Read the OCA Catechism: Essential Orthodox Christian Beliefs
The Orthodox Faith
Essential Orthodox Christian BeliefsEssential Orthodox Christian Beliefs
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  • Preface
  • Volume I - Doctrine and Scripture
      • • Revelation
      • • Tradition
      • • Bible
      • • The Liturgy
      • • The Councils
      • • The Fathers
      • • The Saints
      • • Canons
      • • Church Art
      • • Nicene Creed
      • • Faith
      • • God
      • • Creation
      • • Angels and Evil Spirits
      • • Man
      • • Sin
      • • Jesus Christ
      • • Son of God
      • • Incarnation
      • • Redemption
      • • Resurrection
      • • Ascension
      • • Judgment
      • • Kingdom of God
      • • Holy Spirit
      • • Church
      • • Sacraments
      • • Eternal Life
      • • The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity
      • • The Holy Trinity Revealed
      • • Wrong Doctrines of the Trinity
      • • One God, One Father
      • • One God: One Divine Nature and Being
      • • One God: One Divine Action and Will
      • • One God: One Divine Knowledge and Love
      • • The Three Divine Persons
      • • The Holy Trinity in Creation
      • • The Holy Trinity in Salvation
      • • The Holy Trinity in the Church
      • • The Holy Trinity in the Sacraments
      • • The Holy Trinity in Christian Life
      • • The Holy Trinity in Eternal Life
      • • Bible
      • • Word of God
      • • Authorship
      • • Interpretation
      • • Law
      • • History
      • • Wisdom
      • • Psalms
      • • Prophets
      • • Gospels
      • • Acts of the Apostles
      • • Letters of Saint Paul
      • • Letters of Saint James
      • • Letters of Saint Peter
      • • Letters of Saint John
      • • Letter of Saint Jude
      • • Book of Revelation
      • • Word and Spirit
      • • Pre-History
      • • Abraham
      • • Passover
      • • Kingship
      • • Priesthood
      • • Prophecy
      • • Holiness
      • • Selected Bibliography
      • • Doctrine Questions and Reflections for Discussion
      • • Doctrine Answers and Reflections for Discussion
  • Volume II - Worship
      • • Church Building
      • • Altar Table
      • • Oblation Table
      • • Icons
      • • Sign of the Cross
      • • Vestments
      • • Christian Symbols
      • • The Sacraments
      • • Baptism
      • • Chrismation
      • • Holy Eucharist
      • • Penance
      • • Holy Unction
      • • Marriage
      • • Holy Orders
      • • Funeral
      • • Monasticism
      • • Prayer
      • • Vespers
      • • Matins
      • • Hours, Compline and Nocturne
      • • Church Year
      • • Pre-Lent
      • • Great Lent
      • • Lenten Fasting
      • • Lenten Services
      • • Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
      • • Sundays of Lent
      • • Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday
      • • Holy Week
      • • Holy Thursday
      • • Holy Friday
      • • Holy Saturday
      • • Easter Sunday: The Holy Pascha
      • • Post-Easter Sundays
      • • Ascension
      • • Pentecost: The Descent of the Holy Spirit
      • • Nativity of Christ
      • • Epiphany
      • • Meeting of the Lord
      • • Transfiguration
      • • Annunciation
      • • Nativity of the Theotokos
      • • Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple
      • • Dormition of the Theotokos
      • • Elevation of the Cross
      • • Other Feasts
      • • The Divine Liturgy
      • • Prothesis
      • • Blessed is the Kingdom
      • • Great Litany
      • • Antiphons
      • • Small Entrance
      • • Epistle
      • • Gospel
      • • Fervent Supplication
      • • Offertory: Great Entrance
      • • Love and Faith
      • • Eucharistic Canon: Anaphora
      • • Epiklesis
      • • Rememberances
      • • Our Father
      • • Communion
      • • Thanksgiving
      • • Benediction and Dismissal
      • • Selected Bibliography
      • • Worship Questions and Reflections for Discussion
      • • Worship Answers and Reflections for Discussion
  • Volume III - Church History
      • • Christ and the Apostles
      • • The Church
      • • The Persecutions
      • • The Apostolic Fathers
      • • The Apologists
      • • Protecting the Church from Falsehood and Heresy
      • • The Quartodeciman Controversy
      • • Church Order and Liturgy
      • • Persecution
      • • The Lapsed
      • • Development of Theology
      • • Liturgical Development
      • • Constantine
      • • The Donatist Schism
      • • Arianism
      • • The First Ecumenical Council
      • • Saint Athanasius and his defence of Nicea
      • • New Heresies
      • • The Second Ecumenical Council
      • • Liturgical Development
      • • Monasticism
      • • Saint John Chrysostom
      • Saint Athanasius and his defence of Nicea
      • • Inner Struggles
      • • The Third Ecumenical Council
      • • The Robber Council
      • • The Fourth Ecumenical Council
      • • The Monophysites
      • • The Henotikon
      • • Canons of the Councils
      • • The West
      • • Emperor Justinian I and the Non-Chalcedonians
      • • The Fifth Ecumenical Council
      • • The Oriental Orthodox Churches
      • • Emperor Justinian I and Reform
