The Orthodox Catechesis & Spiritual Formation (OCSF) program offers a ten-day intensive course designed to prepare adults to serve as catechists for young children ages three to six.
The course equips catechists with both theological and pedagogical foundations for early childhood spiritual formation. Participants learn to organize and present the curriculum, prepare the Children’s Room learning environment, and utilize hands-on instructional materials designed for young learners. The training includes comprehensive lesson plans, theological background, and patterns for the materials used in instruction.

Because children participate fully in the life of the Church from the earliest age, it is important to consider how they may engage meaningfully in worship and in the broader life of the ecclesial community. The Orthodox Church provides a rich liturgical and sacramental tradition through which even young children may encounter and participate in the worship of God.
While remaining true to Orthodox theological tradition, this program introduces principles derived from Montessori pedagogy. The Montessori method is utilized due to its recognized efficacy in addressing the developmental needs of young children through experiential and hands-on learning. Its inclusion in the program is based solely on pedagogical merit, independent of the personal religious beliefs of Maria Montessori or Sofia Cavalleti.
The early childhood curriculum emphasizes the child’s experience in the Church and focuses primarily on Gospel narratives that reveal the life and love of Jesus Christ. Because young children tend to think concretely, the curriculum includes relatively few Old Testament narratives, which may be interpreted too literally at this developmental stage.
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