Faith Course of the Antiochian Orthodox Metropolis
The Orthodox faith is understood not primarily through dogmatic knowledge, but through the gradual practice of attitudes and participation in the mysteries of the Church as a way to the Most Holy.
So must we too in our faith ascend step by step, in order to receive God again and again as the Most Holy through the holy mysteries of the Church and to encounter Him in the "Most Holy" of our personal practice of faith.
The text announces a faith course of the Antiochian Orthodox Metropolis for Germany and Central Europe, which will take place in Cologne and Leipzig starting in February 2026. The concept is based on the metaphor of the 15 steps of the Temple in Jerusalem, which symbolize the way to the Most Holy. The course is aimed at baptismal candidates and those interested who wish to get to know or deepen their understanding of the Orthodox faith. The units are not purely dogmatic lessons, but aim at the practice of attitudes that are necessary for a credible Christian life. The method combines the reading of biblical passages with the conversational form to unlock the faith. Participants are encouraged to ascend step by step in order to receive God in the mysteries of the Church. For deeper theological education, reference is made to external courses of the Orthodox Distance School.
Worldview
what this means- What, according to this text, is the root of the evil?
- Ignorance, illusion, a false view of reality (inferred)
- Where does the evil reside?
- in the heart, the will, or the soul of the individual
- What helps against it?
- prayer, worship, meditation, repeated practice; solidarity, mutual help, belonging
- What is human being according to this text?
- fallen, not able to be made whole by one's own strength
- Where is history heading?
- the message stands outside of history (inferred)
- What does the text base its claim on?
- on tradition, the fathers, an established practice; on a present head, teacher, or office
- To whom does the text's call for devotion apply?
- to one's own fellow believers
- Where is the text's criticism directed?
- at one's own community and at oneself
Related texts from other traditions
by similarity of the analysis, one text per traditionpredigt
Eine Predigt über das Gleichnis vom Pharisäer und Zöllner, die Religion als selbstbezogenes Tun und christlichen Glauben als Gnadenempfang unterscheidet.
Die drei Dimensionen der einen Eucharistie
Eine Predigt deutet die drei Hostien von Andechs als Sinnbild für drei Dimensionen der einen Eucharistie: Christi Opfer, die Messe und die Lebenshingabe der Gläubigen.
Wie fühlst du dich?
Die Predigt ruft auf, im Glauben ein Gleichgewicht zwischen der Furcht vor Gottes Strafe und der Hoffnung auf Seine Barmherzigkeit zu halten, um so in der Lebenskrise Halt zu finden.
Das Glaubenstribunal
Das 'Glaubenstribunal' in Wien fordert die Trennung von Religion und Staat, die Abschaffung des Blasphemieparagraphen und die Rückgabe kolonialer Beute, um religiösen Fundamentalismus zu bekämpfen.
1552-Woher kommen wir (Christlich)- Buddhismus im Alltag - Achtsamkeit im täglichen Leben
Der Text vergleicht die christliche Lehre von der unsterblichen, von Gott geschaffenen Seele mit dem buddhistischen Konzept eines fließenden Bewusstseins und betont die lineare Erlösung des Individuums.
What the text calls for
- Stufe um Stufe im Glauben aufsteigen (inward)
- Haltungen für ein glaubhaftes Leben einüben (inward)
- Bibelstellen lesen und im Gespräch erschließen (inward)
Passages cited
Synaxarion zum Hochfest „Mariä Einführung in den Tempel“ am 21.11.
Measured
- Basic stance
- 1 from -2 to 2
- Insistence
- 2 of 3
- Reach
- 3 of 5
- Concreteness
- 2 of 3
- Boundary
- 0 of 3
- Time
- past 2, present 1, future 1