Skip to content

The Ancient Path

"I am the Vine, you are the branches."

John 15:5

A catechesis drawn from the Fathers, tiered across three depths so the inquirer at his first Liturgy and the lifelong Orthodox reading Palamas meet the same truth at the level that fits them.

The Encounter

Before doctrine — the four nodes that ground everything.

  1. The Hunger Inquirer
  2. God as Mystery Inquirer
  3. How We Know Inquirer
  4. What We Confess Inquirer

The Faith

What God has revealed and done.

  1. God is One Inquirer
  2. The Holy Trinity Inquirer
  3. The Attributes of God Inquirer
  4. God the Father Inquirer
  5. God the Father Inquirer
  6. God the Son Inquirer
  7. God the Holy Spirit Inquirer
  8. God the Son Inquirer
  9. The Divine Attributes Inquirer
  10. God the Holy Spirit Inquirer
  11. The Life of the Trinity is Love Inquirer
  12. The Knowledge of God Inquirer
  13. Creation as Gift Inquirer
  14. Providence Inquirer
  15. The Angels Inquirer
  16. Man as Image Inquirer
  17. Paradise Inquirer
  18. The Fall Inquirer
  19. The Mystery of Salvation Inquirer
  20. The Incarnation Inquirer
  21. The Two Natures Inquirer
  22. The Life of Christ Inquirer
  23. The Transfiguration Inquirer
  24. The Passion Inquirer
  25. The Resurrection Inquirer
  26. Ascension and Pentecost Inquirer
  27. The Holy Theotokos Inquirer
  28. The Holy Theotokos Inquirer
  29. Essence and Energies Inquirer
  30. Apophatic Theology Inquirer
  31. The Last Things Inquirer
  32. The Liturgical Year Inquirer
  33. The Nativity of Christ Inquirer
  34. Theophany Inquirer
  35. Holy Pascha Inquirer

Worship

How we enter and participate.

  1. Why We Build Churches Inquirer
  2. The Parts of the Church Inquirer
  3. Holy Icons Inquirer
  4. Sacred Vestments Inquirer
  5. What is Liturgy? Inquirer
  6. The Liturgy of the Word Inquirer
  7. The Liturgy of the Faithful Inquirer
  8. Holy Communion Inquirer
  9. Holy Baptism Inquirer
  10. Holy Chrismation Inquirer
  11. Holy Confession Inquirer
  12. Holy Orders Inquirer
  13. Holy Matrimony Inquirer
  14. Holy Unction Inquirer

Life in Christ

Who we become.

  1. The Ten Commandments Catechumen
  2. The Beatitudes Catechumen
  3. Perfection of the Law Catechumen
  4. Prayer is the Life of the Soul Catechumen
  5. Conditions of Prayer Catechumen
  6. The Lord's Prayer Catechumen
  7. The Jesus Prayer Catechumen
  8. Orthodox Fasting Catechumen
  9. Almsgiving Catechumen
  10. Monasticism Catechumen
  11. Faith Catechumen
  12. Hope Catechumen
  13. Love Catechumen
  14. The Passions & Virtues Catechumen

Other Paths

Lessons not yet grafted into the main vine.

  1. One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Inquirer
  2. The Church as Mother Inquirer
  3. The Local and Universal Church Inquirer
  4. The Angelic Realm Inquirer
  5. Apophatic and Cataphatic Theology Inquirer
  6. Ascension and Pentecost Inquirer
  7. The Moral and Ascetic Life Inquirer
  8. Holy Baptism Inquirer
  9. Holy Chrismation Inquirer
  10. Two Natures, One Person Inquirer
  11. The Church — Body of Christ Inquirer
  12. The Commandments Inquirer
  13. The Ecumenical Councils Inquirer
  14. Creation and the Cosmos Inquirer
  15. What is Holy Tradition? Inquirer
  16. The Living Tradition Inquirer
  17. Scripture within Tradition Inquirer
  18. How to Read Scripture Inquirer
  19. The Old Testament in the Church Inquirer
  20. The Ecumenical Councils Inquirer
  21. The Fathers as Theological Authority Inquirer
  22. Dogma, Canon, and Theology Inquirer
  23. Heresy and Why It Matters Inquirer
  24. The Orthodox and the Others Inquirer
  25. The Divine Essence and Energies Inquirer
  26. The Divine Liturgy Inquirer
  27. The Divine Names and Attributes Inquirer
  28. What is the Church? Inquirer
  29. The Laity and the Royal Priesthood Inquirer
  30. Martyria, Diakonia, Leitourgia Inquirer
  31. The Church Expecting Inquirer
  32. The Kingdom and Resurrection Inquirer
  33. The Holy Eucharist Inquirer
  34. Faith, Works, and Synergy Inquirer
  35. The Fall and Original Sin Inquirer
  36. Fasting and the Fasts Inquirer
  37. The Twelve Great Feasts Inquirer
  38. The Liturgy of the Hours Inquirer
  39. Icons and Sacred Space Inquirer
  40. The Incarnation of the Logos Inquirer
  41. The Jesus Prayer and Hesychasm Inquirer
  42. Death, Judgment, and Hades Inquirer
  43. The Liturgical Year Inquirer
  44. Matins and the All-Night Vigil Inquirer
  45. Forms of Monastic Life Inquirer
  46. The History of Orthodox Monasticism Inquirer
  47. Hesychasm and Interior Prayer Inquirer
  48. Monasticism and the World Inquirer
  49. The Monastic Vocation Inquirer
  50. The Other Holy Mysteries Inquirer
  51. The Passion of Christ Inquirer
  52. The Passions and Virtues Inquirer
  53. Prayer and the Spiritual Life Inquirer
  54. The Priesthood and Hierarchy Inquirer
  55. Divine Providence Inquirer
  56. The Life and Ministry of Christ Inquirer
  57. Repentance and Metanoia Inquirer
  58. The Resurrection Inquirer
  59. The Saints and Communion Inquirer
  60. The Nature of Salvation Inquirer
  61. The Second Coming Inquirer
  62. Theosis Inquirer
  63. The Holy Theotokos Inquirer
  64. Holy Tradition Inquirer
  65. The Transfiguration Inquirer
  66. God and the Holy Trinity Inquirer
  67. God and the Holy Trinity Inquirer
  68. Vespers and Compline Inquirer
  69. Almsgiving and Mercy Inquirer

Theosis

The end of the path is union with God.