Author: J J Overbeck

Publisher:

Published: 2020-10-21

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

This is an updated edition of the 1898 version of St. Peter Mogila's Catechism. It has been newly typeset and, with attention to the Greek and Latin, its language has been updated, and several Scriptural and Patristic citations corrected. Of the original author, St. Peter Mogila (1597-1646) was Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus during a time of great theological need. With Roman Catholics and Protestants in the heat of polemics, St. Peter produced an authoritative Catechism which taught the Orthodox faith in a comprehensive and systematic way. It is arranged in three parts according to the three theological virtues, Faith, Hope, and Love, and through these it offers foundational instruction on the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Beatitudes, and the Ten Commandments. Along the way it discusses the fundamental doctrines of Orthodox Christianity. Although internally it calls itself a Confession, and certainly functions in that capacity, its question and answer format lends itself more aptly to the genre of catechetical instruction, hence its going by that name. Moreover, despite its occasional use of a Latin idiom in the conveyance of some teachings, this is by no means evidence of capitulation to any non-Orthodox sentiments. It is thoroughly Orthodox, and for that matter was forged in great awareness of what makes Orthodox Christianity the fullness of the Christian Faith, distinct from both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. As one will notice from the Letters of Patriarchs Nectarius and Parthenius, also included within the present text, not only was this Catechism composed and approved at the highest levels of the Russian Orthodox Church, this particular Catechism was also given the express personal approval and formal recommendation of the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, respectively, together with over twenty other Bishops and clergy. Further, it was officially received at the Particular Council of Jerusalem held under Dositheus, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, in 1672, in these words: "This [Confession of Peter Mogila] the Eastern Church has entirely received, and does receive." This Catechism is, therefore, together with St. Philaret's, among the foremost Catechisms of the Eastern Church, and as such may be read with great spiritual profit, and rightly belongs in the hands of all Orthodox Christians, Catechumens, and Inquirers.