The American Orthodox Catholic Church, Western Rite

The Catechism: What We Believe

Catachesis

Taken in the sense of "the act of teaching" and "the knowledge imparted by teaching", this term is synonymous with CATECHESIS and CATECHISM. Didaskalia, didache, in the Vulgate, doctrina, are often used in the New Testament, especially in the Pastoral Epistles. As we might expect, the Apostle insists upon "doctrine" as one of the most important duties of a bishop (1 Timothy 4:13, 16; 5:17; 2 Timothy 4:2, etc.).

The word katechesis means instruction by word of mouth, especially by questioning and answering. Though it may apply to any subject-matter, it is commonly used for instruction in the elements of religion, especially preparation for initiation into Christianity. The word and others of the same origin occur in St. Luke's Gospel: "That thou mayest know the verity of those things in which thou hast been instructed" (katechethes, in quibus eruditus es -- i, 4). In the Acts, xviii, 25, Apollo is described as "instructed [katechemenos, edoctus] in the way of the Lord". St. Paul uses the word twice: "I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct [katecheso, instruam] others also" (1 Corinthians 14:19); and "Let him that is instructed [ho katechoumenos, is qui catechizatur] in the word, communicate to him that instructs [to katechounti, ei qui catechizat] him, in all good things" (Galatians 6:6). Hence the word, with its technical meaning of oral religious instruction, passed into ecclesiastical use, and is applied both to the act of instructing and the subject-matter of the instruction. The word catechism was also formerly used for the act of instructing ("To say ay, and no, to these particulars, is more than to answer in a catechism" -- As You Like It, act iii, sc. 2), as catéchisme is still used in French; but it is now more properly applied to the little printed book in which the questions and answers are contained. (New Advent)

A Summary of Our Faith: The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Creator, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light,

true God from true God, begotten, not made,

of one being with the Father; through Him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven,

by the power of the Holy Spirit was born of the Virgin Mary

and became fully human.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered death and was buried.

On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

Who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

and has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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