ORTHODOX SYRIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF THE EAST NORTH EAST AMERICAN DIOCESE Centralized Examination 2012 Teachers Training Certification Program TTC EXAMINATION Reg. No.: June 24, 2012 Examination Rules Examination Rules 1. Total time limit for this examination is two hours. 2. Do not write your name anywhere on exam booklet. 3. Return the entire exam booklet upon completion. 4. Students may answer in Malayalam. 5. Students may not leave exam hall until 60 minutes have expired. 6. Please use only black or blue ink. Pencils are NOT allowed. 7. If needed, please use the separate answer sheets provided, separate answer sheets must have student registration number filled out. 8. No electronics or communicative devices. (including cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDA),iPods, etc.)
ORTHODOX SYRIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF THE EAST NORTH EAST AMERICAN DIOCESE Centralized Examination - 2012 TTC Time: 2 hours Total points: 100 Note: This examination is administered to future teachers of our Sunday Schools. The questions contained in this examination package are mainly on the subjects covered in the 2011 syllabus for the TTC Examination. Other Bible related, and our Orthodox Church related general knowledge questions are also included in this examination package. Part I: Fill in the blanks (20 Points) Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate word(s) as given in the prescribed syllabus. 1. The first council in the life of the Christian was assembled in which is recorded in the book of the of the Apostles. 2. Heretical were examined and by ecumenical. 3. Deacon Athanasius explained the faith showing how the is of one essence with the Father. 4. Dioscorus, the Patriarch of headed the second council of held in 441 A.D. Centralized Examination TTC 2012 Page 1
5. St. Philoxenos of Mabbug is one of the prominent saints of the Church who fought against the teachings. 6. St. George was a in the Roman Army during the time of Emperor who persecuted Christians at the beginning of the 4 th century A.D. 7. In the latter part of the 19 th century A.D., there lived a Metropolitan who was powerful like Prophet and zealous like the ; his name is. 8. Geevarghese Mar Dionysius became the Malankara in A.D. 1909 and led the Church until his death in A.D., the year when the Church Constitution was adopted. 9. St. Antony,, and St. Basil stand out among the great founders of. 10. The monk trains himself to become a of God and his. 11. The Old Testament was written in language and the first writer was. 12. In many and various ways, spoke of old to our fathers by the. (Heb 1:1). Centralized Examination TTC 2012 Page 2
13. Behold, now is the time, behold now is the day of. (2Cor 6:2) 14. St. Paul said, Do you not know that all of us who have been into Christ Jesus, were into his death? (Rom 6:3). 15. asked Ananias, Why filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit? (Acts. 5:3) 16. Fundamentalism is a movement that began in the in the beginning of the 20 th century, A.D. 17. The Malankara bishop H.G. Pathrose Mar was a great missionary who established the mission society called the of the Cross. 18. became the first Christian when King embraced Christianity in the first century A.D. 19. Monks made the three vows of, chastity, and. 20. The of Diamper held in A.D. 1599 took certain decisions by which the Malankara Church was brought under the control of the. Centralized Examination TTC 2012 Page 3
Part II: True or False (15 points) If a statement is True, circle T: and if it is False, circle F T F 1. The Old Testament was first written in Greek language and the first writer was Isaiah. T F 2. The first council in the life of the Church was held at Ephesus. T F 3. Jesus always insisted on using the vocabulary very familiar to His audience. T F 4. St. Gregory of Nyssa was the younger brother of St. Basil, both of whom were greatly influenced by their sister Makrina. T F 5. The Orthodox Bible contains all the original 73 books including the Apocrypha books. T F 6. Genesis and Exodus are considered as historical books of the Bible. T F 7. The Church has the right to modify by adding or reducing the contents of the Bible. Centralized Examination TTC 2012 Page 4
