LICENTIATE IN EASTERN THEOLOGY

HoD: Dr.  Siby Kavattu, CMI

Mobile: 8089781098

Email:  kavattusiby@gmail.com

Vision

The Church was born in the east and its roots are also there, though it spread to the West immediately. Hence, the Church has to breathe with her both lungs, East and West, with a healthy and balanced synthesis of eastern and western perspectives. The study of Eastern Christian Traditions and Theology is a deeper search into the roots of the Church. This licentiate programme is envisaged to go deep into the theological, liturgical, spiritual and patristic heritages of the Eastern Christian Traditions, especially the Syriac Tradition, which is flourishing in India and is getting global attention. The unique faith-vision and life-style of the Thomas Christians of India is an enrichment to this living and dynamic tradition.

Objectives

1. Systematic and scientific reflection and vision of Eastern Christian Theology, Liturgy, Spirituality, History and allied subjects.
2. Special emphasis on the Syriac legacy and Tradition.
3. Deeper inquiry and study of the unique Christian life-style and faith-vision of the Thomas Christians of India.
4. Understanding the Semitic Judeo-Christian roots and resumption of the biblical, symbolic, typological, poetic and pastoral approaches of Syriac Tradition into Christian witnessing.
5. Highlighting the unique contribution and vision of Eastern Fathers and imbibing their spirit.

Main/Obligatory Courses

1. Introduction to Eastern Churches
2. Eastern Theology: Orientations and Perspectives
3. Revisiting the Synod of Diamper: Variant Readings
4. Mystery of Human Being and Theosis
5. Christology: Alexandrian vs. Antiochene
6. Holy Spirit in the Early Syriac Tradition
7. Ephrem’s Hymns on Paradise
8. Theological Trends in the Fathers of the Church
9. Eastern Christian Monasticism
10. Church in the Syriac Tradition
11. Ethos and Ethics: An Eastern Perspective
12. Bible in the Syriac Tradition
13. Anaphora of Addai and Mari
14. Patristic Biblical Exegesis

Interdisciplinary Courses

1. History of Theology
2. Scripture, Tradition and Teachings of the Church
3. Theology of World Religions

Subsidiary Courses

1. Research Methodology and Sources of Eastern Theology
2. History of the School of Nisibis and its Theology
3. Eastern Christian Missiology
4. Eastern Canon Law and its Sources
5. Icons: Theology in Colours
6. Mysteries of Initiation in the East Syriac Tradition
7. Symbolic Theology of Ephrem
8. Liturgical Year
9. Greek Fathers and the Development of Apophatic Theology
10. Ecumenical Councils and the Eastern Churches
11. Textual Studies – Aphrahat/Ephrem/Narsai/Jacob of Serug/ Irenaeus/Gregory of Nyssa
12. Thomas Christians and Ecumenism

Languages

1. Greek – Level 1 (I Year)

2. Latin – Level 1 (I Year)

3. Syriac – Level 1 (I Year)

4. Syriac – Level 2 (I Year)

5. Syriac – Level 3 (II Year)

Other Requirements

2 Tutorials (One in Each Year)

2 Seminars (One in Each Year)

Research Paper (I Year)

Thesis (II Year)

Comprehensive Viva (II Year)