The Essentials
AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CATECHISM
+ARCHPRIEST PAVEL SOUCEK
EDITED BY FATHER JOHN UDICS
ancient faith publishing chesterton, indiana
The Essentials: An Orthodox Christian Catechism
Copyright © 2026 Jacob Soucek
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published by:
Ancient Faith Publishing
A Division of Ancient Faith Ministries 1050 Broadway, Suite 6 Chesterton, IN 46304
All Old Testament quotations, unless otherwise identified, are from the Orthodox Study Bible, © 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology (published by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee) and are used by permission. New Testament quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., and are used by permission.
Cover art by Fr. Pavel Soucek, based on a 17th century Eastern European church; cover design by Sophie Ries
ISBN: 978-1-955890-97-7
Library of Congress Control Number: 2026930535
Printed in the United States of America
Copyright ©2026 by Jacob Soucek. All Rights Reserved. Published by Ancient Faith Publishing.
Foreword
It is both a privilege and a profound personal joy to write this foreword for my father’s work. Father Pavel Soucek was not only a devoted priest and scholar but also a man whose life bore constant witness to the power of faith, perseverance, and truth. For those who knew him, his wisdom and unwavering love for God were the marks of a soul entirely given to the service of Christ and His Church.
Growing up, I saw firsthand the depth of his conviction and the sincerity of his calling. Faith was not, for him, a mere intellectual pursuit but was how he lived his life. Whether he was studying Scripture, preparing sermons, or patiently answering the questions of those new to the Faith, my father’s heart was always turned toward one
goal: to help others encounter the living truth of God through the Orthodox Church.
His journey was far from easy. From his youth in communist Czechoslovakia, where the open practice of faith came with real risk, to his years of theological searching in the West, my father’s path was marked by sacrifice and steadfast courage. He sought not comfort, but truth. And when he found that truth in the Orthodox Faith, he embraced it with the same humility and joy that characterized every aspect of his priesthood.
This book—The Essentials: An Orthodox Christian Catechism—is in many ways the culmination of his life’s work. It is written not only for theologians or scholars but for all who hunger to understand what it means to live as an Orthodox Christian. Every page reflects his pastoral heart and his desire to make the profound truths of the Faith understandable, practical, and alive.
For those who read these words today, know that you are holding something deeply personal: not just a book but a reflection of my father’s soul. His life was a living catechism—rooted in prayer, illuminated by study, and expressed through love.
Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at https://store.ancientfaith.com/the-essentials-an-orthodox-christian-catechism/
Artwork by Fr. Pavel Soucek
May this work continue to guide seekers, strengthen believers, and remind us all that truth, when sought with humility and faith, will always lead us home—to Christ.
May his memory be eternal.
—Jacob Soucek Son of Archpriest Pavel Soucek
essentials x
Copyright ©2026 by Jacob Soucek.
Note from the Editors
When +Fr. Pavel Soucek completed this work in 1999, many differences existed in liturgical practices within the various ethnic and cultural communities that make up the Orthodox Church worldwide. During his pastoral ministry, Fr. Pavel served a number of parishes in the Orthodox Church of America (OCA) and, as such, his book is oriented to the traditions of that jurisdiction, which has its roots in Russian and Slavic Orthodoxy. In preparing this little book for publication, we recognized that our readership today is heavily pan-Orthodox and includes many converts and inquirers into the Faith who encompass various jurisdictions and cultural traditions within Orthodoxy. Accordingly, we have attempted to present a version of this catechism
that can be understood by members of any Orthodox parish regardless of jurisdiction or location.
The primary purpose of this book is to emphasize the basics of Orthodox Christianity, and it is simply not possible to cover all of the different practices and traditions that still exist between and amongst Orthodox jurisdictions and dioceses down to individual churches at the parish level. We feel we have done our best to present these differences (where necessary) as we understand them, while remaining true to Fr. Pavel’s intended message.
Most importantly, we ask our readers to dwell on the one essential truth that clearly shines forth in this work and in Fr. Pavel’s life, that the fundamental beliefs, teachings, and worldview of the Orthodox Faith have remained unchanged over the Church’s two thousand–plus year history.
The Symbol of the Orthodox Faith—The Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father; by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at https://store.ancientfaith.com/the-essentials-an-orthodox-christian-catechism/
for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He arose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets.
In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.1
A Brief Explanation of the Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible
1 https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/prayers/symbol-of-faith.
There is only one God. He is truly our heavenly Father for He gives us life, cares and provides for us, teaches us, guides and protects us, and limitlessly loves us. Because we all are His sons and daughters, He gives us, as our inheritance, His heavenly Kingdom.
This one and only God exists in three Divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is the Most Holy Trinity. Each Divine Person is an individual yet, being one God, they cannot be divided. And each has, in fullness, the very same Divinity and all the qualities and attributes of that Divinity. Whatever one Person is, the other two are also. Whatever one has, the other two have as well. Where one is, there are the other two. There are three Divine Persons, but not three Gods, only one. This, of course, cannot be grasped with our minds.
It is not possible to list all God’s attributes. He is almighty because He does whatever He pleases. There is nothing He cannot do. He is eternal for He has no beginning and no end in His existence. There never was a moment when God did not exist. He is all-knowing, for He knows everything