Orthodoxy & Classical Education
Summary
At Three Hierarchs Orthodox Christian High School, our classical approach to education is built upon the core values, ideals, and virtues of truth, justice, wisdom, courage, beauty, faith, love, holiness, hope, and humility. Our goal is to nurture within our students intellectual acuity, moral uprightness, emotional balance, spiritual resilience, cultural refinement, compassion, and physical health.
Curriculum: Why Classical? Why Orthodox?
Classical education and Orthodoxy are the connection of Logic and Faith. True knowledge is gained through intellect and piety. This connection was achieved and demonstrated by the Three Holy Hierarchs, the patron saints of our school: St. Basil the Great, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Gregory the Theologian. Through their piety, these Fathers of our faith taught us the inscrutable mysteries of the revealed Trinitarian God. In our courses, we strive to demonstrate this same unity of intellectuality and spirituality.
Our High School unites Classical Education and the Orthodox faith. From the classical tradition, we utilize the Ancient Greek language, philosophy, literature, and history. From the Orthodox faith, we rely upon the Holy Scriptures, teachings of the Fathers of the Church, and the writings of modern saints and theologians, such as St. Nektarios of Aegina, St. Justin Popovic, St. Nikolai Velimirovic, George Florovsky, and Alexander Schmemann. Our students learn to see how our faith completes the knowledge of the Ancients.
Our curriculum is designed to liberate the student’s mind. We foster logical and critical thinking, develop eloquent communication skills, and encourage an Orthodox Christian character. We prepare them to excel as professionals, but more importantly, as persons.
Key components of our curriculum encompass philosophy, logic, critical thinking, rhetoric, history, psychology, literature, grammar, syntax, poetry, mathematics, science, computer sciences, ethics, arts, religion, theology, and physical education. In addition to academic learning, our curriculum embeds the divine wisdom of the Old and New Testament, recognizing God as the ultimate Philosopher and Christ as the guiding Teacher. The holistic approach of our curriculum aims at educating the entire human being - mind, body, heart, and soul.
How is the Curriculum Taught?
We utilize traditional and modern methods of teaching, including: the Socratic dialectics, projects, problem-solving, learning-by-doing, individual and group instruction, tutorship, visual and computer technology. These methods of teaching have been developed by great educators and teachers such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, Cicero, Quintilian, St. Basil the Great, St. John Chrysostom, St. Gregory the Theologian, John Locke, Jean J. Rousseau, Maria Montessori, Johann H. Pestalozzi, Friedrich Froebel, John Dewey, Johann F. Herbert, Jan Amos Comenius, Mortimer Adler, Robert Hutchins, Werner Jaeger, and developmental psychologists such as Jean Piaget, Eric Erikson, and Laurence Kohlberg.
Knowing God, Knowing Self, and Always Striving
The heart of our academic environment is centered upon the revelation that the Logos, Jesus Christ, became flesh and dwelt among us, as so beautifully revealed by St. John the Evangelist. This is not merely a historical event, but the revelation of our potential as human persons: to become like God, through His Incarnation. All true knowledge is based upon this reality.
Our educational setting embraces that our students must also come to know themselves, as expressed in Socratic philosophy. Encountering the Truth, Jesus Christ, requires that we encounter ourselves. True education requires self-examination. As we grow in the knowledge of our Lord and ourselves, we experience the reality that we are created by a philanthropic God. This God loves us and continuously cares for us, as we are. When we learn this truth, we learn to be philanthropic with those around us.
Furthermore, our classical education is based on the Homeric philosophy of “striving for excellence” (Αιέν Αριστεύειν) in every aspect of life. This discipline motivates us to excel academically and spiritually, no matter the circumstances. This philosophy prepares our students for the opportunities of college, career, and family life.
Why Greek?
Our classical education is also based on the Ancient Greek language which is the foundation of many languages of Western Civilization. It is important to state that 37% of the English language words, and 94% of the modern Medical Terminology derive their words from the Ancient Greek language. Ancient and Modern Greek languages are not just means of communication but constitute classical education themselves because they reflect the content of all arts and sciences. These languages are educative and humanistic with moral, intellectual, and literary qualities. The Ancient Greek language is providing a treasure of paideia (humanistic education). With a knowledge of the Ancient Greek language, students can read and understand the theological doctrines of the New Testament and the divine teachings of the Orthodox Church Fathers.