Is there an Orthodox "Catechism"?

[danbuter]

I was just wondering if the Orthodox Church had a document that acts like the Catechism does for the Catholic Church. I'm guessing there is at least a collection of common questions with answers out there?

 

[Lukaris]

There is not a definitive Orthodox catechism like that of the Catholic Church. There are online general catechisms though and I usually link this particular one for inquirers:

An Online Orthodox Catechism » Catechism » OrthodoxEurope.org

 

[prodromos]

I was just wondering if the Orthodox Church had a document that acts like the Catechism does for the Catholic Church.

It's called the Divine Liturgy
The hymns and prayers of the liturgy are the primary means of learning the Orthodox faith. There is a saying that goes, "We pray what we believe, and we believe what we pray,"

 

[ArmyMatt]

It's called the Divine Liturgy
The hymns and prayers of the liturgy are the primary means of learning the Orthodox faith. There is a saying that goes, "We pray what we believe, and we believe what we pray,"

you beat me to it. especially the anaphora prayers and the canon during Matins.

 

[SalemsConcordance]

I'm guessing there is at least a collection of common questions with answers out there?

Because there is no one single institution, you won't find black and white 'answers' on many things outside of strict dogma, whereas many other answers will depend on you and the Priest!

This is the OCA free online version of Fr Thomas Hopko's "The Orthodox Faith" books which was a great help for me in trying to understand basic theology:
The Orthodox Faith

I am 8 ish months into Catechism, and I found this lack of easily-searchable answers frustrating at first - sign of our culture of the need for immediacy. My local parish does a weekly class, and I attend Divine Liturgy and any other services I can, I try to grab my Parish priest when he is free for a 1:1 meeting, and I read a lot, and then when I'm confused, I ask the Priest.

I go back to Fr Seraphims warnings for Catechumens quite a bit, and very slowly peck at St John Chrysostom's advise for Catechumens.

Fr Seraphim Rose: Convertitis or Convert Pitfalls
Convertitis according to Father Seraphim Rose (about the beginners' problems) - The Ascetic Experience

Fr Seraphim Rose: A bit more text on beginner and convert / Catechumen pitfalls
Converts - Chapter 88 from Father Seraphim Rose: His Life and Works

St John Chrysostom
CHURCH FATHERS: Instructions to Catechumens (St. John Chrysostom)

 

[prodromos]

you beat me to it. especially the anaphora prayers and the canon during Matins.

I think it is an important distinction that the Orthodox faith is meant to be experienced and cannot truly be learned in an academic manner.

 

[JSRG]

I was just wondering if the Orthodox Church had a document that acts like the Catechism does for the Catholic Church. I'm guessing there is at least a collection of common questions with answers out there?

Orthodox Catechisms in English - OrthodoxWiki

 

[public hermit]

A question from an outsider, please? How does the Orthodox Church view the Didache and The Great Catechism by Gregory of Nyssa?

 

[Lukaris]

Danbuter, your profile says you are from Harrisburg, ( Pennsylvania?). If so, I know of St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church in fairly nearby York, Pa. If possible, that may be a good parish to visit. It is less than 30 years old & ( from what I have heard), a good blend of traditional & convert. I live near Wilkes-Barre, Pa. & have not actually been to St. John Chrysostom but did live in York, Pa. for a few years back in the 1980s.

Here is a link to St. John Chrysostom, they seem to have some registered approach to attending DL ( cause of COVID, of course). Obviously there should be other possible parishes nearby also like Holy Trinity Cathedral in Camp Hill, Pa.

Anyway here are links (if this can be helpful):

St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church

Home | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

 

[Lukaris]

A question from an outsider, please? How does the Orthodox Church view the Didache and The Great Catechism by Gregory of Nyssa?

I would think positively; our parish priest had me read the Didache when I was being catechized. I continue to refer to it often on CF. I have not read St. Gregory’s catechism but it should be considered important ( I would think).

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

While I wholeheartedly agree about the catechism involved in the liturgy, some people from Catholicism mean a catechism more in the form of what we believe regarding specific issues.

The Catholic catechism spells out positions on abortion, euthanasia, contraception, birth control, Islam, you name it...

 

[All4Christ]

Danbuter, your profile says you are from Harrisburg, ( Pennsylvania?). If so, I know of St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church in fairly nearby York, Pa. If possible, that may be a good parish to visit. It is less than 30 years old & ( from what I have heard), a good blend of traditional & convert. I live near Wilkes-Barre, Pa. & have not actually been to St. John Chrysostom but did live in York, Pa. for a few years back in the 1980s.

Here is a link to St. John Chrysostom, they seem to have some registered approach to attending DL ( cause of COVID, of course). Obviously there should be other possible parishes nearby also like Holy Trinity Cathedral in Camp Hill, Pa.

Anyway here are links (if this can be helpful):

St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church

Home | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Holy Apostles and Christ the Savior (Mechanicsburg and Harrisburg - both OCA) are also excellent.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I think it is an important distinction that the Orthodox faith is meant to be experienced and cannot truly be learned in an academic manner.

yep, you live it to learn it

 

[ArmyMatt]

A question from an outsider, please? How does the Orthodox Church view the Didache and The Great Catechism by Gregory of Nyssa?

they should be read

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I was just wondering if the Orthodox Church had a document that acts like the Catechism does for the Catholic Church. I'm guessing there is at least a collection of common questions with answers out there?

Here's the results from when I asked the same question.
Looking for a Catechism type document for Orthodox Teachings

Useful info.

 

[E.C.]

I do recommend Fr Thomas Hopko's series that was named in an earlier post.

I also recommend "The Orthodox Church" by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware (usually published as Timothy Ware from when he was a layman) as a good Orthodoxy 101 type of book.

Another one that sometimes gets forgotten is "The Law of God" by Fr Seraphim Slobodskoy


But the best thing to do is attend Divine Liturgy and speak with the priest!

 

[Ezana]

In addition to what everyone else has said, here are a couple works you might find helpful, written in the standard Q&A catechetical format:

The Longer Catechism of the Eastern Orthodox Church: The Catechism of St. Philaret of Moscow

The Catechism of St. Peter Mogila: Fundamental Teachings of the Orthodox Christian Faith

 

[ArmyMatt]

St Innocent of Moscow's "Entry into the Kingdom of Heaven" was a catechism for the Alaskans.

 

[SingularityOne]

On the Law of God

 

[rusmeister]

I think there ought to be a standard catechism. When I look at the approval of divorce and sexual anarchy among churched Christians, I can see that they are plainly not being catechized.