. Celebrant initiates the Trisagion (Holy Art Thou...) three times

    a. symbolizing the angels singing when Joseph and Nicodemus took the body of

Jesus for burial.

    b. When crowd called Christ a betrayer, angels sang "Holy art Thou O God"

    c. When crowd called Christ to come down from cross, angels sang "Holy art Thou

Almighty"

    d. When crowd mocked Christ for not able to save Himself, angels sang "Holy art Thou Immortal"

8. Congregation responds chanting Kurielaison three times

9. Two lectionary reading and Gospel reading follows

Pre-Anaphora

Prayers after the Gospel reading, include a set of prayers, blessing of the Censer and recital of

the Nicene creed.

Promion: the prayer remembers the great sacrifice of our Lord and beseeches Him to make us

worthy of offering of the sacrifice. Following the Promion, the celebrant places incense and

unfolds the left corner of the Shushefo.

Hoosoyo: Propitiatory prayer, an invariable prayer, general absolution prayer for the whole

congregation. The celebrant beseeches the Lord for mercy and absolution. Christ is described

as the absolver and the absolution, the celebrant as well as the offering.

Sedro: Expiatory prayer, long prayer reflecting on the fundamentals of our faith and on the

greatness of the Holy Qurbono.

Blessing of Censer: It is a time of doctrinal confession of the faith in the Holy Trinity. The

censer is blessed as a visible sign and the Deacon censes the whole congregation for

purification.

Nicene Creed

Faith of the Church depends on both the Holy Bible and the Apostolic traditions. Nicene Creed

is a solemn affirmation of the faith of the Church.

The four (4) tenets of Nicene Creed

1. Doctrine regarding the Holy Trinity

a. Proclamation of One True God, monotheism

b. Son existed in the Beginning like the Father, became man for our salvation, took

body in the womb of St. Mary by the Holy Spirit while she remained a virgin. God

and man became one being, and the incarnate God suffered, crucified, died,

buried, and rose again.

c. The Holy Spirit is worshipped along with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit

spoke through the prophets and the apostles.

2. Doctrine regarding the Church

a. The Church is One - one faith & one hope with Christ as the head is True church.

b. The Church is Holy because it is the Holy Body of our Lord, spirit dwells in it.

c. The Church is Catholic i.e. universal without any boundaries like race or place.

d. The Church is Apostolic i.e. continuation of ministry through the Apostles who

pass the authority to the future generations.

3. One Baptism - The sacrament cannot be repeated just as there is One Lord, One Faith.

4. Final Resurrection - We profess that the dead will be resurrected and there's new life in

the world to come.

Anaphora

Means "offering". During this phase of the Holy Qurbono, the priest ascends the dargo,

symbolizing the entrance of our Lord into the upper house of St. Mark for the celebration of the

Last supper and institution of the Holy Qurbono.