Catechumens

The period of the catechumenate typically lasts a year or more. The importance of this period is formation more than information. This formation comes through participation in prayer, fasting, worship, fellowship, and study. The resources below are not exhaustive, but are valuable resources for inquirers and catechumens that will help with their appropriation of an Orthodox ethos.

Those interested in becoming Orthodox should contact the priest to ask about current catechism class offerings.

Videos by Archimandrite Sergius Bowyer, Abbot of The Monastery of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Archimandrite Sergius Bowyer lectures


Lecture Series by Bishop Irenei (Steenberg)
Loving God Without Fear

These are a series of talks by 
Bishop Irenei (Steenberg) 

Found on the Patristic Nectar bookstore website and available as a free download. https://patristicnectar.org/bookstore_141010_1

Loving God Without Fear is a free three part lecture series by Bishop Irenei (Steenberg) of Richmond and Western Europe of the Russian Orthodox Church in America. Bishop Irenei is author of “The Beginnings of a Life of Prayer” and a onetime fellow of Oxford University and Chair of Theology and Religious Studies at Leeds.

Audio Lectures

“From this day, from this hour, from this minute, let us love God above all else and fulfill His holy will.” 
Homily by Bishop DAVID (OCA Bishop of Alaska) given on December 13, 2018 at St. Herman Antiochian Orthodox Church in honor of patronal feast of St. Herman of Alaska.  Bishop DAVID, our esteemed guest, presided over liturgy at the invitation of His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH.

“They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42) 
2018 Diocese of Los Angeles and the West Parish Life Conference hosted by St. George Antiochian Church in Portland, Oregon

THE MOST REVEREND MICHAEL G. DAHULICH, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament and Ethics, has earned degrees from Christ the Saviour Seminary in Johnstown, Pa. (B.Th. in Theology), St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. (B.A. in Philosophy), and Duquesne University (M.A. and Ph.D. in Theology). In 1973, Archbishop MICHAEL was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by the late Bishop JOHN of the Carpatho-Russian Diocese. He began teaching at St. Tikhon’s in 1994; prior to that he was on the faculty at both Christ the Saviour Seminary and Duquesne University. On September 22, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America elected him to the episcopacy, for the Diocese of New York and New Jersey. Bishop Michael was appointed Rector of St. Tikhon’s Seminary in October, 2013. His Eminence was elevated to the rank of Archbishop during the 2015 Spring Session of the Holy Synod. Presently he is Archbishop of the Diocese of New York & New Jersey.

Being Christian: Everyday Spirituality in the Modern World

Being Christian by Archimandrite Sergius Bowyer
Delivered October 23, 2018 at Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Archimandrite Sergius Bowyer is originally from California. He is a convert to Holy Orthodoxy and a graduate of Saint Tikhon Orthodox Theological Seminary. He was installed as the 16th abbot of Saint Tikhon Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania in 2010. This lecture was downloaded from the Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church website at https://www.christthesaviourhbg.org/lectures.html.

Preparing for Communion

Preparing for Communion by Very Rev. Alban West
This was one of the keynote addresses delivered at the 2017 Diocese of Los Angeles and the West Parish Life Conference in Los Angeles, California. At the time, Fr. Alban West was the pastor of St. George Antiochian Church in Portland, Oregon. 

“Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives”
2014 Saint Herman Church Winter Retreat with Very Rev. Stephen Lourie

The Holy Priesthood – Our Life and Calling

2018 Antiochian Archdiocese Clergy Symposium: “The Holy Priesthood – Our Life and Calling”
(Audio and video courtesy of Ancient Faith Ministries)
Both audio and video files are avaiable for most lectures. All lectures are recommended, especially the following three:  

2018 Ancient Christianity and African-American Conference in Columbia, South Carolina
(Audio courtesy of Ancient Faith Ministries)
The following two talks from this conference are highly recommended: 

The Ascetical Significance of the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete

The Cry of the Humble Heart: The Ascetical Significance of the Great Canon by Bishop IRENEI (Steenberg)

This lecture by Bishop Irenei (Steenberg) was recorded on March 21, 2017, at the Eastern American Diocesan Lenten Retreat at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, New Jersey. It is a talk about the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, a penitential hymn sung in four parts during Great Compline services in the first and fifth weeks of Great Lent. This lecture is recommended for everyone before or at the beginning of Great Lent, and also for anyone who wants to understand how to read and interpret the Scriptures. For a transcript of this lecture, click here. 

“Who’s Who in the Great Canon of St. Andrew”