• • • The book is divided into five Units.
    • The first unit is a general introduction which provides necessary background information for the study of the Scriptures.
    • The second unit s a preparatory guide to the study of New Testament. As a prelude to this, the political, social, religious, and philosophical world of the New Testament has been introduced.
    • The third unit introduces the Gospels briefly.
    • The fourth unit provides information about the rest of the New Testament.
    • The fifth Unit is a random collection of the major themes from both the Testaments.

The Course Material is divided into three parts

PART- I: The Apostolic Fathers and Apologists

• • • The Background to the Patristic Literature of the First Three Centuries
    • The Apostolic Fathers and Other Writings of the Primitive Period
    • The Apologists/Defenders of Faith
    • Some Important Documents in the Apologetic Period

PART- II: Patristic Literature from A. D 300 to the Council of Ephesus 431

• • • The Period around the Council of Nicea 325
    • The Two Great Syriac Fathers
    • The Great Fathers from Latin Tradition
    • The Cappadocian Fathers
    • The Period between the Council of Constantinople 381 and the Ephesus Council 431.

PART- III: The Period after the Council of Chalcedon 451

• • • The Pillars of Orthodoxy
    • Syriac Fathers between 8th and 10th Centuries
    • Syriac Fathers after 10th Centuries
    • Some Monastic/ Ascetic Fathers
    • The Great Syrian Mystic. Isaac of Nineveh
    • Fathers remembered in the Dipthycs (Thubden)

• • • Basics of Theology
    • Doctrine of Creation
    • Holy Trinity
    • Church Ministry and Sacraments
    • Eschatology

• • • Historical Development of Orthodox Spirituality
    • Prayer and Contemplation
    • Monasticism and Asceticism
    • Steps in Spiritual Life

• • • Background into which Christianity came
    • The Birth of messiah as the fulfillment of the Prophesies
    • Expansion of the Church
    • Persecution
    • Early Christian Literature
    • The Apologists
    • Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, Tertullian
    • Hippolytus of Rome (AD 160-235)
    • The Eucharist
    • Gnosticism, Montanism, Monarchianism
    • Schisms in the Early Church

The Precepts of Worship

• The Scriptural Bases
• Context of Early Christian Worship
• Shaping of the Early Christian Worship

Theology of Orthodox Worship

• The Fundamentals of Orthodox Worship
• Theological Contents of Orthodox Worship
• Worship as Prayer before God

Theology of Sacraments

• The basics of Orthodox Sacraments
• Holy Baptism and Chrismation
• Holy Eucharist

General Introduction

• Organization of the Orthodox Church
• History of the Orthodox Church
• Orthodox Beliefs and Practices
• Common Beliefs with all Christians
• Common Beliefs with Roman Catholics
• Orthodox Distinctives
• Feast Days
• General Features of Orthodox Churches

Branches of Orthodoxy

• Oriental / Pre-Chalcedonian Orthodox Churches
• An Introduction to the Oriental Orthodox Churches
• The Armenian Apostolic Church
• The Syriac Orthodox Church
• The Orthodox Church of India
• The Coptic Orthodox Church
• The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
• The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church
• Eastern Orthodox churches
• Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
• Russian Orthodox Church
• The Romanian Orthodox Church
• The Church of Greece
• Bulgarian Orthodox Church
• The Serbia Orthodox Church
• The Church of Cyprus
• The ancient church of Sinai
• Church of Albania
• The Orthodox Church of Finland
• The Polish Orthodox Church
• Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia
• The Church of Alexandria
• The Greek Patriarchate of Antioch
• Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem
• Orthodox Church of Georgia
• Orthodox Church of Poland
• Orthodox Church in America
• Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church

Difference between Oriental & Eastern Orthodox Churches
Common Characteristics of the Orthodox Church: One, Holy. Catholic, and Apostolic

• Global Family, Vision of Mission and Search for Meaning; A Few Basics
• Aspects of Evangelization in the New Testament
• Malankara Orthodox Church in the Mission Field
• ‘Remembering the Poor’ in the Age of Globalization
• Church’s Mission towards the otherly Abled people
• Education As Mission: A Santhomian Approach

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