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Catechism

The Catechism of the Orthodox Christian Faith

A revised and expanded catechism, in questions and answers

The Catechism of the Orthodox Christian Faith is a revised and expanded catechism based on the Longer Catechism of St Philaret of Moscow and on the Orthodox Confession approved at Jassy (1642) and Jerusalem (1672). In the manner of the classic catechisms, it teaches the faith by questions and answers, drawing at every step on Holy Scripture, the Fathers, the councils and the liturgical life of the Church.

After an opening section on catechesis, divine revelation, Holy Tradition and the books of the Bible, the catechism follows the ancient pattern of faith, hope and love. Part I, On Faith, explains the Creed article by article, together with the holy Mysteries. Part II, On Hope, is devoted to prayer, the Lord’s Prayer and the Beatitudes. Part III, On Love, sets out the law of God and the Ten Commandments.

A selection of questions can be read here, and the Catechism can be searched by word or theme. The present text is the pre-publication edition, released for the comments of clergy and faithful before the completion of the hierarchical review.

Contents

On Orthodox Christian Catechesis63 questions
  1. Q001 The Nature and Purpose of an Orthodox Catechism
  2. Q002 Catechesis as Instruction in the Faith
  3. Q003 Learning the Faith “Once for All Delivered to the Saints”
  4. Q004 Faith as the Indispensable Foundation of the Christian Life
  5. Q005 Faith and Works
  6. Q006 The Nature of Faith
  7. Q007 Faith and Knowledge
  8. Q008 The Primacy of Faith in Catechetical Instruction

On Divine Revelation

  1. Q010 The Wellspring of Orthodox Doctrine
  2. Q011 The Nature and Purpose of Divine Revelation
  3. Q012 Revelation Offered to All, Entrusted to Heralds
  4. Q013 Purity of Heart and the Capacity to Receive God
  5. Q014 The Heralds of Divine Revelation and Its Fullness in Christ
  6. Q015 The Natural Knowledge of God and Its Limits

On Holy Tradition and Holy Scripture

  1. Q016 The Spreading and Preservation of Divine Revelation
  2. Q017 The Meaning of Holy Tradition
  3. Q018 The Church as the Sure Repository of Holy Tradition
  4. Q019 The Nature of Holy Scripture
  5. Q020 The Meaning of the Word “Bible”
  6. Q021 The Priority of Oral Tradition
  7. Q022 The Purpose of Holy Scripture
  8. Q023 The Abiding Authority of Holy Tradition
  9. Q024 The Continuing Necessity of Tradition

The Books of the Bible

  1. Q025 The Antiquity of the Sacred Books
  2. Q026 The Two Testaments
  3. Q027 The Meaning of “Testament”: God’s Covenants with Mankind
  4. Q028 The Content of the Old Testament
  5. Q029 Prophecies and Types: God’s Preparation of Mankind
  6. Q030 The New Testament: The Covenant Fulfilled in Christ
  7. Q031 The Canonical Books of the Old Testament
  8. Q032 The Reckoning of the Jews and the Witness of Scripture
  9. Q033 St Athanasius‘ Festal Letter and the Formation of the Canon
  10. Q034 The Purpose of the Fathers’ Shorter Lists
  11. Q035 The Deuterocanonical Books ( Anagignōskomena )
  12. Q036 The Divisions of the Old Testament
  13. Q037 The Books of the Law
  14. Q038 The Book of Genesis
  15. Q039 The other four books of Moses
  16. Q040 The Books of History
  17. Q041 The Books of Wisdom
  18. Q042 The Psalms
  19. Q043 The Books of Prophecy
  20. Q044 The Books of the New Testament
  21. Q045 The Four Gospels
  22. Q046 The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Four Gospels
  23. Q047 What good news is proclaimed in the books called Gospels?
  24. Q048 Why are these books called ‘Gospels?’
  25. Q049 Are any of the books of the New Testament historical?
  26. Q050 What is the book of Acts about?
  27. Q051 What is an Apostle?
  28. Q052 What books of the New Testament may be considered doctrinal?
  29. Q053 Are there among the books of the New Testament any apocalypse or prophecy?
  30. Q054 What is the meaning of the word ‘Apocalypse?’
  31. Q055 What is the book of Revelation about?
  32. Q056 Reading the Holy Scriptures
  33. Q057 The Inspiration of Holy Scriptures
  34. Q058 In what way are prophecies signs of a true revelation from God?
  35. Q060 How do miracles serve as a sign that the word spoken is from God?
  36. Q061 Where can we especially witness the powerful effect of the doctrine of Christ?

