“The Orthodox Faith, Worship, and Life, Orthodox Catechism: An outline.” 1.1 Pg 8. The Synodikon of the Holy and Ecumenical Seventh Council The church exclusively has the authority to proclaim dogma VIDEO: https://youtu.be/I8bhPYsm2Xc AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/http://www/.orthodox.net/catechism/catechism_2024+orthodox-faith-worship-and-life-orthodox-catechism-008.mp3 TEXT: (differs slightly from video and audio) http://www/.orthodox.net/catechism/catechism_2024+orthodox-faith-worship-and-life-orthodox-catechism-008.docx http://www/.orthodox.net/catechism/catechism_2024+orthodox-faith-worship-and-life-orthodox-catechism-008.pdf This is a commentary, explanation, and amplification of the book “The Orthodox Faith, Worship, and Life, Orthodox Catechism: An outline.” These notes are intended to be watched or read in conjunction with reading chapters in this excellent book. Sometimes, there are things unsaid that a beginner might not understand, so we have attempted to fill in some of the gaps that we have seen in the catechumens we have taught. This book is very deep, and you should read it slowly and look at the references. One of the problems with books, in my opinion, is they give a reference, but then they don't give you the text. Even when the author shows the text, you might want to look at the context. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8bhPYsm2Xc

From the Sticheron for the Vespers of Orthodox Sunday: "Thou who art uncircumscribed, O Master, in thy Divine Nature, was pleased in the last times to take flesh and be circumscribed. In assuming flesh, thou hast taken on thyself all its distinctive properties; therefore, we depict the likeness of thy outward form, venerating it with an honor that is relative." Today is the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, also known as the Sunday of Orthodoxy or Orthodox Sunday, celebrating the final restoration of icons to the churches in 843 after decades of oppression from heretical emperors and Church authorities. The veneration of icons teaches us two important things about Jesus and our faith — that God who is infinite took on our finite human nature; and that in doing so, he made it possible for us to be like Him. By the *fact* of the Incarnation, Jesus took on a human body from the Virgin Theotokos and became visible. The stycheron quoted above states that he took on all our distinctive properties, in all respects like us, save sin, according to St. Paul. Icons are a celebration of, and a statement of, the physical reality of God among us. We can picture him because he became picture-able. But the fact of the Incarnation leads us into an even greater and more compelling truth — that like the icons of the ancient Church, our human nature has been restored by Christ. This reality makes it possible for us to do what before was impossible; to be like God, to perfect that icon of God planted in our souls from the moment our creation. The lives of the saints testify to the possibility that we can become radically better, radically closer to God. If we can, why don't we? What reason do we have for not even trying? From the Kontakion for the Vespers of Orthodox Sunday: "The uncircumscribed word of the father became circumscribed, taking on flesh from thee, O Theotokos, and he has restored the sullied image to its ancient glory, filling it with divine beauty. This is our salvation we confess in deed and word, and we depict it with the holy icons." Fr. Seraphim Holland speaks to us from St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in McKinney, Texas. Visit us online at orthodox.net. This video is also on FB on our Church Web page (@orthodoxnet) https://www.facebook.com/orthodoxnet/videos/1927705570673670/ ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuE7Z0vM7v0

Thomas Sunday. God reveals Himself according to our ability and zeal. Thomas Sunday is always the Sunday after Pascha. God revealed himself to Thomas and brought him to a full healing and full belief by condescending to his weakness. He does that with all of us. Enlightenment happens by degrees, and God will do anything to enlighten us as long as we have zeal and we endure. It’s really very simple. It is not easy but it is always simple. If we seek God, God will come and find us and enlighten us according to our abilities at that moment and we will be raised up and He will come and find us when we have higher abilities and enlighten us and raise us up higher again. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63SVPvkuN_M

Questions and Answers: 2023-12-11 Questions and answers, after Compline at University of Texas, Dallas (UTD). Compline is usually nightly, Mon-Frin, and Fr Seraphim sometimes serves. There are always questions after he serves. YouTube: https://youtu.be/0MvBRstnLOk ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MvBRstnLOk