BACHELOR OF THEOLOGY (BTh)
1. THE AIM OF THE CURRICULUM
The curriculum’s goal is to set up basic academic knowledge which contributes to the fulfillment of Church requirements, in terms of:
1. Providing Church clergy who are capable of protecting their parishioners with the power of knowledge and piety, and who have the necessary capacities to meet the cultural requirements of the contemporary world.
2.
Ensuring the necessary intellectual basis to launch
multiple workshops which are important to modernizing
the various aspects of the Antiochian Orthodox Church life while preserving an
approach based upon the
Holy Tradition and the Antiochian character.
3. Providing the capacity to fulfill the auxiliary and necessary needs of the Antiochian parishioners’ life.
4. Providing the appropriate atmosphere to experience pastoral life and launch new pastoral expertise, which will benefit the Antiochian Church as a whole.
5. Creating the appropriate occasions for intellectual theological debates which are directly related to the life of the Orthodox Church and its followers.
2. THE CURRICULUM’S FOUNDATIONS
The curriculum is based upon the following foundations:
1. The Institute’s curriculum is an academic curriculum which emphasizes the importance of intellectual training in an atmosphere of responsible intellectual freedom.
2. The Institute enjoys a unique academic status, as learning is closely related to life experience deeply rooted in the Christian legacy which does not separate life from scientific acquisitions.
3. The Institute has a specific Antiochian identity within the framework of the Orthodox Church. It is an identity that connects the Institute to the land where the Church seeks testimony either in its immediate Arab environment or abroad.
3. LEARNING METHODOLOGY
The curriculum favors learning methods which develop learners’ personality and scientific capacities on one hand, and introduces them to the characteristics of church service on the other. This is made possible thanks to an educational methodology which builds knowledge upon real life experience and relates it to theology in order to make church service more efficient and to achieve the desired pastoralship.
The Institute adopts:
1. A learning methodology which departs from prescriptive thinking and rigid thinking and is adapted to a curriculum more respectful of scientific and educational developments.
2. An assessment process which takes into consideration human’s scientific, cultural, and interrelational dimensions, without hindering their personal growth. Providing high-quality performance is only one of many methods that the Institute uses to achieve its goals.
3. An educational methodology that provides knowledge, the opportunity to develop the student’s personal talents for better future service, and versatile training of future clergy.
4. CURRICULUM ORGANIZATION
According to what has previously been mentioned, the curriculum is composed of 123 credits:
They include:
c. Required courses which are in common with the university program (20% of the total number of courses).
d. Required courses for all the Institute’s students (68%).
e. Four major elective courses which are of direct interest to the Church (12% of the total number of courses):
1. The Holy Bible
2. Pastoral Studies
3. Education
4. Liturgy and Church Music
5. The program is spread over four years and leads to a Bachelor of Theology + an Applied Diploma.
5. THE CONTENT OF THE CURRICULUM
The curriculum is spread over different fields of knowledge, however, each field has its own scientific and educational individuality which relates it to the program’s goal and determines its learning outcomes. These fields are the following:
5.1 The Holy Bible
The Holy Bible is the basis of church life, whether at the community or individual level. Identifying the Bible, becoming acquainted with it, and understanding it correctly are the intellectual basis to all other students’ attainments.
The Institute’s students are expected to:
1. Acquire basic knowledge about the Holy Bible in order to help them understand the relation between the Holy Book and various other aspects of pastoral life.
2. Understand the main concepts of the Holy Bible in order to refer to it while preaching and to relate it correctly to the doctrine.
3. Become well-versed in the accurate explanation of the Holy Bible for pastoral and preaching purposes.
5.2 Doctrine and Life
Doctrine consists of all aspects which shape the Church’s faith in God, and relate this faith to the life of the Church as a community trying to live according to God’s heart and to the growth of man in Christ.
Therefore, theology students are expected to:
1. Have a full knowledge of the Christian faith according to the Nicean–Constantine Creed, including the ability to clarify Christian thought, which has accompanied its drafting and explanation in the light of divine inspiration over the previous ages until the present.
2. Be able to distinguish between different doctrinal contents and express them in a way which is most appropriate to the requirements of communication and witness today.
3. Be able to translate the requirements of faith to the life of the Church and the life of Church followers, away from any kind of fundamentalism, projections, or prejudice.
