SCHOOL OF SOCIAL THEOLOGY AND CHRISTIAN CULTURE
POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM
«STUDIES IN ORTHODOX THEOLOGY»
The Course
The School of Social Theology and Christian Culture of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki organizes and runs in the academic year 2015-2016 an English-language Master’s Program (M.Th.) entitled «Studies in Orthodox Theology», in accordance with the Ministry of Education rules, no. Ref. 209768 / Z1 (ΦΕΚ, no. 3614 / 31.12.2014, v. B) and the provisions of Law. 3685/2008, as in force.
The Programme aims at developing and promoting academic knowledge and research in Orthodox Theology. More particularly, in the academic year 2015-2016, the Postgraduate Studies Programme (PSP) will offer courses in Biblical Studies (Study of the Holy Scriptures). These courses focus on the training in research methods for the study of the Bible, on specialized knowledge regarding the textual tradition of the books of the Bible, on the language, the history, the culture and the social context of the biblical text, as well as on its reception history throughout the ages. Despite their being two discrete units, the Old and the New Testament are regarded as a single theological unity and as a source of the Christian and more particularly of the Orthodox theology according to the patristic tradition.
All participants in the PSP are committed to ensuring quality and excellence, by means of continuous evaluation and improvement of every aspect of the educational procedures, as well as through the promotion and development of co-operations with similar PSPs, Research Centres, and Institutes in Greece and abroad. Moreover, the overall purpose of the programme is the development of special critical research skills necessary for doctoral research in related academic fields.
The administration of the PSP “Studies in Orthodox Theology” (SOT) will be run by the secretariat of the School of Pastoral and Social Theology. All documents related to the administration of the PSP have to be in English.
Αcademic Committee and Faculty
The teaching staff includes distinguished researchers in Orthodox Theology from both Greece and abroad.
Academic Committee
- Director: Athanasios Paparnakis, Associate Professor of Old Testament
- Members:
- Apostolos Kralidis, Professor of History of Religions
- Ekaterini Tsalampouni, Associate Professor of New Testament
- Rev. Chrysostomos Nassis, Assistant Professor of Liturgics
The Academic Faculty
- Symeon Paschalidis, Professor of Patristics and Hagiology
- Kyriakoula Papademetriou, Professor of New Testament
- Athanasios Paparnakis, Associate Professor of Old Testament
- Rev. Christos Filiotis-Vlahavas, Associate Professor of Dogmatics
- Apostolos Kralidis, Professor of History of Religions
- Konstantinos Bozinis, Associate Professor of Byzantine Philosophy
- Evangelia Dafni, AssociateProfessor of Old Testament (Septuagint)
- Ekaterini Tsalampouni, Associate Professor of New Testament
- Theodoros Pittaras, AssociateProfessor of Patristics
- Rev. Chrysostomos Nassis, Assistant Professor of Liturgics
Target audience
The PSP is addressed to graduates of Theology and relevant disciplines of recognized or accredited Academic Institutions from Greece or abroad, who wish to acquire or broaden their specialization in Orthodox Theology.
When to Apply
Potential students are invited to submit their application (here) to the Secretariat of the School of Social Theology and Christian Culture between September 15 and October 15 2015. An early application is recommendable, since this will ensure a quick response and place availability. The applicants will be notified about the decision of the Academic Committee by October 31 at the latest. Please ensure that you complete the application form fully and submit all your supporting documents for us to make an informed decision.
Entry Requirements
Along with the application form the following requisite documents should also be submitted:
- Copy of undergraduate degree, when necessary recognized by the Hellenic National Academic Information Center (NARIC-ΔΟΑΤΑΠ). (for further information see https://www.doatap.gr/home_english/)
- Full transcript of undergraduate coursework and grades.
- Proof of competency in the English language.
- Complete biographical statement outlining the academic profile of the applicant, along with copies of degrees and titles held.
- Two letters of recommendation from university professors and one optional letter from an ecclesiastical authority.
- Photocopy of identity card or passport.
Selection procedure
The selection process will be completed by 31 October at the latest.
Selection criteria will be applied as follows:
1. Theology Degree
2. Potential second degree or other academic title, MA or PhD
3. Grade of the Theology Degree
The selection procedure will also take account of:
a. a personal interview by the members of the Academic Committee
b. an examination process for graduates of non-theological Institutions at the field of biblical studies on specific topics from the undergraduate cycle.
By the decision of the General Assembly of Special Composition of the School applicants holding scholarships of the State Scholarships Foundation or foreign citizens holding scholarships of the Greek State or Church foundation can also be accepted in the PSP additionally to the original number of enrolled students.
Enrollement – Supervisor
After the completion of the selection procedure, a professor of the teaching staff will be assigned to each candidate as her/his supervisor.
The replacement of the supervisor is possible by decision of the Academic Committee and the General Assembly of Special Composition of the School following an adequately documented written request submitted by the student to the Academic Committee.
Schedule-Duration
The MA in Studies in Orthodox Theology is an 18-month full-time programme of study consisted of a total of nine teaching modules, three in each semester. They are taught mainly on weekdays and the duration of each teaching session is approximately three hours. Each semester comprises 13 weeks followed by a 10-day exam period. A fourth semester is taken up with the composition of the MA thesis. Each teaching module is credited with 10 ECTS and the dissertation with another 30 ECTS, summing up to a total of 120 ECTS. For further details on the educational process see here.
Teaching modules
The teaching modules for the academic year 2015-2016 are the following:
Semester 1
HS01. Μajor Εxegetical Μethods and Αpproaches: History of Research and Methodology [Seminar]
HS02. Interpretation of the Prophetic Books of the Old Testament
ΗS07. New Testament Text Criticism
Semester 2
HS05. Septuagint and Ancient Greek Literature – From Homer to the Stoics
ΗS08. New Testament and Culture
HS09. The Reception of the New Testament in Literature and Art
Semester 3
HS04. Theology of the Septuagint
HS06. New Testament and Patristic Hermeneutics
HS03. History of the Interpretation of the Old Testament
All courses will be taught in English. The MA Thesis will also be written in English.
Master’s Degree
The PSP awards a Master’s Degree of Theology in Biblical Studies / Studies of the Holy Scriptures (M.Th.).
The degree is issued in two languages: in Greek and in English.
The announcement of the master graduates takes place in the General Assembly of Special Composition of the School, in which the graduates can also be present. This ceremony can be public.
The graduate can get a certificate of her/his degree even before the aforementioned official announcement.
Tuition fees
When registering the candidates have to pay 200€.
The tuition fees are 1900€ annually. It is possible to pay the sum in two instalments per semester from the 1st to the 10th of September, November, January and March. In case that the fees are not paid this can result to the exclusion of the candidate from the programme unless the General Assembly of Special Composition of the School decides differently.