Lesson 1-4

Lesson 1:

Christian Denominations

● Three main groups of Christianity: orthodox, roman catholic, and protestant.

○ Orthodox is divided into oriental orthodox and Eastern orthodox (Byzantine).

● The Orthodox Church: Believes it holds the “one, genuine, and uncorrupted Faith” as the

one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.

Parable of the Prodigal Son (St. Luke 15:11-32)

● Represents God's unconditional love: The father in the parable symbolizes God, while

the two sons represent humanity.

● Free Will: The father giving the prodigal son his inheritance represents God granting

humans free will.

● Repentance: The prodigal son's return symbolizes repentance and God's eager embrace

of those who repent.

● Universal Salvation: The Orthodox church teaches that all can be saved and that

salvation is about returning to God.

The one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church

● Orthodox Faith: This has been preserved unchanged since the time of the Apostles.

○ 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.

Fullness of the Faith

● Orthodox church as the original church: the true church established by Christ, unaltered

for nearly 2,000 years.

○ Evangelical but not Protestant

○ Orthodox but not Jewish

○ Catholic but not Roman

○ Pre-denominational: The Orthodox church existed before denominations arose.

● Theology of the church: The Orthodox church holds the unchanged and complete

theology from the time of the Apostles, as revealed by the Holy Spirit.

Things to remember-

1. The Orthodox church has the fullness of the faith, preserved from the time of Christ and

the Apostles.

2. Repentance and salvation are central to orthodoxy. Salvation is about returning to God,

and all can be saved.

3. Engage with love and humility when discussing the faith, as the Orthodox church does

not have a monopoly on truth, but rather holds the complete truth.

4. Seeds of truth exist in other Christian denominations and even in other world religions.

These can help guide people toward the fullness of the Gospel.

5. St. Justin Martyr: Defended the Christian faith while recognizing the good in other

philosophies and religions.

6. Closed communion: The Orthodox church practices closed communion to protect the

sanctity of the Eucharist.

Lesson 2 -

1. What is sanctification?

● Sanctification means to be set apart and made holy.

● Something sanctified is dedicated to God and used only for sacred purposes (e.g.,

chalice, church sanctuary).

2. The role of the Holy Spirit:

● The Holy Spirit sanctifies us, making us holy and God's Temple.

● Through Baptism and Chrismation, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us.

3. The meaning of the Temple of God:

● The Temple in the Old Testament was a sacred space where God's presence dwelled.

4. Chrismation and consecration of the church:

● Holy Chrism is consecrated oil used in Baptism and the Consecration of the church.

● Chrismation seals us with the Holy Spirit, making us part of God's holy priesthood.

● The Consecration of a church is done with Holy Chrism, making the church a sacred

place of worship.

Important ideas:

1. Holy things in the church:

● Holy things (like the chalice and sanctuary) are set apart for worship.

2. God Sets Apart What is Holy:

● God alone is holy, and He makes other things and people holy.

● Example: God makes sacred spaces like the church and objects like the chalice holy.

3. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Chrismation:

● Holy Chrism is the oil used in Baptism and Chrismation.

● It represents the Holy Spirit coming upon the baptized person.

● Chrismation gives us the seal of the Holy Spirit, making us anointed Christians.

4. Our Calling as Temples of God:

● Through Baptism and Chrismation, we become living temples of God.

● St. Paul reminds us: "You are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you."

5. The consecration of the church:

● The church is consecrated with Holy Chrism to make it a holy place for worship.

● The Consecration of a church is a special act that makes the church a sacred space for

the community to worship God.

Summary/things to remember:

● Sanctification sets apart people and things to be used only for sacred purposes.

● Through Holy baptism and chrismation, we receive the Holy Spirit and become temples

of God.

● The church, like the individual, is consecrated with Holy Chrism to become a holy place

for worship.

● Holy Chrism represents the Holy Spirit, and its consecration is a sacred act that makes

the church holy.

● God calls us to be holy and to live in communion with Him through the work of the Holy

Spirit in our lives.

Lesson 3 -

Key Terms & Concepts

● Malankara orthodox syrian church: An autocephalous (self-governed) Oriental Orthodox

church headquartered in Kerala, India, with roots tracing back to St. Thomas, the Apostle

to India.

● Autocephaly: The state of being self-governed. the Malankara Orthodox church declared

autocephaly in 1912.

● St. Thomas Christians: Christians in India who trace their origins to the missionary work

of St. Thomas who arrived in Kerala in 52 AD.

