Online “Introduction to Orthodoxy” class

November 14, 2009 in Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Tags: 101 classes, Bridgeport, Carpatho-Russian Orthodoxy, Christian spirituality, Christianity, church, classes, classes in Christianity, Connecticut, Eastern Christianity, Eastern Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, eastern religion, Eastern spirituality, Fairfield, fairfield county, introduction to Christianity, introduction to Orthodox Christianity, introduction to Orthodoxy, introductory classes, Milford, Moodle classes, New Haven, Norwalk, online classes, Orange, Orthodox Christianity, Orthodox Church, Orthodox Eastern Church, orthodoxy, Orthodoxy 101, religion, religion classes, spirituality, Stratford, Trumbull, Westport

…begins this Monday, November 16, at 7pm Eastern Time (U.S.), from a Connecticut parish of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese (Patriarchate of Constantinople).  It’s free, but Moodle, so you have to sign-up in advance to access it; you also need an email address to confirm your registration.  It’ll webcast live for 7 Monday nights in a row, with audio archives later at some point.

The presenter seems to have been the main “Ask Father” Q&A person on the previous edition of ACROD’s website.  He’ll also be able to take questions for the online class by email, which he’ll answer during the class.

Moodle seems to offer opportunities for a real online community during the class (if “asynchronous”), with blog and forum space available to participants (presumably only for the duration of the class).

For Stratford / Bridgeport-area locals — it’s not just being offered online — this seems to be the St. John’s on Broadbridge Avenue, that’s right off I-95 and a stone’s throw from the Metro North train station.

I’ve signed-up, because I always learn something — and because my disability limits my in-person opportunities.

Interestingly, while New Calendar Orthodox parishes will have begun the Nativity Fast the day before (Sunday), and conclude it the last week of the class, Fr. Peter’s parish is Old Calendar, so won’t start it until Sat. 11/28, and of course Nativity for them is January 7 New Style.  (Yes, U.S. Thanksgiving never falls during the Nativity Fast on the OC.)*

NB: Although the Moodle set-up has room for grading and such, I’ve never heard of a graded Orthodoxy 101 class, so fear not.  I think that option for Moodle customers / users (such as ACROD) just comes with the web/software ‘cyber classroom’ package.

(*–Who says the Old Calendar is slow?  They’ve already celebrated Christmas 2009!! 😉  )