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The Rule of Faith

Catechetical Materials for Parish Use

Month: June 2017

Episode 16 – Light of Light

In this sixteenth episode, we consider why the Creed speaks of God as Light, and how this phrase affirms both the full divinity of the Son, and His Oneness with the Father through the use of what Fr. John McGuckin calls "buttressing synonyms" (The Path of Christianity, page 302). Length: 8 minutes, 30 seconds

Direct Link: Episode 16 - Light of Light

Posted on June 18, 2017September 24, 2025 by Fr. AnthonyPosted in The Rule of Faith Podcast2 Comments

Episode 15 – Before All Ages

In this fifteenth episode, we consider how the Creed affirms that the Son of God is timeless and eternal, and how it uses the words and ideas of the finite universe to speak of the Creator of that universe, and everything within it. Length: 10 minutes, 20 seconds.

Direct Link: Episode 15 - Before All Ages

Posted on June 11, 2017September 24, 2025 by Fr. AnthonyPosted in The Rule of Faith PodcastLeave a comment

Episode 14 – The Firstborn of Many Brethren

In this fourteenth episode, we consider how we can speak about an infinite God with finite words, and what it means to say that Jesus Christ is the Only-Begotten Son of God.  Length: 10 minutes, 11 seconds.

Direct Link: Episode 14 - The Firstborn of Many Brethren

Posted on June 4, 2017September 24, 2025 by Fr. AnthonyPosted in The Rule of Faith PodcastLeave a comment

Religious Education Materials for the Family

This site provides the weekly reading selections for the Religious Education Initiative. These readings are intended for use in the home by Orthodox Christian families, as well as in catechetical schools in the parishes.

How to use this material:

The members of each household should gather together three times a week (we recommend Monday, Wednesday, & Friday). 

One family member (the head of household or whoever they ask to do the day’s reading) should read aloud the selection, and then guide the family through the discussion questions. It can also be very helpful if one parent reads the selection, and the other leads the family through the discussion questions. We make a point to provide at least one point of interest for whoever leads the discussion, as an italicized answer to the first question. You can find more thoughts on the video recordings on the Youtube playlist.

Feel free to come up with questions of your own, or talk freely about the passage and what you think about it. The best approach we have found in using these questions in the Bible Study and Sunday School classes is to ask each person the first question (“What did you notice about this reading?”) in turn, and to discuss those answers. Those answers often lead to a discussion of other topics, and if that happens, there’s no need to ask the other questions, although it is often helpful to ask the 4th question (“Was there anything that confused or bothered you?”) of the group at large. If you aren’t able to answer those questions yourself, please send them on to Fr. Anthony, and he’ll make a point to answer them.

Most days, the reading will only take a couple minutes, leaving plenty of time for discussion without stretching beyond 10 minutes or so. Parents should not feel that they HAVE to read the entire thing. If there are mainly younger children in the home, feel free to pick a shorter selection from the reading provided. But remember as well – the goal of this is for the kids (and for all of us) to grow accustomed to readings that we probably won’t understand the first time we hear. It may be a good thing for even younger kids to learn to listen to their parents or older siblings read Scripture that they don’t understand right away…they will learn soon enough.

During the first round of the REI, we also recorded videos for each reading, including the reading itself and a brief reflection about the reading. We have not yet done this for the second round, but anyone that wishes can still watch the videos from Fr. Anthony and see what he has to say about these passages; early in Year 1 there will be many changes to the original cycle of readings, but they should normalize as time goes by, and we may resume making the recordings once the schedule stabilizes. The other option is to watch the video of the parish Bible Study once it posts each Wednesday, as these discussions will be up to date. That link is provided as well. The videos can serve as a chance for parents to prepare for the readings with their kids, or even as a backup in case the family isn’t able to do the readings together — everyone can watch/listen to the videos, either together or separately.

The Playlist for Fr. Anthony’s reflections on these readings in their initial iteration may be found below: 

REI Youtube Playlist
REI Bible Study Playlist

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Daily Family Prayers

Along with these readings, we urge families to pray together each day, using the Trisagion Prayers, as given here, followed by a Psalm. We will change the Psalm each month, so that we may learn to pray with the Psalter, as faithful Christians have done since the very beginning.

Trisagion Prayers
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
Glory to You, Christ our God, our hope, O Lord, Glory to You.

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, present everywhere and fulfilling all things, treasury of blessings and source of Life, come and abide in us, cleanse us of every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

All Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your Name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Come, let us worship and bow down to God our King.
Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ our King and our God. 
Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ Himself, our King and our God. 

Psalm 10
A Psalm of David. To the Chief Musician.


In the Lord I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain?"
For look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?
The Lord is in His Holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

The Lord tries the righteous, but the wicked and him that loves violence, His soul hates.
Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone and a horrible tempest; This shall be the portion of their cup.

For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to Holy Spirit, both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God (x3)

Lord, have mercy (x3)

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

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