This unit examines the formation, content, background, storyline, main themes and literature of the New Testament canon to facilitate  its faithful interpretation for and communication to diverse contemporary audiences.  Students critically analyse the three worlds of the biblical text, developing an informed theory of interpretation and engaging with various perspectives and methodologies.  The methods and perspectives of patristic interpretation are foundational to our approach, but focus is given also to  the cultivation of contemporary methods and skills for reading and communicating the various genres within this corpus.

The unit enables the student to develop a critical awareness of the nature of Christian worship, its theology, history, practice, and emerging trends, in the Orthodox Church. The unit will discuss the role ritual plays in human identity and development and the transforming function of worship. The history of Orthodox liturgical practice, East and West, will be surveyed, including the liturgical books, cycles, feasts, services, and the calendar. Special attention will be given to the Divine Liturgy (Eucharist). Consideration will be given to the inter-relationships between worship, life, preaching, and mission within the Orthodox Church. Clergy Track students will receive instruction on serving the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy.

In this unit students will study priesthood in the Orthodox Church. The priesthood of Christ, the priesthood of all believers, and the priesthood of the ordained minister of Christ will be defined and contrasted to arrive at a theological basis of priesthood. The theology and formation of the ministerial priesthood, the role of the priest in the care of the soul, ritual and sacramental resources available to the priest in discharging this care, and how the role of the priest differs from that of other helping professions will be considered. Practical applications and challenges in pastoral ministry will be presented and discussed. Strategies in safeguarding the wellbeing of the priest and the congregation and relevant compliance legislation will be covered with a focus on practical application.

This advanced exegetical unit facilitates patristic exegetical and theological analysis of the Pentateuch and its proclamation in diverse contemporary contexts. Students critically engage with current issues in Pentateuchal studies, specifically focusing on the patristic and contemporary interpretation of narrative and legal texts and their proclamation in contemporary Christian communities. Upon completing this unit, students will confidently and faithfully proclaim the Pentateuch to various audiences today.

This unit introduces students to the key topics of Orthodox theology, a discipline with spiritual and intellectual dimensions. It presents material of Scriptural revelation and Christian tradition about God and His interaction with the world and humanity. The course explores the historical journey of theological discourse from its beginnings to the present day. Key topics include: the nature of God’s existence and the practical implications of doctrines like the Trinity and the Incarnation, viewed in the context of tension and the theological debates of the early, medieval, and modern Christianity of the East and West.

This unit introduces students to the basics of Koine Greek and helps them to develop competency in using the specialist resources necessary to study the Greek text of the New Testament. Students will also be equipped with the knowledge, understanding, and skills to read and translate selected sections of the Greek New Testament as well as interact with the decisions the various English translators have made in translating this text.

This advanced exegetical unit facilitates patristic exegetical and theological analysis of the Pentateuch and its proclamation in diverse contemporary contexts. Students critically engage with current issues in Pentateuchal studies, specifically focusing on the patristic and contemporary interpretation of narrative and legal texts and their proclamation in contemporary Christian communities. Upon completing this unit, students will confidently and faithfully proclaim the Pentateuch to various audiences today.

This unit introduces students to the key topics of Orthodox theology, a discipline with spiritual and intellectual dimensions. It presents material of Scriptural revelation and Christian tradition about God and His interaction with the world and humanity. The course explores the historical journey of theological discourse from its beginnings to the present day. Students discuss these topics inter-contextually from a perspective alongside modern Orthodox and Patristic scholarship. Key topics include: the nature of God’s existence and the practical implications of doctrines like the Trinity and the Incarnation, viewed in the context of tension and the theological debates of the early, medieval, and modern Christianity of the East and West.

This unit examines the formation, content, background, storyline, main themes and literature of the New Testament canon to facilitate its faithful interpretation for, and communication to, diverse contemporary audiences.  Our approach is grounded in the patristic and liturgical interpretive framework of the Church, but students will critically analyse the three worlds of the biblical text, developing an informed theory of interpretation and engage with various perspectives, methodologies and biblical criticisms.  Special focus is given to the cultivation of methods and skills for reading and communicating the various genres within this corpus.