T F 8. Orthodoxy has been free from events that influenced both the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church through the ages. Orthodoxy remained consistent in its views. T F 9. The Catholicos is the ultimate authority in matters of faith and order in the Orthodox Church. T F 10. Celibacy of priests is voluntary in the Orthodox Churches. T F 11. The Seventh Day Adventists observe Sunday as their Sabbath. T F 12. Fundamentalism is an Orthodox movement that began in England T F 13. Deuteronomy is one of a group of books in the Bible known as Pentateuch. T F 14. Christianity has been the greatest force in creating the idea of one world. T F 15. The existence of icons in the Church is of value to the illiterates who can learn through them what they miss in books. Centralized Examination TTC 2012 Page 5
Part III: Word Bank (10 Points) Choose the most appropriate answer from the WORD BANK. 1. Nicea in 325 A.D. 2. Emperor Theodosius the Great 3. The pillar of the faith 4. Ignatius Theophorus 5. Defended the belief of the One Nature 6. Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril 7. Communal monasticism 8. Bishop Jerome 9. The first Church in Jerusalem 10. Irish conversion of Christians by 11. The lamenting prophet 12. The first among the prophets 13. Sale of Indulgence 14. Symbolic icon 15. Aaron s censer 16. The complete English Bible 17. Mar Gregorios Balagram in Yacharam 18. The first Christian City 19. Papyrus 20. St. Athanasius Centralized Examination TTC 2012 Page 6
WORD BANK King Abgar St. Patrick Virgin Mary Moses Jeremiah Codex St. Pachomius The Middle Ages St. Severus of Antioch St. Cyril of Alexandria Bearer of God Defender of the faith Council of Constantinople Absolute socialism 14 th century A.D. H.G Geevarghese Mar Osthatheos 318 bishops and priests Malankara Sabha Bhashuran Vulgate a lamb bearing the cross Part IV: Definitions (15 Points) Define the following terms. 1. Apocrypha 2. Baskiyomo 3. Burksa 4. Chrism Centralized Examination TTC 2012 Page 7
5. Exorcism 6. Glossolalia 7. Halleluiah 8. Holy Synod 9. Kohono 10. Luthiniya 11. M shamshono 12. Nibiyanmar 13. Sedhara 14. Sthomenkalos 15. Theotokos Centralized Examination TTC 2012 Page 8
Part V: Short Answers (12 Points) Answer any SIX (6) of the following topics, at the end of the booklet or use extra sheets. Please include the Question numbers with your answers. 1. Who are the Adventists? Why are they called so? 2. The argument of the First Cause is to prove the existence of God. Explain. 3. List the five doctrines which the Fundamentalists consider as fundamentals of Christian faith. 4. Children by virtue of their innocence are most eligible to receive blessings from God. Explain in relation to infant baptism in our Church. 5. What was the reason for which the Coonen Cross Oath was taken? 6. Briefly describe the Synod of Diamper and its impacts on Malankara Orthodox Church. 7. What is the Galileo Episode? 8. Discuss the difference between the Orthodox view and the views of other Churches on the question of Church Authority. 9. How should we use our God-given talents? 10. Why do we consider the Bible as the Scripture? Centralized Examination TTC 2012 Page 9
Part Vl: Short Essays (12 Points) Answer any FOUR (4) of the following topics, at the end of the booklet or use extra sheets. Please include the Question numbers with your answers. 1. What was the decision of the first council of the Church? How did the members reach this decision? 2. Explain how St. Clement was able to glorify God before Emperor Trajan and how was he martyred? 3. Although the Bible is not considered as a text book of science, some discoveries in science helped interpret many statements in the Bible. Give some examples. 4. Describe the four qualities that characterize the spirit of service, the guide-posts for the lay ministry, as taught by our Lord. 5. Why do we pray for the departed? 6. Briefly describe why the Orthodox Church rejects Fundamentalism 7. What were the main features of Jesus Christ, the evangelist? 8. Discuss the three basic elements of monastic life. Centralized Examination TTC 2012 Page 10
Part VII: Worship Hymn (6 Points) Write one (1) of the following hymns, at the end of the booklet or use extra sheets. Please include the Question numbers with your answers. 1. Paul the blessed...truth and holds it fast. (Poulose shleeho...) OR 2. Come, the time of prayer is here..(two stanzas) (Yachikkendum samayam itha...) Part VIII: Common Prayer (10 Points) Write one (1) of the following prayers in full, at the end of the booklet or use extra sheets. Please include the Question numbers with your answers. 1. Have mercy upon me... (Deyvame ninte krupa pole.(psalm 51)) OR 2. You, that sit in the shelter of the Most High. (Uyarapettavante rehasya sthalathil irickunnavan.(psalms 91 & 121)) Centralized Examination TTC 2012 Page 11