UoB - Faculty of Theology

III. Historical and Patristic Section

 

301 General Church History I

General church history from its foundation up to the great schism between East and West (1054 A.D.) with focus on:

• The foundation, development and organization of the church. The development of ecclesiastical administration and the life of the church in general.
• The theological issues in Christian life, the problems faced and the responses.
• Events and external factors that have influenced church life throughout history (persecutions, etc.)
• The evangelical kerygma and the spreading of Christianity throughout the world.
• Worship and spiritual life.

302 General Church History II

General church history from the great schism (1054 A.D.) up to present times, focusing on:

• The development of church life and the evolution of ecclesiastical administration and organization in the East and the West.
• The church’s situation in the social and the political context in the East and the West. Church - state relations.
• Worship and spiritual life.
• The schism in Western Christianity, the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation.
• The attempts at reunification in the Christian World from the eleventh century to the fourteenth century (the Crusades, the Unionist Councils).
• The present situation of the Orthodox Churches.
• The present situation of western churches (the Roman Catholic Church, Protestantism, Western Christians).

303 History of the Church of Antioch (eleventh-twentieth centuries)

This course offers a review of the major events experienced by the Church of Antioch during the second millennium of its history, using the available primary sources (Antiochian and specially Orthodox). Other secondary sources including non-Antiochian and non-Orthodox writings are explored. Moreover, the course draws attention to the primary written and oral sources that have not yet been identified, collected or studied.

304 History of the Oriental Churches

This course offers a general introduction to one of the Oriental Orthodox non-Chalcedonian Churches, in its present situation, and through its history (modern and contemporary in particular). It also draws attention to the relation between this Church and the Orthodox Church of Antioch, highlighting areas of convergence and similarities in their historical experience and the present challenges they face.

305 Introduction to Patrology

The fundamental methodological, theological, linguistic and historical issues in the study of Church Fathers. The importance of the Fathers and their relevance in the life of the Church and its tradition.

306 Patristics I

A critical and historical study of the life and thought of the Church Fathers from Apostolic times up to the Cappadocians. Each of them is studied through a selection of his writings, highlighting their theological relevance in historical perspective and focusing on the major issues they raise.

307 Patristics II

A critical and historical study of the life and thought of the Fathers from the Cappadocians up to the present Each of them is studied through a selection of his writings, highlighting their theological relevance in a historical perspective and focusing on the major issues they raise.

308 Hagiography

The Orthodox understanding of holiness and sanctification. Lives of a selection of prophets in the Old Testament, martyrs in the first three centuries A.D. and saints in modern times. This course aims at acquainting the student with the call of each believer to holiness, and underlines the action of the Holy Spirit in the Church since its inception. It also endeavors to show the life of each saint as a model.

309 Christian Art

A general introduction to the history of art. A detailed study of church architecture in the East and the West, from the first three centuries A.D. up to the present. Christian sanctuaries (baptisteries, churches of martyrs and cemeteries). Christian iconography: types of icons, main schools and styles. Importance of icons in Christian worship and education, Christian embroidery, bas-relief and miniatures. Slides are used as visual aids.

310 History of Religions

A presentation of the main features in the religious experience of mankind, with a particular focus on the religions of India and the Christian position vis-à-vis these religions.

311 Islamics

A concise study of Islam in three parts:

• The cultural background of the Arabian pre-Islamic environment. The Quran and the foundations of Islam.
• A general survey of the political history of Islam from its inception up to the present.
• Islamic Art: approaches and problems of appellation. Issues raised (prohibition of pictures, unity and multiplicity). Architectural and ornamental distinctive features from the Umayyad to the Ottoman and Safavid eras.

312 Christian Thought and Islam

This course offers a historical presentation of theological and philosophical Christian thought on Islam. It is primarily concerned with Eastern Christian thought, and more particularly with Antiochian Orthodox writings. More emphasis will be put on the authors who have influenced Christian attitude and sentiments towards Islam. A number of selected Arab Christian texts, old and new, are presented and analyzed.

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