The Composition of the Catechism

  1. Q062 The Order of Catechetical Instruction: Faith, Hope, and Love
  2. Q063 The Creed as the Proclamation of Faith
  3. Q064 The Guide for the Doctrine of Hope
  4. Q065 The Elements of the Doctrine of Love
Part I: On Faith219 questions

The Creed of the Orthodox Christian Faith

  1. Q066 The Creed: The Church’s Symbol of Faith
  2. Q067 The Words of the Symbol of Faith
  3. Q068 The Biblical and Apostolic Origin of the Creed
  4. Q069 The Ecumenical Councils
  5. Q070 The Seven Ecumenical Councils
  6. Q071 The Scriptural Origin of Conciliarity
  7. Q072 Nicaea and Constantinople: The Councils That Defined the Creed
  8. Q073 The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy and the Preservation of the Apostolic Ministry

The Articles of the Creed

  1. Q074 The Twelve Articles of the Symbol of Faith
  2. Q075 The Contents of the Twelve Articles

The First Article: God

  1. Q076 Believing in God
  2. Q077 Faith in God according to the Scriptures
  3. Q078 The Fruit of Faith: Confession, Prayer, Love, and Peace
  4. Q079 The Confession of the Faith
  5. Q080 Confession Necessary for Salvation
  6. Q081 Confessing Christ before Men, Even unto Death
  7. Q082 Faith in One God
  8. Q083 The Unity of God in Holy Scripture
  9. Q084 The Unknowable Essence of God
  10. Q085 The Witness of Scripture to God’s Transcendence
  11. Q086 The Attributes of God
  12. Q087 The Divine Attributes
  13. Q088 Anthropomorphic Language in Scripture
  14. Q089 The Special Presence of God
  15. Q090 God the Father, Source of the Son and the Spirit
  16. Q091 The Holy Trinity in the New Testament
  17. Q092 The Holy Trinity Foreshadowed in the Old Testament
  18. Q093 One God in Three Persons
  19. Q094 The Distinction of the Divine Persons: The Monarchy of the Father
  20. Q095 The Equal Majesty of the Three Persons
  21. Q096 God the Almighty
  22. Q097 Maker of Heaven and Earth
  23. Q098 The Trinity and Creation
  24. Q099 The Invisible Creation: The Angels
  25. Q100 On Angels and Spirits
  26. Q103 The Priority of the Invisible Creation
  27. Q105 The Guardian Angels
  28. Q107 The Fallen Angels
  29. Q108 The Devil and Satan
  30. Q110 On “devils”
  31. Q111 The Creation of the World
  32. Q112 Creation and the Cosmic Consequences of the Fall
  33. Q113 The Creation of Man in the Image of God
  34. Q114 Man in the Image of God
  35. Q115 The Breath of Life
  36. Q116 Paradise
  37. Q117 The Fall
  38. Q118 The Tree of Life: From Genesis to Revelation
  39. Q119 The Creation of Eve and the Unity of Mankind
  40. Q120 God’s Design in Creating Man
  41. Q123 Responsible Will and Divine Foreknowledge
  42. Q124 Providence and Human Freedom
  43. Q127 On Divine Providence

The Second Article: Jesus Christ

  1. Q129 Jesus Christ, the Son of God
  2. Q130 The Name Jesus: God Saves
  3. Q133 The Name Christ: The Anointed One
  4. Q137 Jesus Christ as Lord
  5. Q138 The Divinity of the Son: Creator, Savior, and Judge
  6. Q139 The Only-Begotten Son of God
  7. Q140 Christ the Logos
  8. Q143 Light from Light
  9. Q144 Very God of Very God
  10. Q145 The Senses of the Word “God”
  11. Q147 Of One Essence with the Father
  12. Q149 Through Whom All Things Were Made

