(“The Mirror” by the Russian artist Vladimir Kireev)
Intro to Orthodoxy–Why and What
Whether you’re new or a long-experienced Orthodox Christian, there will be something for you in online classes during the first half of 2025 on the civil calendar (7533 on the Church calendar). These classes are for inquirers, catechumens, and parish members. They will also better equip long-time Orthodox Christians in our parish’s region for missionary work, and just sustaining faith in our challenging world. The course is co-sponsored by St. John’s and the Bucknell University Orthodox community. All are welcome from our local and Bucknell communities with a curiosity about Orthodoxy.
When and Where, How and Who
Starting Sat. Jan. 11, classes will meet on Saturdays from 10 to 11 a.m. via Zoom, from January through June (with occasional rescheduling for Church observances). The classes are free, and will be led by Priest Dr. Paul Siewers, Rector of St. John’s Church in Winfield, PA, and a long-time Professor at Bucknell University specializing in Christian literature. Please contact Priest Paul for details, at priestpauls@pm.me or 570-863-9039. It is possible to arrange for coming to some classes if you can’t make all. Link for the class: Bucknell.zoom.us/my/kyndeyrn/
Topics for the Course
The first topic will be God’s Providence, the Question of Evil, and God’s Salvation for us, based on a review of Chapters 4 and 5, and a starting incursion into Chapter 6, of Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Protopresbyter Michael Pomzansky. No homework or prior knowledge is required, and scholarships are available for those unable easily to afford the book, which can be obtained as an ebook or print copy. Pages under discussion also will be displayed on the screen at the online discussions.
After finishing discussion of subsequent sections of the book, the class in later weeks will be discussing sections from The Mystical Theology of the Orthodox Church by Vladimir Lossky, and a summary of Hieromonk Seraphim Rose’s writings on Creation by OrthoChristian.com editor Jesse Dominick.
During the course, there will also be discussion and instruction of basic aspects of Orthodox Christian practice of prayer and liturgical life. There will be a special focus on what the Church Fathers called spiritual “purification,” in repentance and humble but energizing self-emptying in Jesus Christ, as the grounding for our illumination, God willing, as both catechumens and long-time Orthodox seeking to deepen our commitment to the faith.
About your Instructor
Priest Dr. Paul Siewers unworthily was baptized into the Orthodox Church 25 years ago, and is a graduate of the Pastoral School of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia with a Diploma in Pastoral Theology, as well as having received liturgical training at Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary in Jordanville. Orthodox Christian Chaplain at Bucknell University, he also has been a professor of literature there for more than 20 years. An award-winning teacher, he is an honored former professional journalist who continues to write for public and scholarly venues on Orthodox Christianity and culture. He has co-edited books on Orthodoxy and culture published by two Orthodox Christian seminaries, and has co-edited or written five other scholarly books and many scholarly articles focused on early Christian literature and Orthodox philosophy. He was a founding member of St. John’s in 2015, and since then has served there as Warden, Reader, Subdeacon, Deacon, Priest, and now Rector. He has lived with his family in Lewisburg for more than 20 years. A sinner, he asks your prayers. Glory to God!
Please be in touch for more information: priestpauls@pm.me, or 570-863-9039.