The Road In
A guided path through the catechism, from the first questions to the life in Christ. It is a companion to your catechist, not a replacement; walk it alongside a priest and a parish.
Stage 1 · Inquirer
Before the doctrines, the ground they stand on: what faith is, and how the Church knows what it knows.
Week 1. What is faith?
Faith is not a leap in the dark but trust in the One who is trustworthy.
- What is faith? Q7
- What is the importance of faith for unbelievers? Q8
- Is it necessary to believe in the existence of God? Q9
- Did God send the law to prepare us to believe in it? Q13
- Does faith abolish the gift of reason? Q14
- What does faith ask of the Lord Christ? Q15
- Why is God called Theos? Q17
- Is faith incompatible with intellectual understanding and scientific research? Q20
- Which is first: knowledge or belief? Q22
- What do the Fathers say about the majesty of faith? Q24
Week 2. The Holy Bible
How we received the Scriptures, and how the Church reads them.
- Why the Holy Bible? Q39
- Why do we need to study the Scriptures deeply? Q40
- Is the Holy Bible inscribed in the pure heart and preserved in it? Q41
- What is the believer’s view of the Holy Bible? Q42
- What is the Church Fathers’ view of the Holy Bible? Q43
- How does the Holy Bible invite us, along with all nations, to extol and praise? Q44
- What is the purpose of the Holy Bible? Q45
- How can we delight in the mysteries of the Holy Bible? Q46
- How does the Holy Bible present the Lord to us as compassionate and just? Q47
- Why is it said that “The Word of God endures forever?” Q48
Week 3. Holy Tradition
The living handing-down of the faith, of which Scripture is the heart.
- What does the word “tradition” mean? Q61
- What is the material of tradition? Q62
- What was the role of tradition in the apostolic age? Q63
- How is apostolic tradition connected to the Gospel? Q64
- How has the Holy Bible been preserved till today? Q65
- How were the words and acts of Christ preserved? Q66
- What does Papias say about tradition? Q67
- What does St. Irenaeus say about tradition? Q68
- How did tradition confront Gnosticism and the heresies of the second century? Q69
- What does the scholar Tertullian say about tradition? Q70
Stage 2 · The Faith
The Creed, walked through: one God in three Persons, and the Son who became man to save us.
Week 4. The Creed
The map of the faith, confessed in every liturgy.
- What is the extent of the connection between the Creed, preparation for baptism, and preservation of the Orthodox faith? Q104
- What are the articles of the present Creed? Q105
- Why do we begin the Creed by saying, “we believe”? Q106
- Why do we begin by affirming faith in One God? Q107
- What does “we believe in One God” mean? Q108
- How does the Father’s fatherhood to the Son differ from His fatherhood to the faithful? Q109
- Why do we call God called the Almighty (Pantocrator)? What does the word Pantocrator or Almighty mean? Q110
- Why do we cherish God as the Creator of all things? Q111
- Why did the Church employ the term “Creator of heaven and earth”? Q112
- Why do we believe in our Lord Jesus? Q113
Week 5. Knowing God
Can God be known? And how do we come to know Him?
- Is it necessary to believe in God? Q145
- Does faith cancel the gift of reason? Q146
- Why is God called _Theos_ ? Q147
- What are the characteristics of the One God? Q148
- Does the Holy Bible avoid discussion of the characteristics of the essence of God? Q149
- If God is Spirit, why does the Holy Bible describe God as having bodily members such as the heart of God, the eyes of the Lord, His ears, and hands? Q150
- If God is everywhere present, why is it said that He dwells in heaven, or in the Church, or in the believer? Q151
- Is it possible for a person to know the essence of God? Q152
- What does the Holy Bible say about our inability to know God’s essence? Q153
- Does the Holy Bible testify that it is possible for us to know God? Q154
Week 6. The Holy Trinity
One Being, three Persons, in perfect love from all eternity.
- What is the Church’s teaching concerning the Holy Trinity? Q176
- How did the Lord Christ communicate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity to us? Q177
- What are the earliest Trinitarian formulas? Q178
- What are the positions of the Old Testament and the New Testament on the doctrines of the oneness of God and the three Hypostases? Q179
- Does the Holy Bible explicitly teach the doctrine of the Trinity? Q180
- Why does the Old Testament focus on the Hypostasis of the Father? Q181
- What does the New Testament teach about the Holy Trinity being of one essence? Q182
- How can we accept the Trinitarian faith if the God’s divine nature is simple? Does Trinitarian faith contradict divine unitary simplicity? Q183
- Which verses are used by those who deny the divinity of Christ? Q184
- How could the eternal God be Love before He created anything to love? Q185
Week 7. Creation and the Fall
Why the world is good, and why it needed saving.
- Why did God not reject Satan? Q308
- Is Satan able to harm you? Q309
- How can we avoid fearing Satan? Q310
- Should we, then, hold the devil blameless? Q311
- Why is it not the devil who deceives you? Q312
- Isn’t it deviation from the goal that harms the human being? Q313
- Can injustice harm us? Q314
- Does the harm befall the oppressor or the oppressed? Q315
- Can poverty harm us? Q316
- Can death harm us? Q317
Week 8. Christ our Savior
True God and true man, one Person, come to rescue us.