The Third Article: The Incarnation

  1. Q150 He Came Down from Heaven
  2. Q151 The Descent of the Omnipresent One
  3. Q153 Why the Son of God Came Down
  4. Q154 “For Us Men”: The Universality of Salvation
  5. Q155 The Sickness of Sin
  6. Q157 The Origin of Sin
  7. Q158 The Temptation and Fall
  8. Q159 The Commandment Broken in Paradise
  9. Q160 Why Eating Brought Death
  10. Q161 The Name of the Tree
  11. Q162 Freedom Misused
  12. Q166 The Twofold Death
  13. Q167 The Death of the Soul
  14. Q168 The Universality of Sin and Death: Original and Ancestral Sin
  15. Q170 The Tree of Life after the Fall
  16. Q171 The First Promise of Salvation
  17. Q176 The Great Awaiting of the Promised and Coming Messiah
  18. Q178 The Incarnation of the Word
  19. Q182 One Christ in Two Natures: The Definition of Chalcedon
  20. Q184 The Annunciation
  21. Q185 The Most Holy Virgin Mary
  22. Q186 Mary as Ever-Virgin
  23. Q187 Mary as “Theotokos”
  24. Q190 The Exalted Dignity of the Virgin Mary
  25. Q191 The Birth of Christ from the Virgin
  26. Q192 The Prophecies Prepared by God’s Providence
  27. Q193 The Recognition of the Savior
  28. Q194 The Miracles of Christ
  29. Q195 Salvation through Christ’s Whole Economy
  30. Q196 Salvation by Christ’s Doctrine
  31. Q198 Salvation by Christ’s Life

The Fourth Article: The Crucifixion

  1. Q199 Why Christ Jesus Was Crucified
  2. Q200 “Under Pontius Pilate”
  3. Q203 He Suffered and Was Buried
  4. Q205 The Suffering of the Impassible
  5. Q206 “Crucified for Us”
  6. Q207 Deliverance from Sin, the Curse, and Death
  7. Q208 Union with the Death of Christ
  8. Q210 Fellowship in His Sufferings
  9. Q211 Crucifying the Flesh

The Fifth Article: The Resurrection

  1. Q212 The Resurrection: Foundation of Our Hope
  2. Q215 Why did Jesus Christ descend into Hades?
  3. Q216 What scriptural texts mention this teaching?
  4. Q217 “Rose Again the Third Day, According to the Scriptures”
  5. Q220 The Third Day
  6. Q221 How the Resurrection Was Made Known

The Sixth Article: The Ascension

  1. Q223 He Ascended into Heaven
  2. Q224 Did the Lord Jesus Christ ascend and sit at the right hand as man?
  3. Q225 How does Jesus Christ “sit at the right hand of God the Father,” considering that as the Word of God he is everywhere?

The Seventh Article: The Second Coming

  1. Q226 The “ Parousia ” of the Lord
  2. Q227 The Particular and the Final Judgment
  3. Q228 “His Kingdom Shall Have No End”
  4. Q229 The Glory of the Second Coming
  5. Q230 The Universal Judgment
  6. Q231 How will the Lord pass judgment?
  7. Q232 Will the Lord condemn even evil words and thoughts?
  8. Q233 The Unknown Day and Hour
  9. Q234 The Signs of the Times
  10. Q235 The Antichrist
  11. Q236 The Kingdom of Christ

The Eighth Article: The Holy Spirit

  1. Q237 The Holy Spirit of God
  2. Q238 The Holy Spirit Is Lord
  3. Q239 What is the witness of the Holy Scriptures concerning the divinity of the Holy Spirit?
  4. Q240 The Giver of Life
  5. Q241 The Procession of the Holy Spirit
  6. Q242 Does the doctrine of the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father admit of any change or supplement?
  7. Q243 Worshiped and Glorified Together with the Father and the Son
  8. Q244 Who Spoke by the Prophets
  9. Q248 Pentecost and the Communication of the Spirit