5.3 Church History
Church history is summarized in the diligent Church life on earth. The main stages of this life appear in the situations that express the faithfulness of the Church to the Lord, individually or as a community.
A theology student is expected to:
1. Establish a critical knowledge of church life, especially that of the Antiochian Church, in order to read this history in a constructive way, away from any kind of fanaticism and partisanship.
2. Benefit from historical-cast experience in order to know how to deal with the present in a way that Best serves testimony to Christ.
3. Identify with the dynamics of thought of the Church Fathers in order to deliver the faith and live with Christ in the contemporary world.
5.4 Sacramental Life and Ritual Performance
Sacramental church life translates into various liturgical dimensions: fasting, praying, and expressionist and impressionist art. While emphasizing the importance of form to convey content, the main focus is on the relation between the content of sacramental life and faith in a singular and holy Apostolic Church.
Therefore, a theology student is expected to:
1. Have a clear knowledge of sacramental life which goes beyond outward appearances, and instead reaches to creativity in order to serve the aims of sanctification.
2. Be able to transmit this sacramental concern in the activities of the pastoralship and clearly relate it to the Holy Tradition.
3. Be able to invent new forms of expression which will be used to service of God’s worshippers according to the talents generously distributed to each and every individual.
5.5 Pastoral Studies
As the whole program is characterized by its incarnate dimension, the future direction of the pastoralship is essential and pivotal. Therefore, a theology graduate is expected to:
1. Be aware of existing social changes in the contemporary world in order to plan his pastoral work accordingly.
2. Devise new pastoral formations which meet communication needs with all parishioners, social classes and special cases.
3. Benefit from the talents given to church followers for supporting his or her pastoral activity.
5.6 General Culture and Information Technology
Witness for Christ, as well as living in him and with him, is reflected in daily life. This reality has intellectual and cultural dimensions which are expressed day after day in rapidly-occurring situations.
Since incarnation is a major principle of faith, a theology student must:
1. Be updated with cultural changes taking place around him/her and deal with them in a positive and open-minded way.
2. Define his/her witness in the situations that God in His wisdom puts him/her in.
3. Translate his/her faith creatively in all the circumstances that emerge around him.
On the other hand, language is the best tool for communication even if it uses modern channels amidst current technological changes.
Therefore, an Antiochian theology student is expected to have:
1. A perfect knowledge of Arabic because it will be the language of perception, preaching, and daily communication in his/her future activities.
2. An adequate knowledge of one or several foreign language(s) so as to be constantly informed of new general and theological worldviews.
3. The ability to deal with modern technology in order to make communication easier and service around him more efficient.
6. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
In order to benefit from this program in concordance with expectations, the admission requirements of the Institute will be as following starting the academic year 2006-2007:
1. Holding the Lebanese Secondary Certificate or its equivalent.
2. Be above 20 years old.
3. LA 102 level in the University Arabic placement tests.
4. LE 101 level in the University English placement tests.
The Institute’s Admission Committee examines the applications based upon the applicant’s CV in addition to the following documents:
- Extract of the Registers or copy of the Identity Card
- The Lebanese Secondary Certificate or its equivalent
- Copies of university degrees if available
- Two passport photos
- A letter of recommendation from the bishop of the parish to which the applicant belongs
- Application form
- Letter stating the reasons for applying for study at the Institute
It recommends admission to the Institute Council after interviewing the applicants one by one, and after the applicants’ results in the entrance examinations are issued by the Registrar.
7. BACHELOR OF THEOLOGY (BTh) COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
1. Department of Biblical Studies
INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT THEO 201
Credits: 4 Year: First Hours: 60
Prerequisites: Introduction to the Old Testament THEO 202
This course begins with a survey of the political, cultural and social world, as well as that of both the Jewish and non-Jewish world in the time of the New Testament. Then, the focus turns to the study of the nature and origin of the New Testament, and how the first Christian books were written, preserved, and collected. In addition, the history of the canon of the New Testament will be reviewed. An overview of the methods of interpretation (hermeneutics) will be presented. Subsequently, the history of the text of the New Testament, namely the manuscript evidence for the text, will be exhaustively examined.
An important section of the course deals with problems related to the gospels (gospel genre, their relationship to Jesus, the synoptic problem, and the Q source). Afterwards we will devote time to questions peculiar to each gospel and to the book of Acts. Finally, before individually analyzing some of Paul’s writings, we will analyze the format that shaped Paul’s letter communication, and report what we know of Paul’s life.
INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT THEO 202
Credits: 3 Year: First Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
This course presents an introduction to the background and history of the Old Testament. The circumstances of the redaction of each book, its principle theses, structure, content and role within the Old Testament, and its function within the intellectual and theological trajectory from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Covers the main issues raised by modern criticism and the history of the formation and transmission of the book as a whole. The students are introduced to the dynamics governing the rise and development of traditions, and to different literary forms and their function.
NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: SYNOPTIC GOSPELS AND ACTS THEO 211
Credits: 4 Year: Second Hours: 60
Prerequisites: Greek GREE 200; Introduction to the Old Testament THEO 202; Introduction to the New Testament THEO 201
In this course, students interpret a selection of texts from the Synoptic Gospels and the Book of Acts. Students will approach the gospels of Mark and Matthew together with the Lukan diptych in a synchronic and narrative reading that aims to find out the most relevant theological teaching given by each evangelist about history, salvation, and the role of the disciples and the Church after the resurrection of the Nazarene. During the exegetical work, the student will deal with the latest results of modern biblical research and will consult, when necessary, the classical exegetical works of the Church Fathers. A linguistic analysis will be applied on the original Greek text.
NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: THE PAULINE CORPUS THEO 212
Credits: 3 Year: Third Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Greek GREE 200; Introduction to the Old Testament THEO 202; Introduction to the New Testament THEO 201
It is universally recognized that the Pauline Epistles were highly important for the teaching of the Church, and equally for Christian ethics and behavior. They were also a bone of contention. Hence, it’s not difficult to understand the abundant and complicated debates arising between different New Testament scholars (but also in inter-Christian dialogue), even about every facet of St. Paul’s theological and pastoral opinions. The course treats the exegesis of selected passages from the Pauline Corpus, chosen in sequence to highlight the main theological issues raised in the Corpus as a whole. The historical and present debates of Low and High criticism are within the scope of the course. It also traces the development of perspectives resulting from the changing circumstances that necessitated the writing of the epistles.
OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: THE PENTATEUCH AND THE HISTORICAL BOOKS THEO 220
Credits: 3 Year: Second Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Hebrew HEBR 200; Greek GREE 200; Introduction to the Old Testament THEO 202.
In this course, the student reads the Pentateuch and the historical journeys synchronically in order to discover the correlations in these volumes and their narrative axis, to which all the episodes and speeches are related. During the course the student is encouraged to approach the Torah as a part of the Divine Revelation that addresses Christians today, and to explore the close relationship between the Torah and the Gospel. This course also aims to enable the student to use the modern exegetical methods and to deal with the differences of form and contents in the Masoretic and the Septuaginta texts.
OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: THE PROPHETS THEO 221
Credits: 3 Year: Third Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Hebrew HEBR 200; Greek GREE 200; Introduction to the Old Testament THEO 202.
The prophetic literature occupies a central position in the Old Testament, based on the fact that its principal themes can be found in the whole book. This makes the study of the prophets a key to the reading of the Old Testament and understanding it. This course is an analysis of the biblical prophetic movement. This course follows the canonical order of the prophetical books, since this is how the editors of the bible wanted them to be read. This leads us to explore the perspective of the redactors and editors by selecting passages from the major and minor prophets, representing the prophetical line, and discussing its themes: the word of God, Prophetical calls, kingship, priesthood, the temple, the law, judgment, etc.
NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: JOHANNINE LITERATURE THEO 213
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Greek GREE 200; Introduction to the Old Testament THEO 202; Introduction to the New Testament THEO 201
There are various and conflicting theories – all still hotly debated – about the composition of the Gospel according to John, the traditions that the evangelist drew on, and the world within which the Johannine narration developed. These make difficult the tasks of contemporary Johannine scholars, let alone debates on the existence of Sacramentalism in the fourth Gospel.
This course deals with the exegesis of selected passages from Johannine literature, chosen in sequence to highlight some central theological issues raised in the fourth Gospel, with an examination of the historic and present debates of Low and High Criticism. Also, it provides a brief introduction to the apocalyptic literature and a commentary on selected readings from the Book of Revelation. Special interest will be given to the structure of this book and its narrative strategy.
OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: PSALMS AND WISDOM LITERATURE THEO 222
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Hebrew HEBR 200; Greek GREE 200; Introduction to the Old Testament THEO 202.