- Why does the Christian Church consider the Old Testament to be an integral part of the Holy Bible? Q338
- How was the Old Testament law inadequate without the Lord Christ? Q339
- Why does St. Paul rebuke his own Jewish race? Q340
- What is the chief concern of the Old Testament prophets? Q341
- What are the most important prophecies concerning the incarnation of the Word from the seed of King David of the Tribe of Judah? Q342
- What are the most important prophecies concerning the birth of the Lord Christ? Q343
- What are the most important prophecies about the Lord Christ’s last week on earth? Q344
- What are the most important prophecies concerning the resurrection of the Lord Christ? Q345
- What are the most important prophecies concerning the Ascension of the Lord Christ to heaven? Q346
- What are the most important prophecies concerning the Lord Christ as a prophet? Q347
Week 9. The Holy Spirit and salvation
The Giver of Life who makes the saving work of Christ our own.
- What role does the Holy Spirit play in our attainment of divine salvation? Q409
- What was Christ’s purpose in speaking the words He did on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles regarding the descent of the Holy Spirit? Q410
- What does John the Evangelist say about this divine promise? Q411
- Why did the Holy Spirit descend upon the Church after the Lord was glorified through His suffering, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to heaven? Q412
- What can we learn from the early Church Fathers’ experiences in drinking from this spring of which the Lord Christ spoke when He described Himself as the Fountain that quenches the thirsty? Q413
- What is the meaning of the words, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture had said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38)? Q414
- Why does the believer not receive the gift of speaking in the tongues of many nations when he is baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit? Q415
- Did Jesus need the Holy Spirit to descend upon Him at His baptism in the River Jordan? Q416
- What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Lord Christ as Savior? Q417
- What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments? Q418
Stage 3 · The Church
The Body of Christ and the Mysteries through which His life reaches us.
Week 10. The Church
One, holy, catholic, apostolic: the Kingdom of God on earth.
- What do we mean by “the Church is God’s kingdom on earth”? Q449
- Who builds the Church and guards it? Q450
- What are the characteristics of this bride and what is her relationship with the Bridegroom the King of kings like? Q451
- What were the stages of God’s wondrous salvation of His believers, the people of God? Q452
- Why does the Creed mention the Church after talking about the oneness of God and the Holy Trinity? Q453
- What are the fruits of our unity with Christ our head, and with each other as members of the one body? Q454
- When we use the word “church,” what do we mean? Q455
- Have we entered into the holies while we are still in the world? Q456
- What is the difference between the Levitical priesthood and the priesthood of Christ? Q457
- How did Stephen see the High Priest (Christ); was He sitting or standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:56)? Q458
Week 11. Baptism
Born again of water and the Spirit; buried and raised with Christ.
- How did humanity become children of God once more? Q675
- What is the sacrament of baptism? Q676
- How did the Old Testament prepare us for Christian baptism? Q677
- What are the blessings of baptism? Q678
- When did baptism begin? And how? Q679
- What is required of those who wish to be baptized? Q680
- Why do we baptize infants? Q681
- Is there a specific time for baptism? Q682
- Why were the names of those who sought baptism seekers registered, and how? Q683
- How long was the teaching phase of the catechumens? Q684
Week 12. Chrismation
Sealed with the Holy Spirit through the holy Myron.
- What is the role of the Holy Chrism in the life of the believer? Q713
- How did the Apostles perform this sacrament? Q714
- What is the role of the sacraments of baptism and chrismation? Q715
- Can Baptism be accomplished without the work of the Holy Spirit? Q716
- What is do the laying on of hands and chrismation mean? Q717
- Why is the Chrism often referred to as God’s seal upon the soul? Q718
- What is the connection between the hand of the Almighty and the hand of a human being? Q719
- How can the believer constantly grow and mature spiritually? Q720
- Why is this holy sacrament called an anointing? Q721
- Why is the Holy Chrism also called the “sacrament of confirmation”? Q722
Week 13. Repentance and Confession
The medicine of return, as often as we need it.
- Why was our Lord Jesus called “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:19)? Q728
- What was Christ’s commandment to His disciples when He appeared to them after His resurrection? Q729
- What are the important obligations of the believer who repents? Q730
- Should someone who lives in sin constantly be in tears and fear? And with what hope must this person approach the Lord? Q731
- Who can heal my soul except You, O Physician, so that it may serve You? Q732
- Who can sanctify my corrupted will? Q733
- Sin has killed me and buried me in a tomb until I decayed; can God still accept my repentance? Q734
- What is the role of the tears of repentance in our lives? Q735
- What boldness do the tears of repentance give someone before God? Q736
- To what language does the heavenly Physician listen, if not to tears of repentance? Q737
Week 14. The Eucharist
The true Body and Blood of Christ, the heart of the liturgy.