The Ninth Article: The Church

  1. Q252 The Ecclesia: God’s Called-Out People
  2. Q253 Believing in the Church
  3. Q254 How can the Church, which is visible, be an object of faith, if faith is “the evidence of things not seen?”
  4. Q255 Why is it important to rightly discern the visible and invisible aspects of the Church?
  5. Q256 The Grace of God Abiding in the Church
  6. Q257 How are we further assured that the grace of God abides in the Church to this day, and that saving grace shall abide in her to the end of the age?
  7. Q258 The Church Is One
  8. Q259 Christ as the Head of the Church
  9. Q260 The Duty of Unity
  10. Q261 One Church, Many Churches
  11. Q262 The Unity of the Body and the Intercession of the Saints
  12. Q263 The Communion of Saints
  13. Q264 The Intercession of the Saints
  14. Q265 Is there any other testimony of Holy Scripture regarding the intercessory prayer of the saints?
  15. Q266 Appearance of the Saints
  16. Q268 The Church Is Holy
  17. Q269 How can it be claimed that the Church is holy, in view of the sinfulness of her members and even of her leaders?
  18. Q270 The Church Is Catholic
  19. Q271 The Great Apostasy
  20. Q272 “No Salvation Outside the Church”
  21. Q273 The Common Names of the Church
  22. Q274 The Church Is Apostolic
  23. Q276 The Apostolic Ministry Preserved
  24. Q277 The Hierarchy of the Church
  25. Q278 The Organization of the Common Union of Churches
  26. Q279 How is the worldwide common union of the Orthodox Catholic Churches organized?
  27. Q280 Orthodoxy in the Lands of Recent Immigration

The Tenth Article: The Mysteries

  1. Q283 One Baptism for the Remission of Sins
  2. Q284 The Holy Mysteries
  3. Q285 How many are the mysteries?
  4. Q286 What is spiritually accomplished by means of these mysteries?
  5. Q287 Why does the Creed mention Baptism only?

Holy Baptism

  1. Q290 The Administration of Baptism
  2. Q291 The Requirement for Baptism
  3. Q292 The Baptism of Infants
  4. Q295 Sponsors, Exorcism, and the Sign of the Cross
  5. Q296 Why is there an exorcism before baptism?
  6. Q297 Is such an exorcism effective?
  7. Q298 What power has the sign of the cross, used on this and other occasions?
  8. Q299 What is the origin of the sign of the Cross?
  9. Q300 The White Garment, the Cross, and the Procession
  10. Q303 One Baptism, Never Repeated
  11. Q305 Sin after Baptism
  12. Q306 Forgiveness after Baptism

Unction with Chrism (Chrismation)

  1. Q307 The Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit

Holy Communion: The Eucharist

  1. Q315 The Mystery of the Eucharist
  2. Q318 The Divine Liturgy
  3. Q319 The Heavenly Liturgy
  4. Q321 The House of God
  5. Q323 The Structure of the Liturgy and the Preparation of the Gifts
  6. Q328 The Bread, the Lamb, and the Cup
  7. Q333 The Liturgy of the Word
  8. Q337 The Liturgy of the Faithful and the Anaphora
  9. Q340 On the word ‘Transubstantiation‘
  10. Q341 Preparation, Reception, and Participation
  11. Q343 On Frequent Communion and Participation
  12. Q345 The Entrance with the Gospel
  13. Q346 The Great Entrance
  14. Q347 The Consecration
  15. Q348 The Time of Holy Communion
  16. Q349 A Perpetual Commandment

Confession, Penitence and Reconciliation

  1. Q351 The Mystery of Confession
  2. Q353 The Penitent and the Preparation for Confession
  3. Q354 On Epitimia or Penance

Holy Orders

  1. Q357 The Mystery of Ordination
  2. Q358 Pastors as Shepherds
  3. Q359 The Ranks of the Clergy

Holy Matrimony

  1. Q360 The Mystery of Marriage
  2. Q361 Divorce
  3. Q362 Marriage and God’s Creative Order
  4. Q363 Birth Control, Contraception, and Family Planning

