ORTHODOX SYRIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF THE EAST DIOCESE OF SOUTH WEST AMERICA Centralized Examination Grade 12 Diploma Model Question Paper Reg. No.: 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 devices (includes cell phones, ipods, etc) 9. Students are allowed to use the Orthodox Study Bible or an NSRV translation of The Holy Bible. Only paper-copies are allowed, and Bibles may only be the OSB or NSRV. Diploma Examination Grade XII Model Question Paper Page 1
Time:2 hrs Points:100 Question 1 Multiple Choice (20 points) Circle the MOST appropriate answer as found in the prescribed texts. 1. The doctrine of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that we believe in is a) Unitarian b) Tritheism c) Trinitarian d) Hierarchical. 2. We believe that the Church the Body of Christ (e.g., Ephesians 1:22-23) a) looks like b) is elected as c) listens to d) is 3. The Church understands the Catholic in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church to mean: a) The Pope b) Full and complete Faith c) Western d) Holy 4. The Sacrament that begins the life of a Christian in the Church is a) Last rites b) Birthday c) Priestly Ordination d) Baptism 5. In the Nicene Creed, we profess that a) Everyone proceeds from Jesus Christ b) Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father c) Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son d) Father sends the Holy Spirit who is the Son 6. By the death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, a) death has been abolished and is no more b) God is no longer angry at mankind c) we are now allowed to eat pork and other types of meat d) everyone is a member of the Church Diploma Examination Grade XII Model Question Paper Page 2
7. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are: a) One person with three faces b) Three persons but one God c) The same and can exist only one at a time d) None of the above 8. The Holy Mystery of Anointing the sick is particularly for the healing of a) Spiritual illness b) Physical illness c) Both a & b d) None of the above 9. We venerate St. Mary as the Theotokos because: a) She is the Mother of God b) She gave birth to Jesus, who later learned to be God c) She had no sin d) She was the wife of St. Joseph 10. In the Nicene Creed, we profess that God created a) Heaven and Hell b) Heaven, Earth and Hell c) Heaven and Earth d) Garden of Eden 11. Christ is younger than the Father and created by God, the Holy Spirit is still Younger than Christ and created by Christ. Who believes in this concept? a) Puritans b) Orthodox c) Jehovah s Witness d) Roman Catholic Diploma Examination Grade XII Model Question Paper Page 3
12. How many times can an Orthodox Christian be baptized? a) One b) Two c) Three d) As many times as needed 13. The following all belong to the family of Oriental Orthodox except the: a) Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church b) Ethiopian Orthodox Church c) Russian Orthodox Churc d) Coptic Orthodox Church 14. The decision of the Jerusalem Council is recorded in which part of the Holy Bible? a) Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans b) Acts of the Apostles c) Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews d) Matthew 5-7 15. Who was the Monastic founder in Mesopotamia, who had a great impact on Syrian and Assyrian Churches? a) St: Athanasius b) St: Ignatius of Antioch c) Bartholomew d) Mar Augin of Clysma 16. Jesus Christ is: a) God but was man in St. Mary s womb b) God who chose to give up divinity and become a man c) Fully man and fully God d) maybe a man or maybe God we do not know 17. The fundamentalist believes only in a) Traditions of early church b) Literal truth of the Bible c) Teaching of the church fathers d) Christian values and the society. 18. Jesus Christ came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Virgin Mary a) for the salvation of mankind b) to punish mankind c) to destroy the enemies of Israel d) to sacrifice Himself and appease God s anger Diploma Examination Grade XII Model Question Paper Page 4
19. Which king of Edessa first embraced Christianity? a) King of Kent, b) King Abgar, d) Leo the great, e) King Akbar. 20. At which Council did the Oriental Orthodox disagree with the other ancient Churches? a) Nicea b) Constantinople c) Ephesus d) Chalcedon Question 2 True or false (10 points) If a statement is True circle T, if it is False circle F 1. T F Jesus Christ was born on Christmas and did not exist before that moment 2. T F St. Mary was a person born without sin 3. T F The Holy Trinity had appeared during the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ 4. T F The Holy Eucharist is symbolic of the bread and wine at the Last Supper 5. T F The Triune God refers to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit 6. T F Protestant Churches believe in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist 7. T F Orthodox Christians believe that Christ was crucified as a vehicle to appease God s wrath that resulted due to the sin of Adam and Eve 8. T F Prior to the Council of Chalcedon, the Oriental, Eastern and Roman Catholic Churches were all in full-communion with each other 9. T F Per the Constitution of our Church, the only entity that claims the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church 10. T F Hinduism is often called the oldest of all major living religions in the world. Diploma Examination Grade XII Model Question Paper Page 5