This course offers a thorough study of the psalms and the Wisdom Literature. Students are introduced to the main characteristics of the different groups of psalms, such as the messianic psalms, those which are centered on the kingship of Yahweh, and the historical psalms. Basic issues such as the concept of kingship and the relationship between history and liturgy are dealt with. Questions arising from the study of the Wisdom Literature are also discussed, including those of the meaning and the scope of wisdom, and the function of this group of books as a part of the Old Testament and as a preparation for the New Testament.
NEW TESTAMENT GREEK II THEO 201
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Introduction to the New Testament Greek GREE 200
In this course students complete their knowledge of the basic rules of grammar and syntax of the New Testament Greek, while learning systematically the verbs and their roots. The course begins with texts from the Gospel of mark and gradually moves on to more difficult gospel texts, comparing linguistically parallel texts. Upon the completion of this course students can, with the help of appropriate references, begin reading texts from the New Testament.
OLD TESTAMENT HEBREW GRAMMAR II HEBR 201
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Introduction to the Old Testament Hebrew HEBR 200
This course focuses on the translation of selected passages from the Old Testament, starting with narrative passages up to prophetic and poetic passages from the prophetic books. The students are expected to translate and study passages from the Old Testament using the dictionary and discern their linguistic particularities.
2. The Doctrine Department
INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE THEO 203
Credits: 3 Year: First Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Nothing
This introduction aims at clarifying the status of dogma in the Church by highlighting the close connection between the doctrine and the way of life in Christianity. Despite its transcendence to every era and civilization is not independent of history. This creative approach that the Fathers of the Church had concerning the intellectual and literary expression of what pertains to God is a fundamental pivot in this subject. Therefore, the course intends to enable the student to specify the framework of academic approach to the study of dogma through:
- Clarification of the concept of Christian dogma; that is, understanding the relation of dogma to the communion of the Church and recognizing its redemptive significance
- Knowledge of sources of Orthodox dogma, and familiarity with the sources and references of dogmatic study and research
- Clarification of the significance of the Holy Scriptures and their interpretation in the teachings of the Church
- Examining the issue of the authority of Dogma and the dynamics of creativity in its language
- A brief overview of the relationship of Dogma and Christian theology to philosophy, science, and human culture, highlighting the connection between the development and growth of dogmatic language and historic facts and influences, and the intellectual needs that accompanied the journey of the Church in real life
GOD, THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY TRINITY, AND THE CREATION THEO 230
Credits: 3 Year: Second Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Introduction to Christian Doctrine THEO 203
This course aims at enabling the student to form a systematic idea of the theological issues pertaining to the Christian notion of God, the sources of discernment between the created and the uncreated, the history of formulation of the Dogma of the Holy Trinity, and defining that which relates to the mystery of Divine Providence. The course begins from the scriptural notion of God in the Old Testament, explains how this notion was transformed by the incarnation of Christ in the New Testament, and explores the manners by which the Church and the Fathers received the Tradition, formulated the Dogma, and addressed the issues of their times. The course also examines the mystery of Divine Providence as it manifests itself in the act of creation and the safeguarding of this creation, before arrival at the study of the complexities surrounding the knowledge of God and the critique entailing this issue in the Christian world.
THE WORK OF CHRIST THE SAVIOR THEO 231
Credits: 3 Year: Second Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Introduction to Christian Doctrine THEO 203; God, the Mystery of the Holy Trinity, and the Creation THEO 230
This course sheds light on the theological issues pertaining to the historical and intellectual frameworks of the development of Christian Christology. It sets out from the early Church’s need to formulate its faith in the unity of the person of the incarnate Logos, and moves on to the Conciliar definitions, exploring the major theological documents and the complexities and approaches pertaining to the dual nature and dual volition of Christ. The course discusses the Economia of salvation in Christ and their contents as tenets pertaining to Theotokos and the intercession of saints. It also delves into the theology of the icon, which is nothing but an extension of the mystery of Divine incarnation and an expression to the theology of beauty and sanctification of matter and the civilization of man and his culture in the Church.
