The Arks
Egypt & The Holy Land
The Church as We Know It
Key Movements
Memorization
100

What does the word "ark" mean?

Chest or box from arca. Bonus: arca comes from arcēre which means to enclose or to defend.

100

What is the Via Dolorosa and what does it mean?

The Via Dolorosa is the "path of sorrow" and it maps the journey of Christ to the cross, across 14 stations.

100

What does the word "Pentecost" mean?

Pentecost comes from the Greek Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē) meaning "fiftieth."

100

Who founded monasticism?

St. Antony the Great

100

Have mercy upon me …

O God have mercy upon me (Pslam 56)

200

Noah's ark had one door. What does the single door symbolize?

There's only one way to salvation through Christ

200

How long did the Holy Family stay in Egypt?

The Holy Family stayed a total of 3 years, 5 months, and 3 days.

200

What's the Apostolic Age and how long did it last?

The Apostolic Age is the period in which the Apostles of Christ lived and preached the Christian faith. It accounts for approximately 70 years (approx. from Pentecost on 30 AD to the departure of St. John the Apostle, 100 AD).

200
What is the School of Alexandria (aka Didaskaleion)?

The School of Alexandria was a Catechetical school that started with the goal of helping Catechumens learn doctrine and prepare for baptism. It cont'd to expand into a higher education institution that welcomed all (regardless of age, background, culture, etc.). The school offered a full spectrum of teachings from science, math, and literature to philosophy and Christian theology. 

200

Your __ is prepared from the beginning; You are from ___. 

Throne, everlasting (Psalm 92)

300

How many items did the Ark of the Covenant hold and what are they? 

(1) Tablets of the Law

(2) Manna

(3) The Rod of Aaron

300

Christ during His ministry instructed His disciples to "only go to the lost sheep of Israel." What does that mean?

Christ instructed the disciples to call the Jews first then the Gentiles.

300

Name the four early Apostolic Churches

JARA:

The Church of Jerusalem

The Church of Antioch 

The Church of Rome

The Church of Alexandria

300

Who was Habib Guirgus? What did he start in 1900?

Habib was a seminary student who saw the weak state of education within church and so he started gathering local children on Sundays after liturgy to teach them about Coptic rites, church history, and the lives of the saints. This is the origin of Sunday School.

300

Blessed are the poor in spirit, […]. Blessed are those who mourn, […]. Blessed are the meek, […].

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven 

For they shall be comforted

For they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:1-16)

400

St. Peter compared the flood to something we receive in the church today. What is it and what is the connection he makes?

The flood symbolizes baptism.

Just as Noah was saved through water and wood of the ship we are saved through baptism and the wood of the cross.

400

What happens every year on Bright Saturday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (The Church of the Resurrection)?

The Miracle of the Holy Light. A flame miraculously appears in the tomb of Christ. It's received first by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch then shared with Armenian and Coptic representatives.  

400

What is Apostolic Succession?

Apostolic Succession means that the apostles, ordained by Christ, ordained bishops, presbyters (priests), and deacons through the laying on of hands. 

400

What fuelled the monastic movement?

The fire of martyrdom fuelled monasticism. Despite the seeming end of persecution, many Christians continued to feel convicted to offer themselves wholly as an “acceptable sacrifice” to the Lord so they became monastics. 

400

You are __ who is full of grace. O __, the ___, we praise you, for through the cross of your ___, Hades fell down and death was abolished. 

She, Theotokos, Virgin, Son (Litanies, 6th hour)

500

In what two ways does the Ark of the Covenant apply to us personally today? 

(1) The wilderness = the world

(2) The Ark of the Covenant = our hearts (God's Word lives in us)

500

The Upper Room (also called Cenacle) is the first Church. Name 3 important events that happened there.

(1) The Last Supper

(2) Disciples hid there/ Christ appeared there after the resurrection.

(3) Pentecost 

500

What is a sacrament, and how many does the Coptic Orthodox Church have? Name them.

A sacrament is the main task of the Church in which Christ dispenses Himself to the congregation. There are 7: Baptism, Chrismation, Repentance & Confession, Eucharist, Priesthood, Matrimony, Unction of the Sick.

500

St. Athanasius gives two insights about Christian martyrdom in "On the Incarnation." What are they?

1. Faith > fear in that faith in Christ removes the fear of death. 

2. The way martyrs fearlessly face death is evidence that Christ has already defeated death in His resurrection. 

500

Grant us, O God, a __ time, a ___ conduct, and a ___ life, so that we may ___ your holy and worshipped name, and that, without falling into ___, we may stand before the fearful throne of Your Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and that we, together with all Your saints, glorify You, the Father, who is without beginning, and the Son who is of one essence with You, and the Holy Spirit the Life-Giver, now and forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

Glorious, spotless, peaceful, please, condemnation (Absolution, 6th hour)