Catechist Certification Program
Laying Foundations for Teaching the Faith. A Response to the Church Growth.
St. Vladimir’s Online School of Theology
Intensive Term: April to July 2026
Course Description
This course is a resource for individuals and parishes seeking to launch or to enhance their catechetical programs by investing in human talent who will engage in deep learning with the support and participation of their priest. It is not a catechesis but a training program for aspiring catechists and Church growth directors — professionals who will support their priests or even work full-time in parish life, promoting Church growth in this moment that the Merciful Lord is entrusting to us.
This course is being offered with the blessings of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and His Eminence Metropolitan Saba. Learn to teach the faith and promote Church growth from today's leading Orthodox Christian voices, including both Metropolitan Tikhon and Metropolitan Saba. The incredible lineup of instructors also includes Bishop John (Abdalah), Fr. Michael Nasser, Fr. John E. Parker III, Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, and many, many others (see complete list at the bottom of this page).
The program will be taught in three phases:
Phase 1: Accelerating Church Growth
Phase 2: Everyone is an Evangelist and Catechist
Phase 3: Church Growth and Catechism in Our Time
The enrollment period will end one week prior to the start of the course on Monday, April 13, 2026. The syllabus and Canvas course platform will be available on April 16, 2026. All necessary information will be emailed following registration.
Registration is Closed. If you’re interested in a future cohort, please fill out the form below.
Course Structure
Building upon the previous two successful cohorts led by Fr. Kirill Sokolov, this cohort will be an entirely synchronous offering, and the duration of the program has been reduced to 15 weeks, with the class meeting twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:00–9:15 PM Eastern Time. Each session will begin with 45-minute presentations, followed by 30 minutes of questions and answers, beginning on April 20, 2026, and concluding on July 30, 2026.
The Course will be facilitated by Fr. Michael Nasser who will also offer a few of the presentations, but the great majority of the sessions will be presented by some of the most prominent Orthodox leaders and scholars in North America. Many of them will supply recommended readings or videos to read or watch in preparation for their presentations. Each session will be recorded and available for those unable to attend a session or for any participant to review.
Each participant’s parish priest will have no course obligations, but is invited to attend a few of the sessions. Additionally, guidance will be given throughout the course to the participants on ways to increase the synergy of priest and catechist/Church growth director in each particular parish.
All participants completing the course will be issued a Certificate and a pin by St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.
This is a pass/fail course.
The sessions focus on topics such as:
Basic review of key biblical, church historical, theological, and liturgical subjects;
Management of group dynamics;
Awareness of various resources for catechetical training;
Guidance in approaching contemporary questions;
Encouragement of stewardship and devotion to the local parish;
Raising matters of worldview and self-knowledge in the contemporary context.
Course Objectives
Drawing on the experience of clergy and lay teachers, this course is designed to:
Teach the catechist how to introduce Orthodox Christianity to inquirers, catechumens, and parishioners;
Direct catechists to existing resources on key themes in the life and teaching of the Church;
Help configure these resources in ways useful to each specific parish setting;
Provide guidance in leading discussions on sensitive issues;
Help clergy and their potential catechists/Church Growth directors to develop a close relationship, and to come to a modus operandi in their specific parish;
Encourage potential catechists to be aware of their own presuppositions, and of the variety of backgrounds from which catechumens come; and
Encourage clergy to broaden their teaching and outreach, entrusting aspects of this ministry to certified catechists/Church Growth directors.
Course Requirements
Attendance (live or by watching recordings)
Participation in the Course Discussion Forum, allowing participants to interact with their fellows in reflection on each session’s offerings.
An outline for a presentation on a topic of the participant’s choosing, to be submitted on the last day of the course.
Registration is Closed. If you’re interested in a future cohort, please fill out the form below.
