Teacher Resources

The contents of this unit span the entire history of the Church, and it touches on many detailed topics. Although some background notes are included in the Teacher Guide, teachers will need a deeper understanding of the material in order to confidently present the lessons.

To make the task of teacher preparation less daunting, a copy of The Ecumenical Patriarchate: A Brief Guide by John Chryssavgis (published by the Order of St. Andrew) is included with each Teacher Pack (DRE item #M18). The most pertinent pages from this brief, colorful book are noted in the Teacher Guide. The Teacher Pack also includes the two DVDs to show during class: “60 Minutes: The Patriarchate” and “The Green Patriarch.”

For some of the lessons, the Teacher Guide also lists several other reference books, in addition to the links provided below.

Lesson 1 Leading Orthodox Christians, Part I

• Thomas FitzGerald, “The Sacraments: Holy Orders”
• Alexander Schmemann, “Clergy and Laity in the Church,” Orthodox Life 1, esp. sections 2–5 (SVS Press, 1959)

Lesson 2 Leading Orthodox Christians, Part II

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• “Simplified Directory of Autocephalous Churches” from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Yearbook
• Act of Congress awarding the Gold Medal to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew “in recognition of his outstanding and enduring contributions toward religious understanding and peace, and for other purposes”
• Official site of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
• Order of St. Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
• Michael H. Missios, “Servant Leadership in Greek Orthodox Parishes,” PRAXIS 10, no. 3 (Spring 2011)

Lesson 5 Reconciling the Body of Christ

• Paulos Menevisoglou, “The Sanctification of the Holy Chrism”
• Thomas Hopko, The Orthodox Faith, Vol. I: Doctrine, “The Symbol of Faith: The Church”
• Society for Orthodox Christian History in the Americas

Lesson 6 Other Faiths

For current information about pan-Orthodox and inter-Christian ecumenical dialogues, go to the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America

Lesson 7 Byzantine Christianity, Part I

• “Our Byzantine Heritage,” the Winter 2011 issue of PRAXIS, for various theme-related articles
  • “Byzantine History: Four Events Everyone Should Know” by Fr. Patrick Viscuso
  • “Hero Veneration: Saints in Byzantium” by James Skedros
• Fergus M. Bordewich, “A Monumental Struggle to Preserve Hagia Sophia,” Smithsonian, December 2008
• Byzantium 1200 for computer reconstructions of the Byzantine monuments
• “Social Justice,” the Winter 2012 issue of PRAXIS, for various theme-related articles

Lesson 9 The Patriarchate in the Ottoman Empire & Modern Turkey

• Article by Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson, “Meeting the Ecumenical Patriarch” from The Archon newsletter

The Green Patriarch

Orthodox Christian statements, news and commentary about ecological issues:

• Orthodox Fellowship of the Transfiguration

Environmental resources from the Ecumenical Patriarchate:

• Halki Summit on Global Responsibility & Environmental Sustainability