ECCLESIOLOGY AND CHRISTIAN ESCHATOLOGY THEO 232
Credits: 3 Year: Third Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Introduction to Christian Doctrine THEO 203; God, the Mystery of the Holy Trinity, and the Creation THEO 230; The Work of Salvation of Christ THEO 231
This course aims at enabling the student to formulate a methodical picture of the theological issues pertaining to the nature of the Church and its life. It discusses the complexities related to the body of Christ in that it is a “workshop” of re-creation and renewal in Christ. It deals with theological issues such as the structure and the boundaries of the Church, the work of the Holy Spirit in it, its interaction with the world, and its message in the civilization of mankind, with emphasis on the potential of Orthodox ecclesiology in speaking to modern man and addressing his needs. The course also investigates the sacramental life of the Church, the means of achieving salvation, and the major notions of Christian eschatology, whether they are present in the Church or expected and deferred.
INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY AND CHRISTIAN ETHICS THEO 235
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Introduction to Christian Doctrine THEO 203; God, the Mystery of the Holy Trinity, and the Creation THEO 230; The Work of Salvation of Christ THEO 231; Ecclesiology and Christian Eschatology THEO 232
This course sheds light on the main ethical aspects of faith in Christ, with emphasis on the Orthodox vision of man. The course deals with the impact of this Orthodox anthropology on the behavior of Church followers regarding important social issues such as family, work, and politics. The course also deals with the problems of bioethics, which present a great challenge to Christianity in this day and age, especially cloning, euthanasia, and abortion. These issues will be discussed from a Christian point of view.
ECUMENICAL ACTIVITY OF THE CHURCH THEO 234
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Introduction to Christian Doctrine THEO 203; God, the Mystery of the Holy Trinity, and the Creation THEO 230; The Work of Salvation of Christ THEO 231; Ecclesiology and Christian Eschatology THEO 232
3. Department of Languages and Civilizations
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENGL 101
Credits: 5 Year: First Hours: 150
Prerequisites: TOEFL score between 527 and 570
This course focuses on training students to communicate in an academic environment. Emphasis is placed on the production of paragraphs, short essays, comprehension, and analysis of both oral and written texts.
MODERN GREEK LANGUAGE GREE 203
Credits: 5 Year: First Hours: 75
Prerequisites: None
This course is addressed to beginners. It helps them to reach an acceptable level of communication in modern Greek. It is based on a method of communication which aims at using the language in a creative way. Grammatical structures are explained in different contexts and situations, a fact which helps the students enrich their vocabulary and deepen their knowledge of the cultural world of modern Greece.
INTRODUCTION TO THE GREEK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT GREE 200
Credits: 2 Year: First Hours: 60
Prerequisites: None
In this course students learn the fundamentals of the New Testament Greek grammar. Lessons are based on the most common vocabulary and syntax of the New Testament, particularly as given in the Gospel of Mark. At the end of this course, students will be able to read narrative sentences with the occasional help of a dictionary. Furthermore, this course introduces the student in the parsing principles of ancient languages and shows the role of linguistic analysis in the exegetical work.
INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL HEBREW HEBR 200
Credits: 3 Year: First Hours: 60
Prerequisites: None
The Old Testament is a collection of books which were edited over a long period of time. This has led to changes in its language accompanying the process of editing. Scholars believe that the language of the Old Testament is close to the late period of the kingdom. We do not know with precision when the Hebrews ceased to speak this language and adopted others, but it most likely happened around the fifth century B.C. This course offers a detailed study of the biblical Hebrew grammars, their vocabularies, and grammatical peculiarities.
ARABIC LANGUAGE AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ARAB 201
Credits: 3 Year: First Year Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
This course is divided in two sections: Arabic language and Research Methodology.
In the first sections, students learn the necessary techniques of writing, reading, and correct expression for use in sermons and speeches. This section is based on styles of argumentation and interpretation and narration, with examples and study texts.
In the second section, the course aims at helping the students acquire necessary techniques and methods to write academic research following the MLA system used in the University of Balamand. They also learn how to discover limits of text, define problems, and form hypotheses.
PHILOSOPHY 1 PHIL 201
Credits: 3 Year: Second Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
This course offers a deepened study of ancient Greek philosophy, beginning with the pre-Socratics and moving on to Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and ending up with Plotinus. The objective of this course is to provide the students with the general introduction to philosophy, it major concepts, problems, and overall issues, such as the world, epistemology, Being, the soul, and immortality, with an overview of the basic ideas of the great philosophers.
PHILOSOPHY 2 PHIL 202
Credits: 3 Year: Second Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Philosophy 1 PHIL 201
This course is a deepened study of Scholastic philosophy in the west. It begins with an analysis of the ways in which the early Fathers of the Church accommodated theology with the Greek philosophical heritage. The course deals also with the writings of Saint Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and other Scholastics, and studies them in the light of faith and reason. This course also discusses the philosophy of Averroes.