- What is the mystery of communion in the eucharist? Q764
- Is the eucharist a sacrifice? Q765
- Why is the Sacrament of the Eucharist considered to be the pinnacle of Christian worship? Q766
- Is it possible to partake of the eucharist every week? Q767
- Is it permissible for a person to receive the body and blood of our Lord every day? Q768
- Why do we believe in the one Sacrifice that is offered on multiple altars? Q769
- Why do we mix the wine with water in the chalice? Q770
- How can we prepare ourselves to receive the body and blood of the Lord? Q771
- What results from partaking of the body and blood of the Lord? Q772
- How do we feel when we participate in the Divine Liturgy? Q773
Stage 4 · Preparation for Baptism
The shape of a life of worship: prayer, the hours, fasting, and the whole day given to God.
Week 15. The life of prayer
Prayer as the breath of the soul, not merely words.
- What is prayer? Q896
- How can we converse freely with God? Q897
- How can we offer prayer that is acceptable before God? Q898
- What should you do if God answers your prayers for your brother or sister? Q899
- Why does God sometimes delay answering our prayers, and why does He sometimes not answer them at all? Q900
- What are the effects of prayer? Q901
- What practical steps lead us to practice prayer? Q902
- Is it permissible for us to pray for bodily hardships to befall us? Q903
- Why do we pray? Does God not know what we need? Q904
- Are communal prayers necessary? Q905
Week 16. The hours and the Lord's Prayer
Praying with the Church through the day, in the words Christ gave us.
- The Psalmist prayed psalms that were relevant to his own circumstances; so why do I pray those same psalms when my circumstances may be different to his? Q920
- The Agpeya prayers are arranged at certain hours of the day, so should a Christian adhere to a certain time for prayer? Q921
- Were there prayers at canonical hours in the Jewish tradition? Q922
- As Christians, are we required to observe Jewish tradition? Q923
- Why is there no explicit commandment in the New Testament concerning the prayers of the canonical hours? Q924
- Why is the Lord’s Prayer important? Q931
- Why did the Lord Christ bid us to pray the Lord’s Prayer in the plural? Q932
- Why do we address God thus: “Our Father who art in Heaven”? Q933
- Why is the first supplication to the Lord: “Hallowed be thy name”? Q934
- Is He not the King of Kings? So why do we pray, “Thy kingdom come”? Q936
Week 17. Fasting and the Christian life
Fasting as training, joined to prayer and mercy.
- Why does the believer need to fast? Q1015
- What do the Church Fathers say about fasting? Q1016
- What did the desire for food do to the people of God? Q1017
- Why did our Lord Jesus choose Moses and Elijah to behold Him and speak with Him at His transfiguration? Q1018
- What is the link between fasting and the friends of the bridegroom? Q1019
- Why does the Creator call us to practice the way of the angels? Q1020
- How does fasting prepare us for spiritual warfare? Q1021
- Does God expect us to destroy the body when we fast? Q1022
- What does the prophet when he says, “Consecrate a fast … call a sacred assembly” (Joel 1:14; 2:15)? Q1023
- How can the believer offer his fast as a sacrifice of love? Q1024
Stage 5 · Mystagogy
After the font, living the life: the unseen hosts, the virtues, and the hope that awaits us.
Week 18. The unseen warfare
The angels who guard us, and the enemy who has no authority over us.
- Who are the evil angels? Q1168
- What was the state of the devil before his fall? Q1169
- Is the devil a real entity? Q1170
- Is the world filled with angels and demons? Q1171
- What is the sin of the angels? Q1172
- Where do evil angels dwell? Q1173
- Were evil angels created with a different nature to that of the good angels? Q1174
- Why are evil angels called “devils,” or slanderers and deceivers? Q1175
- Did the Lord Christ mention the devil and his angels? Q1176
- How can we escape the snares of the devil? Q1177
Week 19. The virtues
The slow re-shaping of a soul into the likeness of Christ.
- What is the connection between virtues and life in Christ? Q1185
- What is St. Paul’s understanding of Christian virtues? Q1186
- What are the most important virtues that characterize the Christian person? Q1187
- What is Christian virtue? Q1188
- How does Christianity understand holiness? Q1189
- How can we acquire holiness and discernment? Q1190
- To what extent can we grow in virtue with the spirit of discernment? Q1191
- What do the Church Fathers consider to be the most important virtues? Q1192
- What does the Holy Bible say about discernment and insight? Q1193
- Who can grant us the spirit of illumination or discernment? Q1194
Week 20. The life to come
Death as gift, the resurrection of the body, and the Jerusalem above.
- What do we mean by the word “heaven”? Q1435
- How can we know that heaven is real? Q1436
- What does this mean: “But I say to you, do not swear at all, neither by heaven for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth for it is His footstool” (Matt. 5:34–35)? Q1437
- Is nature a witness to the reality of heaven? Q1438
- Are there any contemporary witnesses to the faithful challenging death and to their joy and that of their families in the face of martyrdom? Q1439
- What is the heavenly perspective on the recent spate of bombings of churches? Q1440
- How does St. John conclude the Book of Revelation, regarding the Day of the Lord? Q1441
- What is meant by “a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Rev. 21:1)? Q1442
- What are the characteristics of the heavenly Church? Q1443
- Why is it called “the city” (Rev. 21:2)? Q1444
This path is a plain list you can follow at your own pace, a companion to your catechist, never a substitute for the Church.