Catechism at St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church
What to Expect
“Attend the services of the Church constantly; never abandon them, especially on feast days. There you will find what your soul needs.” St. John Chrysostom
The most important part of catechism is being present at the services. The Divine Liturgy, Vespers, and feast days are where we truly learn the faith, not only through words but through prayer, worship, and the grace of God at work in His Church. Everything else flows from that experience. The classes, readings, and discussions help you understand what you see and hear, but nothing replaces standing before God with His people in prayer. Catechism is not just about information. It is formation, learning to live the Orthodox life of prayer, repentance, and love in communion with Christ and His Church.
When and Where
“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Romans 10:17
Our catechism sessions are recorded each week so you can listen and stay connected if you miss a class. Recordings are posted on our website and on all major podcast platforms under St. Mary Magdalene Bible Study.
Listening to the classes is helpful, but remember that true learning happens most deeply through prayer, worship, and presence in the services.
The Cathechism Guide
“Do not neglect reading the divine Scriptures; it is the wellspring of salvation.” - St. John Chrysostom
Our Catechism Guide is a series of articles designed to explain the Orthodox faith and help you learn how to live as an Orthodox Christian. These articles walk through what the Church teaches, why it matters, and how it becomes part of daily life through worship, prayer, fasting, confession, the sacraments, spiritual guidance, and life in the parish.
The guide is not meant to be rushed through all at once. Read it slowly and prayerfully as you attend services, come to catechism classes, and begin living the rhythm of Orthodox life. The goal is not just to learn information, but to understand the faith well enough to actually live it.
Please reach out regularly to Fr. Stephen or Anthony with questions by text, phone call, or email. Email is usually best because it gives us time to respond clearly and thoughtfully. Also, make sure you are reading through the articles, since many of the questions that come up during catechism may already be covered there.
We ask all catechumens to read through the articles carefully, bring questions to class, and let the life of the Church teach them through both study and experience. The Orthodox faith is learned with the mind, but it is also learned by prayer, worship, repentance, and participation in the Body of Christ.
RSS Feed of All Catechism Classes
Each of our adult Bible study classes is available to stream or download through your favorite podcast platform. Because each platform organizes its content a little differently, we have included direct links below to the specific catechism classes so they are easier to find. Subscribe, listen, and stay connected as you continue growing in your understanding of the Orthodox faith.
- Class 1: Confession and Preparing for Holy Communion
- Class 2: The Image of God
- Class 3: Iconography
- Class 4: Why so Many Jurisdictions?
- Class 5: The Nativity Fast
- Class 6: Why We Cross Ourselves in Worship
- Class 7: Your Life Is Not Secular
- Class 8: The Holy Spirit and Your Path to Theosis
- Class 9: Why the Church is MORE than a Building
- Class 10: Who Protects the Orthodox Faith From Heresy
- Class 11: The Church Is Not Optional If You Want to Be Healed
- Class 12: Why the Eucharist Is the Center of Everything
- Class 13: What the Bible Actually Says About Worship
- Class 14: Becoming Saints
- Class 15: Living the Faith at Work
- Class 16: What Happens After Death?
- Class 17: Learning to Pray Without Ceasing
- Class 18: How Should Christians Understand Spiritual Dreams?
- Class 19: Guarding the Heart in a Distracted World and Finding Stillness
- Class 20: Your Spiritual Family: The Saints and Godparents - Picking a Godparent
Subscribe to Our Study Directly
Subscribe and listen to our classes on your favorite podcast platform:
Catechism Video Library
These videos are additional resources to help reinforce the catechism recordings above. I selected them because they explain certain aspects of the Orthodox Christian faith in ways that may help clarify or deepen what we are discussing in our catechism sessions. More will be added in time so stay tuned.
Preparing for Baptism and/or Chrismation
Before someone is received into the Orthodox Church, there are a few practical things that need to be understood and prepared. Baptism and chrismation are joyful, serious, and holy, but they are not meant to be confusing or stressful. When you are getting close to being received into the Church, read the guide below carefully so you know what information to send, how to choose a saint name and godparent, how to prepare for life confession, what to bring, what to wear, and what to expect afterward.
The goal is not to make the day feel complicated. The goal is to help you enter the Church with peace, reverence, and readiness. Baptism and chrismation are not the end of the journey, but the beginning of life as an Orthodox Christian. Read this section when you are getting close, ask questions as needed, and prepare calmly.
