VIDEO: https://youtu.be/xogKm43Ktic AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/catechesis_2024-04-14+hymns-of-vespers-sunday-tone-4.mp3 A Huge difference between orthodoxy and all the other confessions of Christianity is that our theology is on open display. It is in our prayers. We should study the services because they are a seminary to teach us dogmatic and moral theology. We look at some of the Vespers hymns for the fourth tone on Saturday evening. You will find a dozen dogmatic doctrines and as many moral teachings in this small sample. TimeStamps: 0:37 – 1:19 The way we pray shows clearly what we believe. 2:04 Bowing down unceasingly before Thy life-creating Cross, O Christ God, * we glorify Thy resurrection on the third day; * for thereby Thou hast restored corrupted human nature, O Almighty, * and hast renewed for us the ascent of the heavens, * in that Thou alone art good and lovest mankind. Tone 4, Resurrectional Sticheron, Lord I have cried 05:08 – 5:27 What does it mean to be “saved”? 5:30 – 10:46 Thou hast loosed the penalty for the disobedience committed through the tree, O Saviour, * having been nailed of Thine own will to the Tree of the Cross; * and having descended into hades, O Mighty One, * as God Thou didst break asunder the bonds of death. * Wherefore, we worship Thy resurrection from the dead, crying out with joy: * O Lord Almighty, glory be to Thee! Tone 4, Resurrectional Sticheron, Lord I have cried 10:46 – 14:33 Angels and men hymn Thy rising on the third day, O Saviour, * whereby the ends of the whole world have been illumined, * and we have all been delivered from enslavement to the enemy, crying out: * O Saviour, almighty Creator of life, * Who alone lovest mankind, * save us by Thy resurrection! Tone 4, Resurrectional Sticheron, Lord I have cried 14:48 – 18:22 Is there a hierarchy within the Holy Trinity? 18:22 How are we to understand the words: “Proceeds from the Father?” 19:17 – 21:26 How do we understand the truth about the Holy Trinity? 19:59 – 20:15 Bishops (in Orthodoxy) have a hierarchy modelled after the Holy Trinity 21:28 - 23:36 Thou didst crush the gates of bronze, * didst break their chains, O Christ God, * and didst raise up the fallen human race. * Wherefore, we cry out together: * O Lord Who hast risen from the dead, glory be to Thee! Tone 4, Resurrectional Sticheron, Lord I have cried 22:08 – 23:36 six What are the implications of God “raising up human nature?” Another way to ask this: “what will it be like in heaven?” 23:36 six Thy begetting by the Father is everlasting and outside of time, O Lord; * Thine incarnation from the Virgin is ineffable and indescribable for men; * and Thy descent into hades is fearsome for the devil and his angels. * For, having trampled down death, Thou didst arise on the third day, * granting to men incorruption and great mercy. Tone 4, Resurrectional Sticheron, Lord I have cried 26:50 – 33:43 Dogmatic Theotokion, Tone IV — The Prophet David, the forefather of God, * for thy sake gave voice beforehand in psalmody concerning thee, * unto Him Who in thee accomplished mighty works: * the Queen stood at Thy right hand. * For God Whose good pleasure it was to become incarnate of thee without father * showed thee, His Mother, to be the mediatress of life, * that He might renew His image which had become corrupt through the passions; * and having found the sheep which had strayed among the mountains and become lost, * He taketh it upon His shoulders and bringeth it to His Father; * and Christ, Who is possessed of great and rich mercy, * in accordance with His will, uniteth it with the hosts of heaven, * and saveth the world, O Theotokos. Tone 4, Resurrectional Sticheron, Lord I have cried 30:52 – 31:46 Difference between the Jewish and Christian priesthood. 34:31 – 39:00 Having ascended the Cross, O Lord, * Thou didst destroy the ancestral curse; * and descending into hades, Thou didst free the prisoners of ages past, * granting incorruption to the human race. * Wherefore, chanting, * we glorify Thy life-creating and saving resurrection. (Aposticha, Sunday, 4th Tone) 39:01 Suspended on the Tree, O Thou Who alone art powerful, * Thou didst shake all creation; * and laid in the tomb, Thou didst raise up those who lived in the graves, * granting incorruption and life to the human race. * Wherefore, chanting, * we glorify Thine arising on the third day. (Aposticha, Sunday, 4th Tone) 41:57 Something very sad about most Orthodox Christians etc ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xogKm43Ktic