Question 3. Word meaning (5 Points) Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate Syriac or Greek word. 1. [Halleluiah] Praise the Lord. 2. [Stomankalos] Let us stand well 3. [Habeebai] My beloved ones 4. [Barekmor] Bless me, O Lord 5. [Kuriyelaison] Lord, have Mercy. Question 4 Fill in the blanks (10 Points) Fill in each blank space with the most appropriate word(s) as appears in the prescribed textbooks. 1. These who refuse to believe in the existence of God are called [atheists] 2. In Arianism, Christ was [created] by the Father 3. The city where followers of Christ were first called Christians - [Antioch] (Acts 11:26) 4. The pioneer of solitary monasticism was St. [Anthony] 5. The Oriental Orthodox Churches disagreed and were separated from the other Churches at the Council of [Chalcedon] 6. The Filioque is a phrase found in the version of the Nicene Creed recited by [Roman Catholics] and states that the Holy Spirit [proceeds from the Father and Son] 7. The first person of the Trinity is [God the Father], the second person is [God the Son] and the third person is [God the Holy Spirit] Diploma Examination Grade XII Model Question Paper Page 6
Question 5 Who said to whom? (5 Points) Answer any five (5) of the following questions by providing the name of the speaker and the audience. 1. Today you will be with me in paradise. (St. Luke 23:43) [Jesus Christ to the thief next to Him on the Holy Cross] 2. My Lord and My God. (St. John 20:28) [St. Thomas to Jesus Christ] 3. Woman, behold your son. (St. John 19:26) [Jesus Christ to St. Mary] 4. The Lord rebuke you. (St. Jude:9) [Archangel Michael to the devil] 5. It is written, A man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (St. Matthew 4: 4/ St. Luke 4:4) [Jesus Christ to the Devil] 6. I have no silver or gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. (Acts.3:6) [St. Peter to the lame beggar] Diploma Examination Grade XII Model Question Paper Page 7
Question 6 Bible Verses (5 Points) (Each blank is worth 1 half point) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word(s) to complete the Bible Verse. 1. For whoever would save his life will it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and the will save it. (Mk 8:35) 2. Those who me, I will deliver; I will those who know my name. (Ps 91:14) 3. He will not let your foot be, he who you will not slumber. (Ps. 121:3) 4. There is one body and one spirit, just as you were in one hope of your calling; one, one. one, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all. (Eph 4: 4-6) Question 7 Short Paragraph Answer (15 Points). Answer any TWO (2) of the following questions, at the end of the booklet. Please include the Question numbers with your answers. 1. Are all religions of equal value? Is there anything unique about Orthodox Christianity? 2. Church is the body of Christ: explain. 3. Compare the Orthodox Christian understanding of Salvation with a Christian Denomination or world religion that has been explained in your textbook, discussing both the similarities and differences. Diploma Examination Grade XII Model Question Paper Page 8
Question 8: Nicene Creed (5 points) At the end of the booklet, write the Nicene Creed Question 9: Common Prayer (5 points) Choose one of the following common prayers and write at the end of the booklet 1. O Lord, who sittest in the secret place of the Most High (Prayer of Mor Severios Uyarapettavante Marayilirickunnavan) 2. O Holy Father, guard us by Thy sacred name (Shudhamulla Bava ) 3. Our Father 4. Hail Mary Question 10: Apologetics Essay (20 points) Choose any one of the topics, and structure your answer so that the following points are clearly conveyed: 1. Describe views that are held by many outside of our Church that differ from the teachings. Provide your own examples or experiences to communicate the misunderstandings 2. Explain how you would clarify to a person that held that view on the proper Orthodox understanding of the departed. Extra credit will be given to those who support your points with Scripture, Liturgical prayers or hymns, actions at the Holy Qurbana or other sources from the Church. 1. Prayer for the Departed 2. The Holy Eucharist (Qurbana) 3. Making the Sign of the Cross 4. Veneration of St. Mary 5. Salvation and the Crucifixion Diploma Examination Grade XII Model Question Paper Page 9