PHILOSOPHY 3 PHIL 203
Credits: 3 Year: Second Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Philosophy 1 PHIL 201; Philosophy 2 PHIL 202
This course presents an analysis of some major issues of western philosophical thought, starting with the renaissance until the early twentieth century. It analyzes rationalism as it appears in the writings of Descartes and Kant. It also tackles the question of empiricism and other important issues in this period of time. Readings revolve around metaphysical and epistemological themes.
CONTEMPORARY THOUGHT THEO 290
Credits: 3 Year: Third Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Philosophy 1 PHIL 201; Philosophy 2 PHIL 202; Philosophy 3 PHIL 203
This course reflects upon the situation in the Arab world through the study of east-west interaction since the end of the 18th century. Issues discussed are varied, including the Arab Awakening (an-nahda), the rise of nationalisms, human rights, modernity vs. tradition, political regimes, and globalization.
4. Department of History and Patristics
GENERAL CHURCH HISTORY THEO 240
Credits: 3 Year: Second Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
Our present state has been the result of several specific historical factors. For that reason, this course intends to – after introducing the student to the methods of studying Church history – draw out the guidelines of the history of the Church since its foundation until our present day. It also focuses on the political, theological and social factors which accompanied the spread of the Church in the world. In addition, the course will study the reasons behind some of the heresies which lead to schisms and ecumenical councils. It will also focus on Christianity in the Catholic and Orthodox west.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ANTIOCH THEO 262
Credits: 3 Year: Third Hours: 45
Prerequisites: General Church History THEO 240
The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with the history of the Antiochian Church, by showing the principle historical phases through which it has gone since the rise of Christianity until the present day, including the divisions and schisms within the Church and the rise of eastern Antiochian Churches, and the study of their historical background. In addition, the course will show some examples of creative theological thinking such as the Antiochian school, St. John Damascene, and the important figures of Church renaissance in the twentieth century.
EXAMPLES OF PATRISTIC STUDIES THEO 255
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
This course is a critical study of selected readings from the Fathers and Church authors. It offers a theological analysis of these texts and an analysis of their theological characteristics based on the context of the different Fathers or authors, against the background of the different theological questions that were raised in their times.
ANTIOCHIAN CHURCH FATHERS THEO 256
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the achievements of the main Antiochian Fathers, such as Ignatius the Martyr, Ephraim the Syriac, John Chrysostom, and concluding with John Damascene, whose theological and literature contributions had an impact on the evolution and elaboration of the Church’s way of thinking. This is achieved by focusing on their main theological contributions, and studying the language and history of those contributions. This course stresses the relationship between the Fathers and their time periods, and the necessity of understanding them from this point of view, without neglecting the importance of their thoughts in our present era.
SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION THEO 292
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
This course offers an introduction to the basic principles of the sociology of religion, its curricula, and its place in relation to the human sciences and religious studies. It introduces the students to some of the techniques of sociological studies. This course also explores ways to make sociological studies more relevant to the Church’s pastoral work. Special attention will be directed towards the study of the Church of Antioch in its social context, and the analysis of data made available through field research.
ANTIOCHIAN TEACHERS THEO 257
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: General Church History THEO 240; History of Church of Antioch THEO 262; Antiochian Church Fathers THEO 256
This course aims at presenting and studying the teachings of some Antiochian Syriac teachers, such as Theodorus of Mopsuestia, Philoxenos of Mambej and Severus of Antioch, who played a crucial role in the formation of the doctrines of the so-called Jacobite and Nestorian Churches. This course seeks to shed light on the different Christological challenges of the early Church within the Antiochian sphere.
5. Department of Liturgy and Church Music
INTRODUCTION TO LITURGY AND TYPIKON – THEO 204
Credits: 3 Year: First Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
This course introduces the order of the services and their origins, and presents an understanding of liturgy and divine worship (individually or communally). Also offers a general view on the Christian sanctuary and its contents, and the daily, weekly, and yearly cycles of the divine services and their significance. It discusses liturgical books and the order of the daily services.
CHURCH MUSIC 1 THEO 206
Credits: 2 Year: First Hours: 90 (Yearly)
Prerequisites: None
This course offers theoretical and practical lessons in reading musical notation related to church melodies as applied in the Orthodox Church. It aims at making students aware of the chant techniques.