Historical background

1. Arrival of St. Thomas in India:

○ St. Thomas arrived in 52 AD and is believed to have established Christian

communities in Kerala.

○ Martyred in 72 AD in Mylapore (Chennai).

○ St. Thomas is crucial to the history of Christianity in India, and the Malankara

Orthodox church believes it has a direct connection to him.

2. Christianity in India:

○ 1st Century: St. Thomas' ministry in India.

○ Over centuries, European missionaries (Portuguese, Dutch, British) introduced

different Christian denominations.

○ Today, Christianity is the third-largest religion in India, with approximately 28

million Christians.

Phases of Malankara Church history

1. East Syrian Years (345 AD – 7th Century):

○ Syrian Christians (especially from Edessa) arrived in Kerala around 345 AD.

○ The church had strong ties to Syriac christianity, especially the church of the East

(Nestorian).

○ By the 7th Century, references to the Indian church appeared in persian records.

○ Schisms between different theological views (Nestorianism vs. Orthodoxy)

affected the church.

2. Roman Catholic Influence (16th Century):

○ With the arrival of Vasco de Gama in 1498, Portuguese influence increased.

○ The Synod of Diamper (1599) sought to bring the Malankara church under

Roman Catholic authority, but the Coonan Kurishu Oath (1653) led to a split, with

many rejecting Roman Catholic authority.

3. West Syrian Connection (17th Century):

○ After the Coonan Kurishu Oath, the church in India connected with the Syriac

Orthodox church of antioch.

○ Mar Thoma I was consecrated as head of the Orthodox church in India in 1665.

4. British Era (18th Century):

○ British influence led to internal tensions and schisms within the church.

○ Anglican-inspired reforms contributed to the formation of the Mar Thoma Syrian

church in 1876.

5. Factionalism (20th Century):

○ The Malankara church declared autocephaly in 1912, with Mar Baselios Paulose

I becoming the Catholicos of the East.

○ Schisms continued within the church, with the Syro-Malankara Catholic church

breaking away in 1930.

○ Factionalism persists, leading to multiple Orthodox groups with similar liturgies

but separate jurisdictions.

Main challenges in church history

● Colonial Influence: Portuguese, british, and other european powers tried to influence the

church’s theology and structure.

● Schisms and Factionalism: The church faced splits due to differences in authority,

especially between those loyal to the patriarch of antioch and those supporting an

autocephalous church.

● Maintaining the faith: Despite external pressures and internal divisions, the Malankara

Orthodox Syrian church has maintained its core orthodox faith and identity.

Lesson 4:

Key Concepts:

1. Ecclesiology:

● Definition: Ecclesiology is the study of the church. It explains how the church operates,

how it is organized, and how it deals with challenges.

● Greek Origin: Comes from the word "ekklesia," which means Church.

3. Images of the church:

● Ship: The church is like a ship that carries and protects its passengers (the faithful) on

their journey to God.

● Body of Christ: The church is the Body of Christ, with each member being an integral

part.

● Temple of God: The church is God's temple, with Christ as its cornerstone and every

Christian being a brick. (1 Corinthians 3:9-11; Ephesians 2:9-22)

● Bride of Christ: The church is the bride of Christ, awaiting His return.

● Flock: The church is the flock, and Christ is the Good Shepherd who protects His sheep.

(John 10:11-18)

The Early Church:

1. Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15):

● One of the early conflicts was whether gentiles had to follow jewish customs (like

circumcision) to become christians.

● The Church held a council to address this issue, where Peter, Paul, and Barnabas

spoke, and the Church decided that Gentiles didn’t need to follow the full Law of Moses,

only abstaining from certain practices (idolatry, sexual immorality, etc.).

● This council set the pattern for how future theological disputes would be addressed:

through synodal (council) decision-making, not by any single individual or bishop.

Responsibilities of an Orthodox Christian:

1. Live according to Christ’s teachings in all areas of life

2. Participate in the sacramental life of the church (communion, confession, baptism)

3. Help spread the gospel and support the church’s mission.

4. Support the church community through acts of charity, kindness, and prayer.

5. Preserve the apostolic faith and safeguard the traditions of the church.

Summary:

● The Church is central to the life of every Orthodox Christian.

● It is through the Church that we receive grace, grow in faith, and maintain our connection

to Christ.

● The church is a continuation of Christ’s incarnation on earth, making God visible and

bringing us closer to Him.

● Apostolic succession ensures the preservation of the true faith, and the church provides

the means for salvation through the sacraments and community.