Exploring the Beauty of the Orthodox Church through Common Arts

The Orthodox Christian faith utilizes and invokes all the senses in our worship and church life. From the baking of the holy bread, prosphora, to the adorning of our temples for feast days, everything we do and see should facilitate our drawing nearer to the Creator and Maker of the Universe. Our faith engages every sense in the worship of God. From the aroma of freshly baked prosphora to the colors that clothe our churches during the feasts, from the humble grains of kollyva offered in remembrance to the quiet repetition of the Jesus Prayer, the Church invites us to encounter the Creator through the beauty of the created world. This year‑long course immerses students in the living traditions that shape Orthodox liturgical life, helping them understand not only what we do, but why we do it—and how these practices form the heart toward reverence, gratitude, and love.

Throughout the year, students will explore and participate in a rich array of the Orthodox Christian liturgical arts including:

• Kollyva: learning its meaning in memorial services and preparing it according to various traditions
• Phanouropita: discovering the story of St. Phanourios and baking this offering for special intentions
• Liturgical Colors: studying the symbolism, history, and usage of color in Orthodox worship
• Artoklasia: preparing the blessed loaves and understanding their role in festal services
• Prayer Ropes and the Jesus Prayer: exploring the history, theology, and practice of unceasing prayer
• Prosphora: learning the spiritual and practical discipline of baking the bread offered at the Divine Liturgy
• Vasilopita: understanding its tradition and preparing it for the New Year blessing
• Liturgical Vestments: studying their symbolism, structure, and connection to Scripture and tradition
• Flowers and Plants in the Church: learning how creation adorns worship and reflects the beauty of the Kingdom
• Church Architecture: exploring how the very shape of the church building teaches theology
• Others to be determined.

Across these experiences, students will:

• Learn the liturgical, biblical, and historical foundations of each practice.
• Participate directly in preparing or engaging with each tradition.
• Understand how these arts serve the worshiping community and glorify God.
• Develop a deeper appreciation for the beauty, order, and intentionality of Orthodox Christian life.

By the end of the course, students will not only have studied these sacred traditions—they will have lived them. Through hands, heart, and mind, they will discover how the common arts of Orthodoxy shape the soul and invite us into a life of prayer, service, and wonder.

• Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.
• High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.
• Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)
• Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm
• Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:
  1. Visit zoom.us/download.
  2. Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
  3. Open and run the installer on your computer.
  4. In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.
• Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.