The Longer Catechism Of The Eastern Orthodox Church

"What is Christian hope?" According to the Longer Catechism, Christian hope is "the resting of the heart on God, with the full trust that he ever cares for our salvation, and will give us the happiness he has promised." Succinctly and authoritatively, this and many other questions were asked and answered in St. Philaret of Moscow's Longer Catechism, which he composed in order to assist the faithful in understanding the essentials of the Orthodox Christian faith and way of life. Totaling six hundred and eleven questions and answers, it organizes its subjects on the three pillars of Faith, Hope, and Love, and under each respective heading treats of the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and Beatitudes, and the Ten Commandments. This immensely valuable work has stood the test of time and will continue to be a resource for bishops, priests, deacons, laity, and catechumens, for teaching, learning, and reinforcing the truths of our faith. Also included is St. Philaret's Shorter Catechism, and also a profound and moving sermon by him on the Cross of Christ. Perfect for young and old, for individual study, small groups, and catechism classes, and for inquirers into the Orthodox faith, it is hoped that the trustworthy and sanctified voice of St. Philaret will continue to echo still, edifying and enlightening all those who take up and read.

This is perhaps the most comprehensive work on the Orthodox Church's divine services currently available in the English language. It was originally translated and printed before the Russian Revolution, but has since been re-edited to reflect current standards of English-language liturgical usage. The author begins with a discussion of the nature and origin of Divine services. He describes the church building, the persons who perform divine services and their vestments, the cycles of public worship, Great Vespers, Matins, Divine Liturgy, festal services, and different ministrations: Baptism and Chrismation, the Coronation Anointing of the Tsar, Consecration of a Church, Confession, Ordination, Matrimony, Unction, Prayer Services, Monastic Tonsure and Burial.

Containing: The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, The Athanasian Creed, The Confession of Chalcedon, The Confession of Dositheus, The Shorter and Longer Catechisms of St. Philaret of Moscow, The Catechism of St. Peter Mogila, and The Synodikon of Orthodoxy. The present collection of official and formally approved statements of faith of the Eastern Orthodox Church is, as far as the present compiler is aware, the first time such an endeavor has been attempted in the English language. The reason for such a collection is quite simple: The instruction of the faithful and their edification unto all godliness. Although in these confused days there is an abundance of opinions, there are, sadly, a paucity of clear, thorough, authoritative, and readily available summaries of the Orthodox Faith that have both stood the test of time and also received the official approbation of the Church. The current climate, therefore, needs such a collection, for too many seek to present the faith in the light of their own wisdom. But, as we pray in the prayers after the Divine Liturgy to be delivered from the slavery of our own reasoning, it is the editor's prayer that this collection of sacred Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms will raise up a generation of faithful Orthodox Christians who, through meditating again and again on the holy truths contained herein, will be both well rounded and deeply grounded in the Faith that was once for all delivered to the saints, and able to withstand in the evil day the ever blowing winds of diverse and strange doctrines and destructive heresies.