Students learn the music scale, music notations, rhythm, and how to apply them to one’s voice and the movement of one’s hand, enabling them to read the notations and respect the rhythm. Students will chiefly practice following the diatonic type.
SACRAMENTAL LIFE IN THE CHURCH THEO 271
Credits: 3 Year: Third Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Introduction to Liturgy and Typikon THEO 204
This course offers a historical, theological, and liturgical study of each sacrament. It includes an analysis of interrelated liturgical and pastoral issues. Furthermore, it provides a reflection on ways and possibilities of improving liturgical and sacramental celebrations in accordance with tradition, taking into consideration contemporary developments.
CHURCH MUSIC 2 THEO 272
Credits: 4 Year: Second Hours: 90 (yearly)
Prerequisites: Church Music 1 THEO 206
This course offers more advanced practice in reading musical notes and hymn singing. It covers musical signs in the history of Church music, as well as the eight tunes, with their elements, particularities, and systems, without entering into detailed examination of each of the tunes. Students learn the musical patterns and how to apply them to Church hymns.
CHURCH MUSIC 3 THEO 273
Credits: 4 Year: Third Hours: 90 (yearly)
Prerequisites: Church Music 1 THEO 206; Church Music 2 THEO 272
This course offers an advanced study of Church melodies. It focuses on the rules of musical composition. Each of the eight melodies and styles are discussed in details. Students practice how a deacon or a priest would chant, the rules of chanting the readings from the gospels and the epistles. They learn the rules of writing music, leading choirs and comparing the Church melodies and tunes, as well as the Turkish and Arabic Maqams suing examples from Byzantine and Church hymns with an overview on the history of Church music.
LITURGICAL ORDER IN ITS SOURCES THEO 274
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Introduction to Liturgy and Typikon THEO 204; Sacramental Life in the Church THEO 271
In this course, a critical and analytic study of the content of the liturgical sources (biblical, patristic, and other texts) will be offered. This is meant to familiarize students with the classical liturgical practices and traditions, and enable them to draw parallels with present liturgical practice.
LITURGICAL TEXTS THEO 275
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Introduction to Liturgy and Typikon THEO 204; Sacramental Life in the Church THEO 271; Liturgical Order in its Sources THEO 274
This course discusses Church hymnology, focusing on its origins, types, historical development, and styles of Church poetry. Also discusses different Church poets (their lives, styles, and writings), and offers a selection of the most prominent texts of liturgical poetry.
CHOIR TRAINING THEO 276
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Church Music 1 THEO 206 & 2 THEO 272 & 3 THEO 273
This course offers lessons in forming, training, and leading Church choirs. It also offers practical applications and comparisons between different choirs with regards to their performance and order.
MUSIC SCHOOLS THEO 277
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Church Music 1 THEO 206 & 2 THEO 272 & 3 THEO 273
This course contains lessons about the emergence of church music schools and their history to the present day. It also discusses the different types of schools, their styles, methods, and the characteristics of each of them.
6. DEPARTMENT OF PASTORAL CARE
INTRODUCTION TO PASTORAL CARE THEO 205
Credits: 2 Year: Second Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
Good pastoral care is the purpose of all theological endeavors and the basis for the witness and ministry of the Church in the world today. Thus, this course works on the formation of the student’s pastoral mindset based on the correct belief and practice, meaning, the mindset of Christ. It aims to equip the student with the tools necessary to deal with different pastoral challenges on a case-by-case basis. It deals with three main and interrelated issues, as they are practiced in the Antiochian Church today: The pastoral care, the pastor, and the parish. These issues are discussed in class and in special pastoral visits to parishes. Finally, the course presents practical suggestions on parish management, conflict management, fighting bad habits, and handling the daily challenges of priests.
SOCIAL PASTORAL CARE THEO 286
Credits: 2 Year: Second Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Introduction to Pastoral Care THEO 205
This course discusses possible ways of integrating the theological knowledge that students have accumulated throughout their studies into pastoral care for those who have special social, psychological and health needs, within the same parish or the same diocese. By seeing the compassionate face of the Lord in their lives, they will be better able to live their lives through Christ.
This course requires a special relationship between theological and pastoral knowledge and the other human sciences, such as sociology, psychology and education.