Unction of the Sick

  1. Q364 The Mystery of Holy Unction
  2. Q365 Healing and the Acceptance of Suffering

The Eleventh Article: The Resurrection of the Dead

  1. Q366 The Blessed Hope
  2. Q367 The Resurrection of the Body
  3. Q368 The Universal Resurrection
  4. Q370 The End of the Age
  5. Q372 The State of the Souls of the Departed
  6. Q373 Blessedness after Death
  7. Q376 Prayer for the Departed

The Twelfth Article: The Life of the Age to Come

  1. Q378 The Age to Come
  2. Q382 Degrees of Glory
  3. Q383 On Gehenna or Hell
  4. Q384 What Is Salvation?
  5. Q385 The Blessing of This Confession
Part II: On Hope83 questions
  1. Q386 The Grounding of Our Hope
  2. Q388 Attaining Hope

On Prayer

  1. Q389 Prayer and Hope
  2. Q390 Inward and Outward Prayer

On Spiritual Warfare

  1. Q391 The Christian Life as Spiritual Warfare
  2. Q392 The Weapons of Our Warfare
  3. Q393 Liturgical Warfare
  4. Q394 How the Church Counters Demonic Influence
  5. Q395 The Rule of Prayer

On the Lord’s Prayer

  1. Q400 The Prayer the Lord Taught
  2. Q401 The Invocation: “Our Father”
  3. Q402 Prayer to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
  4. Q404 “Who Art in Heaven”

The First Petition: “Hallowed Be Thy Name”

  1. Q405 A Sacred Name
  2. Q406 Sanctifying the Name of God

The Second Petition: “Thy Kingdom Come”

  1. Q408 The Kingdom of God
  2. Q409 Has this Kingdom not already come?
  3. Q410 The Coming Kingdom
  4. Q411 Why do Christians still pray for the coming of the Kingdom?

The Third Petition: “Thy Will Be Done”

  1. Q412 God’s Holy Will
  2. Q413 How is this petition useful?
  3. Q414 Why do we ask that God’s will be done on earth as in heaven?

The Fourth Petition: “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”

  1. Q415 The Essential Bread
  2. Q416 With what mind should we ask this bread from God?
  3. Q417 Why are we directed to ask for bread only ‘this day?’
  4. Q418 What else are we praying for in this petition?)(What is the bread of subsistence for the soul?

The Fifth Petition: “Forgive Us Our Debts”

  1. Q420 Of Debts and Sins
  2. Q421 Why are sins called debts?
  3. Q422 Who, then, are our debtors?
  4. Q423 “The Blood of His Cross”
  5. Q424 Conditional Forgiveness
  6. Q425 Why will God not forgive us, if we do not forgive others?
  7. Q426 What are the implications of this petition?
  8. Q427 Seeking Reconciliation

The Sixth Petition: “Lead Us Not into Temptation”

  1. Q428 On Temptation and Testing
  2. Q429 Where do temptations and trials come from?
  3. Q430 Why then should we pray ‘Lead us not into temptation?’

The Seventh Petition: “Deliver Us from Evil”

  1. Q431 On Evil

The Doxology

  1. Q432 The Liturgical Ending of the Prayer

The Blessedness of Those Who Believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

  1. Q435 Prayer Joined with Obedience
  2. Q436 The Teaching of the Beatitudes
  3. Q437 The Nine Sentences of Blessedness
  4. Q438 How to Read the Beatitudes

The First Beatitude

  1. Q439 Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit
  2. Q440 Spiritual Poverty Is Humility
  3. Q441 Wealth: Blessing and Danger
  4. Q442 Bodily Poverty and the Care of the Poor
  5. Q443 The Kingdom, Present and Future
  6. Q444 Humility, the Door of the Beatitudes

The Second Beatitude

  1. Q445 Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
  2. Q446 Godly Sorrow
  3. Q447 The Promise of Comfort
  4. Q448 What comfort is here to be understood?
  5. Q449 Why is this promise joined to the precept of mourning?

The Third Beatitude

  1. Q450 Blessed Are the Meek
  2. Q451 What is meekness?
  3. Q452 What are the special effects of Christian meekness?
  4. Q453 The Inheritance of the Earth

The Fourth Beatitude

  1. Q455 Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
  2. Q456 What is meant here by ‘righteousness?’
  3. Q457 Who are the ones who hunger and thirst after righteousness?
  4. Q458 The Promise of Being Filled
  5. Q459 What is meant by ‘being filled?’