Course Schedule
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Monday, April 20, 2026
Organization, Introductions, Expectations
Very Rev. Michael Nasser (course mentor) / Arpina BullockianThursday, April 23, 2026
Christian Leadership and Church Growth
Pdn Peter DanilchickMonday, April 27, 2026
Developing a Parish Evangelism Mindset
Nathan Hoppe, DMinThursday, April 30, 2026
Social Action Activities & Parish Partnerships
Very Rev. Justin MathewsMonday, May 4, 2026
Reading the Room: Catechism and Catechumens
Very Rev. John E. Parker III, DMinThursday, May 7, 2026
How an Orthodox Catechist Teaches Prayer and Spirituality Part I
Most Blessed Tikhon (Mollard), Metropolitan of All America and Canada, Orthodox Church in AmericaMonday, May 11, 2026
External and Internal Communication
Michelle MoujaesThursday, May 14, 2026
How an Orthodox Catechist Teaches Prayer and Spirituality Part II
Most Rev. Saba (Isper), Archbishop of New York, Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North AmericaMonday, May 18, 2026
How to handle expansion and parishes that have more and fewer resources
Very Rev. Christopher Foley -
Thursday, May 21, 2026
The Church and the Creed
Rev. Demetrios Harper, PhDMonday, May 24, 2026
How an Orthodox Catechist Teaches Scripture
Michael Legaspi, PhDThursday, May 28, 2026
The Primacy of the Gospel, “What is the Good News?”
Very Rev. George Parsenios, PhDMonday, June 1, 2026
How an Orthodox Catechist Teaches the Fathers
Very Rev. Bogdan Bucur, PhDThursday, June 4, 2026
How an Orthodox Catechist Teaches Church History
Ionut-Alexandru Tudorie, PhDMonday, June 8, 2026
Survey of American Religions
Very Rev. Philip LeMasters, PhD
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Artificial Intelligence and Orthodoxy
Rev. Dn Michael HyattMonday, June 15, 2026
Contentious Issues Part I
Very Rev. Michael NasserThursday, June 18, 2026
Contentious Issues Part II
Very Rev. Michael Nasser / Ana Iltis, PhD -
Monday, June 22, 2026
What does a new Orthodox Christian need to know?
Very Rev. Michael NasserThursday, June 25, 2026
Learning Theory vs Practice of Orthodoxy
Right Rev. John (Abdalah), DMin, Diocese of Worcester and New England, Antiochian ArchdioceseMonday, June 29, 2026
The Catechumens Experience of Liturgy Part I
Right Rev. Anthony (Michaels), Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, Antiochian ArchdioceseThursday, July 2, 2026
Living in a Hierarchy: Correct Ideas of Obedience, Freedom, Discipline
Very Rev. Michael Nasser / Archimandrite Hrisostom (Ciuciu), PhDMonday, July 6, 2026
The Catechumens Experience of Liturgy Part II
Right Rev. Vasily (Permiakov), PhD, Diocese of the West, Orthodox Church in AmericaThursday, July 9, 2026
How a Catechist teaches the Sacraments of Confession and Communion
Right Rev. Vasily (Permiakov), PhD, Diocese of the West, Orthodox Church in AmericaMonday, July 13, 2026
How does a Catechist respond to trauma and grief?
Sarah Byrne-Martelli, DMinThursday, July 16
How an Orthodox Catechist talks about fasting and the Church Year
Right Rev. Jeremy (Davis), Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest, Antiochian ArchdioceseMonday, July 20, 2026
The Holy Mysteries: Reception of Catechumens, First Confession, and Baptism
Very Rev. Josiah Trenham, PhDThursday, July 23, 2026
Purpose and Roles of Sponsors
Very Rev. Michael NasserMonday, July 27, 2026
How a Catechist Prepares a Lesson Plan
Very Rev. Sergius HalvorsenThursday, July 30, 2026
Sample Lesson presentations. Reflections on Lesson Plans
Very Rev. Michael Nasser
Interested in Future Cohorts?
If you are unable to attend the Spring 2026 term but would like to participate in the future, please let us know! Fill out the form below to be notified when registration opens for our next session.