Adult Courses & Discussion Groups

 

The Four Gospels Discussion Group

Description: “If an earthly king wrote you a letter, would you not read it with joy?  Certainly, with great rejoicing and careful attention.  You have been sent a letter, not by any earthly emperor, but by the King of Heaven.  And, yet you almost despise such a gift, so priceless a treasure.  Whenever you read the Gospel, Christ Himself is speaking to you.  And while you read; you are praying talking to Him.”— St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

If we look to the Tradition of the Church, we will notice that in the various local Churches, there is a special emphasis on the reading of Holy Gospels during Great Lent.  For example, in certain Greek monasteries, the brethren will read all Four Gospels during the first week of Lent.  And, according to the Typikon of the Russian Church, there is a practice to read all Four Gospels during the first week of Lent.  Alas, in our times, as busy as they are, it is quite difficult to follow such strict practices.  Yet, surely, we are still able to do something!  We give a great deal of our time to listening to music or gobbling down the news.  Could we not instead give at least some of this time to God in the reading of the Holy Gospels? To help with this, we here at the Initiative will be offering a bi-weekly discussion group on The Four Gospels by Archbishop Averky. Archbishop Averky’s textbook is written in the tradition of the great Fathers of the Church, such as the Blessed Theophylact and Saint John Chrysostom.  As we see in the description of the book, Archbishop Averky analyzes all four Gospels chronologically and simultaneously, allowing the reader to see the life of Christ, “as an unfolding narrative in accessible, direct language.”

We will be meeting twice a week to go through the Gospels using Archbishop Averky’s commentary.  This will allow us to focus on
the meaning and import of God’s words during the most spiritually contemplative part of the year.

Click here to purchase the book

Moderator: Father John Somers
Time: 8-9pm EST Tuesday and Thursday

DatesFebruary 29 to June 8.

Price: $250 per household. All proceeds benefit the SJDOEI Scholarship fund!                                           

To register: Click “Register Here” below.

Isaiah Discussion Group

Description: On the surface, the book of Isaiah, composed around the 7th Century B.C., is a warning to the Kingdom of Judah to repent from evildoing, as the might of Assyria grew and threatened it. Why, then, is this book lovingly and reverently called by the Church “The Fifth Gospel?”

“Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.”
 
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
 
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
 
“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
 
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”
 
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”
 
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”
 

These quotations are taken not from the Gospels, not from the Acts or Epistles, but from a work written 700 years before the birth of Christ, the book of Isaiah. Thus we see the prophet and mighty saint of God proclaiming in startling detail much of the saving ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We at the Initiative invite you to join us in the study of this glorious book, prescribed by the Church during Great Lent. A recording of each chapter and corresponding commentary will be provided. Then, one evening a week, we’ll assemble to discuss and ask questions on the material.

Together, we’ll explore these questions: 
• How does the Church know which prophecies concern our Lord?
• What is the relationship between these prophecies and the surrounding historical information?
• Why does the Church prescribe the book of Isaiah during Lent?
• What spiritual profit can we personally gain from reading it?

Moderator: Father John Somers
Time: 8pm-9pm EST Sundays
Dates: February 26 to April 9 (Recordings and video lessons are available from Forgiveness Sunday to Palm Sunday; live meetings will be March 5, March 12, March 19, March 26, and April 2)
Price: $125 per household. All proceeds benefit the SJDOEI Scholarship fund!
To register: Click “Register Here” below.

Apologetics for Adults Discussion Group: St. Justin's Dialogue With Trypho

Description: This discussion group continues the Initiative’s apologetics series, but also functions as an independent discussion group. In other words, the previous apologetics discussion group, “The Orthodox Understanding of God and Man” is not a prerequisite. Everyone is welcome!

What is apologetics? Simply put, apologetics seeks to provide a systematic defense of Orthodox theology. In our times, in the midst of so many assaults against the Church, we can see how a firm grounding in Orthodox apologetic theology is so important. Our flock needs to know the doctrines of our Faith. Yet, we need more than this. We need to foster an Orthodox worldview. We need to equip ourselves with the ability to defend the Faith, to not be intimidated in the face of what Saint Paul calls “knowledge falsely so called.” (I Timothy 6:20).

An early Christian apologist was St. Justin the Philosopher. An accomplished thinker and tireless seeker of truth, an encounter with a holy elder convinced him the answers to his questions were to be found in Holy Scriptures. He soon was baptized and traveled the Roman Empire, preaching the Gospel and defending the Christian faith. He documented one of his debates with a Jewish rabbi in his work Dialogue With Trypho.

In this 12 week module, we’ll be reading selected passages from St. Justin’s Dialogue With Trypho and discussing the following:

  • Knowing God’s Truth through Divine Revelation
  • The Gospel’s fulfillment, not replacement, of the Old Testament
  • Proof of Jesus Christ as Messiah and Divine Savior
  • Christianity as the new Israel, God’s chosen people

Subsequent modules will address Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and other topics.

Moderator: Father John Somers
Time: 7-8pm EST Tuesday and Thursday                      Dates: February 29 to June 8.                               Price: $250 per household. All proceeds benefit the SJDOEI Scholarship fund!                                To register: Click “Register Here” below.

The Struggle For Virtue Discussion Group

Description: We all know that we are called to be more ascetical and to carry our cross. But how are we to do it as regular people in the world? Are you looking for something to help you focus your Lenten weekends and turn your attention towards the Church? Come join us to read selections from The Struggle for Virtue: Asceticism in a Modern Secular Society by Archbishop Averky Taushev. Archbishop Averky shows us how the practice of asceticism

is essential to the spiritual life. Studying this book together will help us learn how to apply these principles to our daily lives. In this upcoming season of Lent, we will use this text to help us examine our own lives and how we can engage in greater asceticism and grow closer to God even in our modern times.

Click here to purchase the book

Moderator: Father John Somers

Time: 7pm – 8pm EST Sundays

Dates: February 26 – April 9 (Recordings and video lessons are available from Forgiveness Sunday to Palm Sunday; live meetings will be March 5,
March 12, March 19, March 26, and April 2)
Price: $125 per household. All proceeds benefit the SJDOEI Scholarship Fund!
To register: Click “Register Here” below.

Byzantine Chant 101 For Adults

Description: Students will learn the basics about the eight modes (or tones) of byzantine chant by learning byzantine notation and 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)
Prerequisite: Students must be able to match pitch to enroll.

Required Text: Byzantine Notation: An Exercise Book by Gabriel Cremeens. Physical book will be available for purchase.

Instructor: Peter George

Time: Mondays, 7pm – 8pm ET 

Dates: April 24 – Jun 12, 2023

Price: $225 
To Register: Click “Register Here” below.

New Course Coming Soon

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New Course Coming Soon

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REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT

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