Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology · Courses
PATR
16 courses with the subject PATR, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
PATR 5011Patrology I3
This introductory core-course serves as a general introduction to the Fathers and the main periods of Patristic Literature from post-apostolic times to the end of the fourth century. The course combines an introduction to the central Fathers of this period, with attention not only to the doctrinal issues, but also the literary, historical, and cultural context of this period.
A basic introduction to the history, theology, and spirituality of the Orthodox Church. Emphasis will be placed on the theology of the Ecumenical Councils, the writings of the Church Fathers, and classic works of Orthodox spirituality. This course is limited to students in the Youth/Young Adult Ministry and Leadership Certificate program.
St Gregory Nazianzen is honored alongside St Basil the Great and St John Chrysostom as one of the Church's Three Holy Hierarchs and Great Ecumenical Teachers. Surnamed 'the Theologian,' Gregory was one of the chief architects of the Church's Trinitarian theology in the fourth century, contributing in a special way to the Christian confession of the divinity of the Holy Spirit. In this course, we explore the seminal contributions of St Gregory the Theologian through a close reading of his monumental Orations, offering students the opportunity to encounter the rhetorical masterpieces, festal homilies, and polemic that shaped the hymnography of the Byzantine church and the later dogmatic formulations of the Church Fathers. 88
none (Patrology I and Dogmatics I strongly recommended)
PATR 6011Patrology II3
This course is a general introduction to the Fathers and the main periods of Patristic Literature from the fifth century to the iconoclasm controversy in the ninth century. Like the companion course (PATR 5011), this course focuses on the doctrinal issues while also exploring the literary, historical, and cultural context of the period.
This course covers the period from the end of the iconoclastic dispute (843) to the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire (1453). Its purpose is to provide a general introduction to the Fathers and theologians of that period and to their work and concerns. It consists of three parts: a general survey of the period (843‐1453) and its main subdivisions; a survey of the main Synods which were summoned during this period and the issues upon which they deliberated; an examination of the lives and writings of the most prominent Fathers and Church authors who lived and worked during this period, focusing especially on: Photius, Symeon the New Theologian, Gregory Palamas, Nicholas Cabasilas, Symeon of Thessalonica, Mark Eugenicos, and Gennadios Scholarios.
An introduction to the icon as a theological category and a medium of devotion. Following a historical overview of the Iconoclastic Controversy (730-843), this course studies the works of John of Damascus, Theodore the Studite, and other Byzantine iconophile writers, along with the proceedings of the Seventh Ecumenical Council. Theological themes under consideration include the doctrine of creation, the Incarnation, and the hermeneutics of representation. Attention will also be paid to a number of key icons and the development of the icon screen.
The Second Council of Nicaea (787) proclaimed St Gregory of Nyssa the "Father of Fathers." The biological brother of St Basil the Great and the self-professed disciple of his sister St Makrina, Gregory is remembered as the most speculative of the Cappadocian Fathers. In this 89
This course will explore the shape of the patristic doctrine of Christology and will also review representative writings of the ante‐Nicene and post‐ Nicene Fathers.
This sixteen-week online course will give students practical experience in reading handwritten Greek books from the ninth through seventeenth century. Many Greek manuscripts are now available in digitised form online and will be used as teaching material. Each class session will be supplemented with a take-home assignment: students will be expected to transcribe a short passage from a (photographed) manuscript and submit their transcription ahead of the next session. The final (closed-book) exam will itself consist of transcribing two such passages. Adequate knowledge of Classical Greek is a prerequisite for taking the course.
From St Photios in the ninth century to St Mark of Ephesus in the fifteenth, the Fathers of the middle and late Byzantine periods dedicated a great deal of their theological output to the issue of the Filioque--the Latin doctrine (rejected by the Orthodox Church) that the Holy Spirit proceeds "also from the Son." This course examines this facet of the Orthodox patristic tradition, from the early Fathers through the Council of Florence, with special attention to the events surrounding the Council of 879, the anti-Latin polemics surrounding the Council of Lyons in 1274, and the hesychast theology that developed in the wake of St Gregory Palamas. 90
PATR 7202St. John Chrysostom: His Life, Ministry, and Thought3
St John Chrysostom is honored alongside St Basil the Great and St Gregory the Theologian as one of the Church’s Three Holy Hierarchs and Great Ecumenical Teachers. A fearless preacher of virtue and social justice, he was surnamed 'the Golden Mouth' for his eloquent rhetoric. Celebrated especially for his unique ability to open up the treasures of sacred Scripture, John is remembered not only as an ascetical figure and a theologian, but above all as an exegete. It was said in the Byzantine tradition that's the mouth of Christ is Paul, and the mouth of Paul is Chrysostom.' In this course, we explore the seminal contributions of St John Chrysostom through a close reading of his representative sermons and theological treatises, offering students the opportunity to encounter the rhetorical masterpieces, inspired exhortation, and rousing polemic that shaped the tradition of the Orthodox Church for centuries to come.
None (Patrology I and Dogmatics I strongly recommended)
PATR 7210Orthodox Theology in Modern Greek I3
This is a Greek elective course and will be based on a Modern Greek theological textbook, and will involve reading, translating, and discussing its content. The purpose of this course is to get students to familiarize themselves with Modern Greek theological terminology with the view to acquire competence in reading Modern Greek theological literature. This semester's theme is Hellenism and Orthodoxy.
This course will be an introduction to the historic development of Orthodox monasticism and will concentrate on the great spiritual masters of the Orthodox Monastic tradition as well as some classic texts on Eastern Monasticism during the first millennium.
This course will explore the doctrine of man in the major Fathers of the first Millennium. It will be based on an examination of patristic texts and studies on major themes in Christian anthropology: 1) man’s creation and constitution and his relation to God and the world; especially the 91
This course involves reading, discussing and evaluating specific literature on the topic with the view to engaging in research on specific topic(s) in any of the areas which emerge from the examination of this literature. Such areas will be "biblical" (OT/NT/Apocryphal), "exegetical" (patristic/modern), "liturgical" and "theological" (systematic/dogmatic). There will be 13 Seminars and students are required to attend and write two or three presentations. Also required is a research paper on a topic be determined by the student and the professor or a review paper of one relevant book from a list to be supplied by the professor.
A close reading of select orations by Saint Gregory the Theologian, including the five Theological Orations, the Festal Orations, and Oration 2 (“On the Priesthood”). Related material from Gregory’s letters and poems will also be considered. These texts will be studied in light of the fourth‐ century theological controversies; contemporary liturgical and ecclesiastical life; and the rhetorical culture of the late classical world. Attention will also be given to Gregory’s reception in the later Byzantine period.