Catechesis, based on St Cyril of Jerusalem’s catechetical lectures 01: Protocatechesis & first Lecture 2023-06-25 Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/catechism_2023-06-25+cyril-jerusalem-homilies-01.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/m5W_3kTxZyY TIMESTAMPS: 1:30 PROCATECHESIS, OR, PROLOGUE TO THE CATECHETICAL LECTURES OF OUR HOLY FATHER, CYRIL, ARCHBISHOP OF JERUSALEM 1:42 – 7:29 St Cyril: “We may not receive Baptism twice or thrice; else it might be said, Though I have failed once, I shall set it right a second time: whereas if thou fail once, the thing cannot be set right; for there is one Lord, and one faith, and one baptism428: for only the heretics are re-baptized, because the former was no baptism.“ (para 7) 7:35 – 9:26 What about Orthodox churches that do not do baptism properly? 9:26 About ancient and modern practice of chrismation. 11:30 – 18:15 a modern heresy regarding reception by chrismation. 15:24 – 18:15 Often a correction to something wrong becomes an over-correction and has errors in its own right. 18:15 – 20:58 Why do we have exorcisms of catechumens? 20:58 – 23:40 “When, therefore, the Lecture is delivered, if a Catechumen ask thee what the teachers have said, tell nothing to him that is without. For we deliver to thee a mystery, and a hope of the life to come. Guard the mystery for Him who gives the reward…” Para 12 23:46 – 28:01 “Great is the Baptism that lies before you: a ransom to captives; a remission of offences; a death of sin; a new-birth of the soul; a garment of light; a holy indissoluble seal; ..." Para 16 28:01 “FIRST CATECHETICAL LECTURE Of Our Holy Father Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem, To those who are to be Enlightened, delivered extempore at Jerusalem, as an Introductory Lecture to those who had come forward for Baptism” 28:36 “Wash you, be clean; remove your iniquities from your souls before mine eyes; cease from your iniquities; (17) learn to do well; diligently seek judgment, deliver him that is suffering wrong, plead for the orphan, and obtain justice for the widow.” Isaiah 1:16-17 41:16 – 42:11 Christianity without morality is false Christianity. 42:11 – 46:24 Ephesians 4:17-32 45:35 – 46:24 A friendly suggestion: copy out scripture that resonates with you and read it daily. 46:24 Colossians 3:1-17 48:27 - 50:08 Covetousness is idolatry! 30% of the 10 commandments forbids idolatry! “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth … covetousness, which is idolatry” Colossians 4:5 51:07 – 53:50 Something that has always bothered me about much “Orthodox” catechesis 53:50 – 54:39 No commandment is “external”. 54:52- 58:11 6. If thou hast aught against any man, forgive it: thou comest here to receive forgiveness of sins, and thou also must forgive him that hath sinned against thee. Else with what face wilt thou say to the Lord, Forgive me my many sins, if thou hast not thyself forgiven thy fellow-servant even his little sins. Attend diligently the Church assemblies; not only now when diligent attendance is required of thee by the Clergy, but also after thou hast received the grace. For if, before thou hast received it, the practice is good, is it not also good after the bestowal? If before thou be grafted in, it is a safe course to be watered and tended, is it not far better after the planting? Wrestle for thine own soul, especially in such days as these. Nourish thy soul with sacred readings; for the Lord hath prepared for thee a spiritual table; therefore say thou also after the Psalmist, The Lord is my shepherd, and I shall lack nothing: in a place of grass, there hath He made me rest; He hath fed me beside the waters of comfort, He hath converted my soul:—that Angels also may share your joy, and Christ Himself the great High Priest, having accepted your resolve, may present you all to the Father, saying, Behold, I and the children whom God hath given Me. May He keep you all well-pleasing in His sight! To whom be the glory, and the power unto the endless ages of eternity. Amen. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5W_3kTxZyY

... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHdxRbAp0Gs

"Having asked that the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us commit ourselves and one another and all of our life unto Christ Our God." ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9c338cqY-4