The pastoral experience of one of the greatest hierarchs of the Russian Church, an outstanding preacher of our time, Metropolitan Philaret (Drozdov) of Moscow and Kolomna, despite the change of epochs and public moods, remains to this day an undiminished source of paternal wisdom, archpastoral love and the finest preaching skill, left as the heritage of the Russian Orthodox Church. And today, in our no less troubled times, the penetrating and healing sermon of Vladyka is addressed to those who vainly seek Christ outside the Church, the Church where the very word of Christ is distorted, covered only by the sound of biblical sayings.

Orthodoxy, Christ, Symbol of Faith, Catechism, Canons, Rules ru Vladimir Schneider http://www.ccel.org/contrib/ru/xml/index.html FB Editor v2.0, MS Word, XML Spy September 2002 http://www.holytrinitymission.org; http://www.ccel.org/contrib/ru/xml/Filaret_Catechism.zip E5F5D0D9-0C73-48BF-87C4-1B4367A772DC 2.0

Orthodox Catechism

Composed

Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow.

In an accessible presentation.

Introduction

Preliminary concepts

1. WHAT IS AN ORTHODOX CATECHISM?

The Orthodox catechism is an instruction in the Orthodox Christian faith, taught to every Christian for the pleasure of God and the salvation of the soul.

2. WHAT DOES THE WORD "CATECHISM" MEAN?

Catechism translated from Greek means catechesis, oral instruction. Since apostolic times, this word has traditionally denoted the original teaching on the Orthodox faith, which is necessary for every Christian (see Luke 1:4, Acts 18:25).

3. WHAT IS NEEDED TO PLEASE GOD AND SAVE THE SOUL?