Adult Courses & Discussion Groups

 

St. Athanasius the Great On the Incarnation

Description In this discussion group, we will focus on the work of St. Athanasius which is very timely for this season of the year when we prepare to celebrate the Incarnation of Our Lord, The Word Made Flesh. This will allow us an opportunity to explore and discuss our Lord’s Incarnation and explore this topic in a way that we have not been able to do before using St. Athanasius as our guide. Please join us to celebrate the advent season leading up to Our Savior’s Birth and His taking on our human flesh to facilitate our opportunity for salvation.

Time: Thursdays 8pm

Dates: Nov 7, 14, 21, (video lessons for Nov 28 because of Thanksgiving Day), Dec 5, 12, 19.

 Price: $150 All proceeds benefit the Initiative Scholarship Fund!

To Register: Click “Register Here” below.

Byzantine Chant 101

Description: Students will learn the basics about the eight modes (or tones) of byzantine chant by learning byzantine notation and some prosomoia melodies. All texts chanted will be in English, with the option for Greek by request. By the end of this course, students will be able to chant hymns from vespers and matins in the diatonic and enharmonic modes (i.e. 1st, 3rd, 4th, Plagal 1st, Grave, Plagal Fourth).

Instructor: Peter George

Time: Mondays, 7PM-8PM.

This a full semester class.

Dates: Beginning February 19, 2024  

Price: $300

To Register: Click “Register Here” below.

Byzantine Chant 102

Description: For students who have completed Byzantine Chant 101 or an equivalent. This course focuses on the Anastasimatarion, which contains the hymns of Vespers and Matins in the eight tones. By the end of this course, students should be able to chant Lord, I Have Cried and the Dogmatic Theotokia in all eight tones, as well as the brief stichera from vespers and matins.All hymns are chanted in English; Greek is available by request.

Instructor: Peter George

Time: Mondays, 7PM

Dates: 10 classes beginning September 11th   

Price: $300

To register: Click “Register Here” below.

Adult Catechism: Longer Catechism of St. Philaret of Moscow

DescriptionHave you been Orthodox all your life, but still have catechetical questions about the foundational tenets of our Faith?  Are you a convert, newly-baptized Orthodox Christian or catechumen, and have additional questions about the Orthodox Faith?  Now is the chance to ask all of your questions!

This catechism, written by Saint Philaret of Moscow, is structured in question-and-answer form.  It organizes its subjects on the three pillars of Faith, Hope, and Love, and under each respective heading treats of the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and Beatitudes, and the Ten Commandments. The work continues to be a leading resource for Orthodox Christians of all ages and experience, as it teaches and reinforces the truths of our Faith.

This is the next installment of this book which will focus on the next section of the text.  You can easily join this class without having attended the first one as the question-answer format allows for this.

Moderator: Father John Somers

Time: Sundays at 8PM EST                                

Dates: 2/18, 2/25, 3/3 and 3/10/2024

Price: $100 per household

To Register: Click “Register Here” below.

Nativity Fast Discussion Group

 Description

“There is no question which can torment the human soul, and not find its answer, either
directly or indirectly in the Bible.” – Saint Justin Popovich

Have you ever noticed that the Nativity Fast is particularly difficult? The world has party after party, while we Orthodox Christians are called to fasting. It is all very troubling. You feel obligated to go to a Christmas party, whether for work or at a friend’s house. Maybe you try to keep the Fast as you find yourself eating enough chips and salsa to last a lifetime. It is incredibly difficult to keep our focus on fasting and prayer!

To top it all off, many of us have to work on the 24th of December (Old Style) and miss the services for Nativity’s Eve. This is sad, as there are such beautiful readings from the Sacred Scriptures appointed during the services of the Royal Hours and the Vesperal Liturgy.

Here at the Initiative, we have something to help! During this Nativity Fast, restore your focus with our Orthodox Bible Study. We will be going through the readings appointed for the Royal Hours and the Vesperal Liturgy. We will consistently look at commentaries on the texts from the Fathers of the Church and relate our reading to the everyday life of an Orthodox Christian.

Time: Fridays, 7pm

DatesDec. 6, 13, 20, (video lesson for Nov 27 because of Thanskgiving week), and Jan 3

Price: $100 per household. All proceeds benefit the Initiative Scholarship Fund!

To register: Click “Register Here” below.

Adult Discussion: Lenten Readings

Description: Lent is a time when we all want to focus more on our spiritual life, but that is difficult when we are living in the world.  We need a way to focus.  In addition, did you ever notice that Holy Week and Pascha go by so quickly with all of the preparations for the Feast?  Also did you notice that it can be very hard to focus on the readings of each service?

We have something to help! During this Lent, restore your focus with our Orthodox Bible Study. We will be going through the readings appointed for Holy Week and Pascha. We will consistently look at commentaries on the texts from the Fathers of the Church and relate our reading to the everyday life of an Orthodox Christian.

Instructor: Father John Somers

Dates and Times:

 
Thursday 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25
7pm EST or
 
Sunday 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28
8pm EST
 

 Price: $100

To Register: Click “Register Here” below.

 

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT

For more information about classes, please email orthodoxeducationalinitiative@gmail.com or call 215-987-2655.