I. ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION

 

Q. What is our religion called?

 

A. The Christian Religion.

 

Q. Why is it called the Christian religion?

 

A. Because Christ gave it to the world.

 

Q. State its teachings briefly.

 

A. God made the world and created one pair of human beings upon the earth. Our first parents were fashioned good, but they disobeyed God, and through the sin of disobedience their mind was darkened and they lost God. Their heart became evil. From thence they fell into all wickedness and into death. Their descendants suffered likewise. But God through His love to His creatures sent His Son Jesus Christ, who became Man, taught concerning the true God and what His will is, founded His Church, that it might continue His work, was crucified that He might propitiate divine righteousness, which had been insulted by the sin of our First Parents, and reconcile men with God, and was buried. But after three days He arose; forty days after the Resurrection He was received into Heaven and fifty days after the Resurrection He sent the Holy Spirit that He might guide His Church into all truth. From thenceforth all who desired to be saved from sin and be happy both in this life and in that to come MUST believe in Christ, receive Divine Grace through the Sacraments and conform to His teachings, especially to that concerning love.

II. ON THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES

Q. How was the work of Christ continued?

 

A. By His Church.

 

Q. Did His Church remain united?

 

A. No; it became divided into many parts.

 

Q. Into how many divisions can these be arranged?

 

A. Into two, the Eastern and Western Churches.

 

Q. Which is the most notable of the Eastern Churches?

 

A. The Orthodox Church.

Q. Which are the most notable of the Western Churches?

 

A. The Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican, and the Protestant.

 

Q. Why is the Orthodox Church so named?

 

A. Because it believes rightly.

Q. Why is the Roman Catholic Church so named?

 

A. Roman, because her seat is in Rome; and Catholic, because the Church, before it was divided, was called Catholic, and the Roman Church continues to appropriate for herself the title of the ancient undivided Church.

Q. Why are the Protestants so named?

 

A. Because they protested against the Roman Catholic Church and separated from it during the sixteenth (16th) century.

 

Q. Why is the Anglican Church so named?

 

A. Because it is situated in England.

 

Q. What is the Anglican Church called in America?

 

A. It is known as the Episcopal Church.

Q. Why is it so named?

 

A. Because it alone, of all the Protestant Churches, retained the Order of Bishops.

 

Q. To which Church do we (Orthodox believers) belong?

 

A. To the Orthodox Church.

Q. How many Churches constitute the Orthodox?

 

A. The following:

1. The four ancient Patriarchates, namely, that of Constantinople or the Ecumenical, and those of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem.

 

2. The five new Patriarchates of Russia, Rumania, Serbia, Bulgaria and Georgia (Iberia).

 

3. The Autocephalous Churches of Cyprus, Greece, Czech Lands and Slovakia, Albania and Poland.

 

4. The autonomous Orthodox Church of America (OCA), Churches of Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Northwestern and Central Europe, Australia and Mount Sinai.

Q. In what respect does an autonomous Church differ from an autocephalous one?

 

A. It differs in this respect: The autonomous has some liberties in government but is dependent on another Church, while the autocephalous is free in its government but is compelled to keep the same Dogmas and Canons; in case any of them are broken the Ecumenical Patriarchate is entitled to intervene, and in case of disobedience, to call upon the other autocephalous Churches to make a common decision on the matter, as was done in 1872 in the case of the Bulgarian Church.

Q. Is it necessary for us to learn in what matters of belief the non-Orthodox Churches differ from our own, and why?

 

A. Yes, because different sects seek to proselytize us and take us away from Orthodoxy. Therefore we must know what each one of them believes and who holds the right faith so as not to be mistaken in such an important matter upon which depends the salvation of the soul. Furthermore, we must guide the misguided back to Orthodoxy so as to assure the salvation of as many as can be given guidance.

 

Q. Who is the Head of the Church?

 

A. Christ is the invisible Head, but the visible heads are the Bishops as successors of the Apostles.

 

Q. Into what orders are the members of the Church divided?

 

A. Into two (2), the Flock: (That is the Laity), and the Shepherds, that is the Clergy: (Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons).

 

III. ON THE SACRAMENTS

Q. What is a Sacrament?

 

A. A ceremony established in the Church by the Christ, either directly or indirectly through the Apostles by which invisible Divine Grace is by visible means communicated to Christians.

 

Q. How many are the Sacraments?

 

A. The Sacraments are seven (7):

 

1. Baptism, 2. Chrism or Confirmation, 3. Penance (or Confession), 4. the Divine Eucharist (or Communion), 5. Holy Orders, 6. Marriage, and 7. Unction.

Q. Are all the Sacraments necessary for salvation?

 

A. For the whole Church they are necessary; but for the individual Christian, 1. Baptism, 2. Chrism, 3. Penance, and 4. the Holy Eucharist are necessary, and for this reason are called obligatory while the other three are spoken of as optional.

 

Q. Who perform valid Sacraments?

 

A. The canonical Clergy, i.e. those canonically ordained to the Priesthood, and canonically authorized; that is, appointed by the canonical Ecclesiastical Authority to have the right to exercise the Priesthood.

 

IV. ON THE SACRAMENTS OR MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION

 

 

Q. Are there other means of Grace besides the Sacraments and if so what are they called?

 

A. Yes. They are called Sacraments or Means of Santification.

 

Q. In what do they differ from the Sacraments?

 

A. Because the Sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ and are necessary for salvation, but the Means of Sanctification were established by the Church and develop good thoughts and character in Christians and help them in their physical and spiritual life.

 

Q. What are the means of Sanctification?

 

A. The sign of the cross which we make when we pray; the lesser and the Great Holy Water; the Flowers of the Cross (at the Feast of the Elevation, Sept. 14) and of the Veneration of the Cross, (3rd Sunday of the Great Lent); and Flowers of the Holy Sepulchre (which we use on Good Friday); the Palms; the Prayers to the Holy Virgin and Saints; the Prayers of birth and of the forty days (or of the churching on the fortieth day after the birth); the Prayers of Exorcism against the evil eye and for various needs, which arise during the life of man; finally, as a Means of Sanctification, the constant use of the Holy Scriptures, daily meditation upon them, and faithful study is of great importance.

 

Q. How do the Churches differ as to the number of Sacraments?

 

A. The Orthodox and Catholic Churches accept seven (7) Sacraments, but the Protestant Churches accept two (2): Baptism and the Eucharist, except a few who accept them as simple types or remembrances without divine Grace, and especially the so-called Church of God, which accepts: Baptism, the Eucharist, and Foot-washing, but only as ceremonies, without Divine Grace.

 

Q. Which Church is right as to the number of Sacraments and why?

 

A. The Orthodox, Catholic, and partially wings of the Anglican Church, while the Protestant Churches are in error, because, as we shall see from Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition, it is manifest that our Lord instituted either directly or indirectly seven (7) sacred ceremonies by means of which Divine Grace is conferred for a definite purpose, namely, the seven Mysteries or Sacraments.

 

Rev. Constas H. Demetry, D. D. - CATECHISM OF THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH
(excerpts)