Foundations Package
Dip into the Waters of Orthodox Theological Education
Has the thought of studying theology ever entered your mind? Have you wondered what life would be like as a seminarian, but would love to get a small taste of what you might learn in the classroom? Or are you simply looking to strengthen your foundational understanding of the Orthodox Christian Faith? The Foundations Package was put together for faithful Christians such as you.
Enjoy, learn, and be edified by these five (5) courses from the St. Vladimir’s Online School of Theology catalog, offered to you all together at a discounted price—you get the fifth course for free!
Learn on Your Schedule
Gain access to all recorded sessions and course materials and study on your time (4 sessions for each of the 5 courses)
Learn from the outstanding faculty of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
Build a solid foundation for a formal theological education or strengthen your understanding of the faith “which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Start Learning Today!
$625 $500
The Courses
What Is Theology?
Dr. Peter Bouteneff
Professor of Systematic Theology
Theology is much more than “the study of God.” It is a relationship with God, where we seek to know Him, in love, in prayer and—yes—through study. This course will answer some fundamental questions about theology. Students will gain a sense of how theology is possible and why theology matters.
Orthodoxy & the Old Testament
Dr. Michael Legaspi
Associate Professor of Old Testament
Gain a deeper knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures. Over the course of four sessions, biblical scholar Dr. Michael Legaspi guides students through a series of questions. Why don’t many Orthodox Christians read the Old Testament? What is the place and purpose of the Old Testament in Holy Tradition? How does the Old Testament shape Orthodox worship? What is its relationship to history? How does it guide our lives today? Explore the Law, Prophets, and Writings and seek to understand, as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24.44), their ultimate fulfillment in Christ.
The Four Gospels and the One Christ: An Introduction to the New Testament Gospels
The Rev. Dr. George Parsenios
Adjunct Professor of New Testament
This course will help a layperson see the basic features that make each Gospel a unique portrait of Jesus and how the Four Gospels together provide a canonical image of Christ. Address the question of what makes a Gospel in the first place, and delve into the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke/Acts, and John.
Preparing to Read the Fathers
The Very Rev. Dr Bogdan G. Bucur
Associate Professor of Patristics
This course is an introduction to reading the Fathers of the Church.
Consider first the ways in which early Christians articulated their faith by reworking doctrines, imagery, and exegetical, ascetical, and liturgical practices inherited from the rich and complex matrix of Second Temple Judaism. Then look at the creative adoption and adaptation of the Greco-Roman cultural idiom, and the forging of an increasingly precise glossary of theological concepts to define doctrinal orthodoxy. The third and fourth sessions explore two of the most important avenues for understanding “the mind of the Fathers”: the patristic approach to the Scriptures and the Christology of Byzantine hymns.
Liturgical Theology: Foundations of Orthodox Christian Worship
The Right Rev. Dr. Vasily (Permiakov)
Assistant Professor of Liturgical Theology
Join us on a journey to explore the historical origins and practice of Orthodox Christian worship. From understanding the centrality of liturgy in Church life to unveiling the theology of the eucharistic celebration, this course invites you to participate in an enlightening overview of the beauty and meaning of Orthodox liturgical tradition.