What is the Ephesus School?

The Ephesus School is an educational ministry of St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church. Based on the classical Antiochian method, our program is committed to reading and explaining biblical texts in full, offering no classroom materials, curricula, topics or outlines outside of the Bible itself. All ages, toddlers to adult, are welcome.

As part of this ministry, St. Elizabeth hosts a weekly blog intended as a resource for classroom participants, but also for clergy and teachers in other communities.  We hope that all of our visitors find our online resources helpful.

Hollie Benton
Program Coordinator

Winter 2021: Deuteronomy, Gospel Of John

Ephesus School takes place on Sundays after Liturgy (and a brief coffee social) usually around noon. All ages gather for a 10-15 min introduction before breakout sessions which last about 45 minutes.

WINTER SESSION BEGINS ON JANUARY 9, 2021

Helpful Resources

To supplement our study of Deuteronomy and the Gospel of John, students and teachers are encouraged to avail themselves of the following resources:
The Bible as Literature Podcast
Each week, Dr. Richard Benton, Fr. Marc Boulos and guests 
discuss the content of the Bible as literature.   To learn more about the podcast, visit ephesusschool.org. 
Matthew and the Canon
This is the fourth and final volume of Fr. Tarazi's New Testament introduction tetralogy. In addition to his exegesis on the Book of Matthew, Fr. Tarazi discusses the formation of the New Testament canon and the Gospel of Matthew, (OCABS Press, 2009)

OCABS Press was established to educate, inspire and challenge the faithful to recognize the centrality of sound biblical interpretation for life in Christ. To learn more, please visit ocabspress.org. 

Memorization and Recitation  

In addition to the study of Matthew, children and young adults will memorize St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians, using the following text:

Memorize Galatians
Kimberly D. Garcia

Memorize Galatians includes 34 weekly lessons with three processes of memorization: memorization by reading, memorization by hearing (as you read out loud), and memorization by writing. Memorize Galatians is an open-and-memorize Scripture memory system.

Biblical Knowledge

Dear parents, children and teens,

The Ephesus School presents a tremendous opportunity for those who want a top quality church school education for themselves and their children.
Knowledge of the Bible leads to everything, including growth and development in the social and technical sciences. A sound understanding of Scripture is almost always followed by social and intellectual renascence in all areas of human knowledge. Much more than this, unlike self-serving human wisdom(s), the wisdom of God is given to safeguard life for all time and for all of creation, not just humanity. Scripture is our sacred duty as Christians. Its wisdom shows us all that we are and all that we can ever become. As Chrysostom said, "Paul has shown us what man really is."*

Participants in the Ephesus School are offered an excellent biblical formation by highly qualified teachers. Please do not pass up this important opportunity. Give one hour a week to God for your children, honoring his generous provision for humanity, and the good fruit of his wisdom will continue to provide life in its due season.

Spread the Word and encourage others to consider this program.

In Christ,
Fr. Marc Boulos
___
*In Praise of St. Paul, Homily II