The Fifth Beatitude

  1. Q460 Blessed Are the Merciful
  2. Q461 How are we to fulfill this precept?
  3. Q462 The Corporal Works of Mercy
  4. Q463 The Spiritual Works of Mercy
  5. Q464 Mercy and Civil Justice
  6. Q465 The Promise of Mercy Obtained
  7. Q466 What mercy is here to be understood?

The Sixth Beatitude

  1. Q467 Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
  2. Q468 Is not purity of heart the same as sincerity?
  3. Q469 The Vision of God
  4. Q470 How are we to understand this promise?

The Seventh Beatitude

  1. Q471 Blessed Are the Peacemakers
  2. Q472 How are we to fulfill this precept?
  3. Q473 Called Sons of God
  4. Q474 What is signified by this promise?

The Eighth Beatitude

  1. Q475 Persecuted for Righteousness’ Sake
  2. Q476 What qualities does this precept require?
  3. Q477 What does the Lord promise to those persecuted for righteousness’ sake?

The Ninth Beatitude

  1. Q478 Reproached for the Name of Christ
  2. Q480 The Course of Martyrdom
Part III: On Love102 questions
  1. Q481 Love Never Fails

On the Unity between Faith and Love

  1. Q481 What should be the effect and fruit of true faith in the Christian?
  2. Q482 Is not ‘faith alone’ sufficient for a believer to be in right standing with God, apart from acts of love and good works?
  3. Q483 Conversely, can someone be saved by love and good works, without faith in Jesus Christ?
  4. Q484 What is to be thought of ‘love’ unaccompanied by good works?

The Law of God and the Commandments

  1. Q485 Discernment
  2. Q486 The Gift of Conscience
  3. Q488 The ‘Outward’ Law
  4. Q489 The Two ‘Great Commandments’

The Ten Commandments

  1. Q490 Christians and the Ten Commandments
  2. Q491 The Lord’s Teachings

On the Division of the Commandments

  1. Q492 Why were the Ten Commandments organized into two tablets?

On the First Commandment

  1. Q503 God as the great “I AM”
  2. Q504 Worshiping the One God
  3. Q505 What is the meaning of ‘Thou shalt have no other gods but me?’
  4. Q506 What duties belong to the inward worship of God?
  5. Q507 What duties refer to the outward worship of God?
  6. Q508 What other beliefs or actions are against the First Commandment?
  7. Q509 Pleasing God, Pleasing People
  8. Q510 How do the Scriptures teach us regarding love and trust?
  9. Q511 How does Holy Scripture speak of trusting in man?
  10. Q512 What then must we do, in order to live according to the will of God?
  11. Q514 What consolation is there for those who, by denying themselves, seem to lose many gratifications?

On the Second Commandment

  1. Q516 Idols and Idolatry
  2. Q517 Images and Statues in the Old Testament
  3. Q518 Idols and Icons in the New Covenant
  4. Q519 The Church and Sacred Iconography
  5. Q520 Icons and Idols
  6. Q521 How is the proper use of holy icons in harmony to the Second Commandment and to God’s revelation?
  7. Q523 Images of God the Father
  8. Q524 The Subtler Forms of Idolatry
  9. Q525 Why is covetousness called idolatry?
  10. Q527 On food and fasting
  11. Q528 If the Second Commandment forbids ‘belly-service,’ what contrary duties does it enjoin?
  12. Q529 Pride as Idolatry
  13. Q530 Finally, what else is near to idolatry?
  14. Q531 ‘We become what we worship?’

