Foundations of Orthodox Theological Practice

If we were to imagine Orthodox Christianity as a complex map, what are the cardinal points we need to orient ourselves to the depth and breadth of Eastern Orthodox theology? Drawing from the life of the liturgical community past and present, this course orients students to the core elements of Orthodox theology and faith practice. Beginning with the Patristic tradition, we discover how historical theology informs generational knowledge in the Christian East across geographies and contexts. How does Orthodox history commit the liturgical community to certain traditions? How do these traditions adapt to modern social, political, or ethical concerns without losing their cultural and theological roots? This course will cover elements of church history, liturgical theology, and Orthodox social teaching to establish a working foundation for other coursework in the Orthodox concentration and create a broad foundation for understanding both the history and legacy of Orthodox theology as a living tradition. By the end of the course, students will be able to navigate multiple cardinal pillars of Orthodox theology and articulate their primary interests, how those interests relate to a theological discipline, and which methods they use for theological enquiry.