      • • Liturgical Development
      • • Five Patriarchates
      • • The West
      • • Monoenergism / Monothelitism
      • • Saint Maximus the Confessor and Saint Martin of Rome
      • • The Sixth Ecumenical Council
      • • The Council of Trullo or the Quinisext Council
      • • Theological Writings
      • • Liturgical Development
      • • Relations with Rome
      • • The Rise of Islam
      • • Iconoclasm
      • • Liturgical Developments
      • • The West
      • • The End of Iconoclasm
      • • Saints Cyril and Methodius: “Evangelizers of the Slavs and Equal to the Apostles”
      • • The Papacy
      • • Saint Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople
      • • Liturgical Developments
      • • New Law Code
      • • The West
      • • Cultural Renaissance
      • • Church and State
      • • Bulgaria
      • • Saint Vladimir of Kiev
      • • Liturgical Development
      • • The West
      • • The Great Schism
      • • Pope Gregory VII
      • • The First Crusade
      • • Kievan Russia
      • • Other Developments East and West
      • • Major Trends
      • • Kievan Russia
      • • Serbia
      • • The West
      • • The Fourth Crusade
      • • The Second Council of Lyons
      • • Serbia and Bulgaria
      • • Russia
      • • The West
      • • Saint Gregory Palamas
      • • John Cantakuzenos
      • • Emperor John V Paleologos and Rome
      • • Russia
      • • The Serbs
      • • The Bulgarians
      • • Liturgical Developments
      • • The West
      • Russia
      • • The Great Schism in the Papacy, and the Conciliar Movement
      • • The Fall of Byzantium
      • • The Establishment of the Rum Milet
      • • Russia
      • • Other Developments in the West
      • • Russia
      • • The Union of Brest-Litovsk
      • • The West
      • • Patriarch Jeremias II and the Dialogue with the Lutherans
      • • The Greek Orthodox under the Ottoman Turks
      • • Russia
      • • The Unia
      • • Saint Peter Mogila
      • • Cyril Lukaris
      • • The Greek Church under the Turks
      • • The West
      • • The Greek Church
      • • Russia
      • • Mission to Alaska
      • • The West
      • • Russia: Spiritual Renewal
      • • Russia: Missionary Activity
      • • The Spread of Orthodoxy in the Lower 48 States in America
      • • Eastern Europe and Greece
      • • Western Europe and America
      • • Roman Catholicism
      • • Relations between the Churches East and West
      • • Orthodoxy in America, Part One: From the Russian Mission to the OCA
      • • Orthodoxy in America, Part Two: Other Orthodox Jurisdictions
      • • The Orthodox Church in Russia
      • • The Church in Greece
      • • The Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • • Other Orthodox Churches
      • • Ecumenical Movement
      • • Protestant Fundamentalism and Protestant Liberalism
      • • Protestant Neo-Evangelicalism
      • • Major denominational mergers among Protestants
      • • The Pentecostal / Charismatic Movement
      • • The Roman Catholic Church
      • • Selected Bibliography
      • • History Questions and Reflections for Discussion
      • • History Answers and Reflections for Discussion
  • Volume IV - Spirituality
      • • Spirituality
      • • God
      • • Christ
      • • The Holy Spirit
      • • Man
      • • Sin
      • • The Devil
      • • The World and the Flesh
      • • The Church
      • • The Sacraments
      • • The Kingdom of God
      • • The Beatitudes
      • • Poverty in Spirit
      • • Blessed Mourning
      • • Meekness
      • • Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
      • • Mercy
      • • Purity in Heart
      • • Peacemakers
      • • Persecuted for Righteousness’ Sake
      • • Rejoice and Be Glad
      • • The Virtues
      • • Faith
      • • Hope
      • • Knowledge
      • • Wisdom
      • • Honesty
      • • Humility
      • • Obedience
      • • Patience
      • • Courage
      • • Faithfulness
      • • Self-Control
      • • Kindness
      • • Gratitude
      • • God is Love
      • • Love of God
      • • Love of Neighbor
      • • The New Commandment
      • • Prayer
      • • The Lord's Prayer
      • • Intercessory Prayer
      • • Unceasing Prayer
      • • The Jesus Prayer
      • • Liturgical Prayer
      • • Meditation
      • • Prayer in the Spirit
      • • Fasting
      • • Almsgiving
      • • Sexuality
      • • Marriage
      • • Family
      • • Sickness
      • • Suffering
      • • Death
      • • The Final Judgment
      • • Heaven and Hell
      • • The Kingdom of Heaven
      • • Selected Bibliography
      • • Spirituality Questions and Reflections for Discussion
      • • Spirituality Answers and Reflections for Discussion

Volume II - Worship

Volume 2 contains 5 sections: the church building, the sacraments, daily cycles of prayer, the church year, and the Divine Liturgy. Volume II is available for purchase from SVS Press. (opens in a new tab)

  • The Church Building
  • The Sacraments
  • The Daily Cycles of Prayer
  • The Church Year
  • The Divine Liturgy
  • Resources
• Doctrine Answers and Reflections for Discussion• Church Building

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© 2023 Departments of the Orthodox Church in America