On the Third Commandment

  1. Q532 The Name of God in Vain
  2. Q534 On Oaths
  3. Q535 Are all oaths absolutely forbidden, even in civil matters?
  4. Q535 Abusive Speech and the Power of the Tongue

On the Fourth Commandment

  1. Q536 The Seal and Day of Rest of the Old Creation
  2. Q537 Sabbath in the New Covenant
  3. Q538 How, then, should Christians apply the Fourth Commandment?
  4. Q539 The Lord’s Day
  5. Q540 Great and Holy Pascha
  6. Q541 The Feasts of the Lord
  7. Q542 What are the main feasts observed by Orthodox Christians?
  8. Q543 On Fasting
  9. Q544 Why is the Great Fast called Quadragesima, ‘the forty days?’
  10. Q545 Why has it been appointed to fast every week on Wednesday and Friday?
  11. Q546 What is the purpose of the other appointed fasts?
  12. Q547 What is the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts?
  13. Q548 Fasting on the Lord’s Day
  14. Q549 Keeping the Holy Days
  15. Q550 What particular things is it fitting to do on holy days?
  16. Q551 Should we not, however, do such things on workdays also?

On the Fifth Commandment

  1. Q554 The Honor Due to Parents
  2. Q555 The Sin of Dishonoring Parents
  3. Q556 The First Commandment with a Promise
  4. Q557 The Fulfillment of the Promise
  5. Q558 Disobedience and the Order of God
  6. Q559 Those Who Stand in the Place of Parents
  7. Q561 The Honor Due to Civil Authority
  8. Q562 Love of Country and Its Limits
  9. Q566 Besides these, who are the superiors we must honor after parents, and like them?
  10. Q567 What does Holy Scripture prescribe as our duty toward authorities generally?
  11. Q568 How does Holy Scripture speak of the obedience due from servants to their masters?
  12. Q569 The Duties of Parents toward Children
  13. Q570 The Duties of Pastors toward the Flock
  14. Q571 Obedience to God Rather than Men
  15. Q573 Obedience and Humility

On the Sixth Commandment

  1. Q574 Murder and Killing Distinguished
  2. Q576 Involuntary Homicide
  3. Q577 The Many Forms of Murder
  4. Q579 The Sin of Abortion
  5. Q580 How does the Church regard medical help for childless couples, and technologies such as in-vitro fertilization and surrogacy?
  6. Q581 Hatred as Murder of the Heart
  7. Q582 The Positive Duty of Protecting Life
  8. Q583 What are Christians to think about the death penalty?

On the Seventh Commandment

  1. Q584 The Sanctity of the Marriage Bond
  2. Q585 The Works of Impurity Named and Renounced
  3. Q586 The Commandment Written on the Heart
  4. Q587 Guarding the Eyes and the Heart
  5. Q588 Spiritual Adultery: Unfaithfulness to the Lord
  6. Q589 Marriage Held in Honor, Chastity in Every State
  7. Q590 The Mutual Duties of Husband and Wife
  8. Q591 The Body as Temple of the Holy Spirit

On the Eighth Commandment

  1. Q592 Theft in All Its Forms
  2. Q593 Honest Gain, Justice, and the Claim of the Poor
  3. Q594 The Counsel of Voluntary Poverty
  4. Q595 Restitution and the Transformed Thief

On the Ninth Commandment

  1. Q598 False Witness in All Its Forms
  2. Q599 The Sin of Judging
  3. Q600 No Harmless Lies
  4. Q601 Bridling the Tongue

On the Tenth Commandment

  1. Q602 Coveting: The Sin Within
  2. Q603 Why Evil Thoughts Defile
  3. Q604 The Spirit of Truth and the Word that Judges the Heart
  4. Q605 Lust, Envy, and the ‘Evil Eye’
  5. Q606 Coveting the Neighbor’s Wife: Inward Chastity
  6. Q607 Avarice, Contentment, and the Prayer of the Name

From the Catechism

Twelve questions chosen at random. A new selection appears at each visit.

Q019

What is meant by “Holy Scripture(s)?”

On Holy Tradition and Holy Scripture

The expression “Holy Scripture” refers to writings whose ultimate origin lies in the ministry of the Spirit of God, who revealed spiritual truths to men throughout the ages. The human authors, sanctified and illumined…

Read the answer →

Cover of The Catechism of the Orthodox Christian Faith

The Catechism in print

The complete Catechism of the Orthodox Christian Faith, with all its questions, studies, summaries, glossary and index, in one volume.

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