FAMILY CARE AND PERSONAL STATUS THEO 284
Credits: 3 Year: Third Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Introduction to Pastoral Care THEO 205
This course revolves around personal status, based on the law that was launched by The Patriarchate Orthodox of Antioch. It is therefore connected to personal life from the moment of birth till death. This course contains the following subjects: the ecclesiastic holy engagement, its effects, and its cancellation; marriage, its definition, purposes, conditions, effects and the duties of parents and their children; adoption, abandonment, and expense; and the dissolution of marital bonds by abolishment, separation, and divorce, and its effects on family members.
It also discusses the role of Fathers of the holy Church in the preparation of successful marriage and in limiting negative effects on Church followers.
EDUCATION IN CHRIST THEO 282
Credits: 3 Year: Third Hours: 45
Prerequisites: Level of Third Year
This course shows the students a holistic vision which instills faithfulness in Christ throughout their life in Church. Since the students at the institute are, in general, the pastors of the future and are invited to be aware of all the issues related to education, they must be qualified to study the content of an educational program and discuss it, and to be able to criticize any educational paradigm by showing its positive and negative aspects. They should also be able to critically approach texts in order to see whether they are related to their pastoral purposes.
PASTORAL TRAINING 1 THEO 287
Credits: 3 Hours: 225
Prerequisites: Introduction to Pastoral Care THEO 205
This course aims at opening up the students to applied experiences which would be of benefit to them in their pastoral service, in addition to the theoretical knowledge they acquire in other pastoral courses. This pastoral training aims at encouraging the students to apply their knowledge of pastoral theology to the parish work. Every student accompanies a parish priest throughout the period of study and helps him in his pastoral work. The Institute coordinates with the parish priest about the best ways to qualify the student for this work.
PASTORAL TRAINING 2 THEO 288
Credits: 3 Hours: 225
Prerequisites: Introduction to Pastoral Care THEO 205; Social Pastoral Care THEO 286
This training aims at encouraging the students to apply their theological theoretical knowledge to church and social institutions, such as hospitals, elderly homes, schools for special needs, prisons, and other social institutions which support the priests in caring for men and their salvation. The Institute coordinates with those responsible for these institutions and with social assistants about ways to evaluate students.
HOMILETICS THEO 285
Credits: 2 Year: Fourth Hours: 30
Prerequisites: Introduction to Pastoral Care THEO 205
The aim of this course is to prepare the student for his preaching ministry, based on the Holy Scripture and the Orthodox Creed, using a clear, structured, directed, and systematic style. The course emphasizes the prophetic dimension of preaching, and the pastoral use of the Word of God. It studies preaching in the Holy Scripture and the preaching tradition of the Christian Church, with a special study on St. John Chrysostom.
Furthermore, it presents effective preaching forms and styles, principles, types of speech communication and public speaking, the sermon-making process, and effective delivery techniques. It relies on the most successful methods to implant the word of God in the mind of the faithful in the twenty-first century, so that they may abide by His word and repent.
CANON LAW THEO 283
Credits: 2 Year: Fourth Hours: 30
Prerequisites: None
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to canon law (law in general, the necessity of law in the Church). It discusses the sources of canon law, and the use of canonical sources with respect to the application of Church laws and the extent of their enforcement. Furthermore, focus will be placed on the interpretation and abrogation of laws, as well as the types of canonical sources used throughout the Church history.
INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION EDUC 213
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
The objective of this course is to retrace the evolution of educational sciences and schools in their relation to the evolution of anthropology. At the end of the course, students are expected to identify different educational models and apply them, according to different contexts, to religious education.
PSYCHOGENESIS PSYC 212
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
This course allows students to understand the broad characteristics of child development including the cognitive, the social, the sexual, the emotional, and the mental faculties. It stresses the dynamic interaction between humans, in their physical and psychic aspects, on one hand, and their environments, on the other, as being an essential factor in their development.
ADOLESCENCE PSYCHOLOGY PSYC 214
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: PSYCHOGENESIS PSYC 212
This course introduces students to the main issues of adolescence, as well as the right way to deal with these issues while helping adolescents develop stable personalities.
SPECIALIZED EDUCATION EDUC 219
Credits: 3 Year: Fourth Hours: 45
Prerequisites: INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION EDUC 213
This course provides the students with a clear idea about the meaning of “specialized education”. Students are expected to be able to identify cases which need specialized education and to decide which frameworks need to be created for better performance in the field of religious education with the cooperation of specialists.