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The Transformation of Modern Orthodox Christianity

Module description

Eastern Orthodox Christianity (260 million members) is a lesser-known tradition of Christianity offering an alternative history and vision to that of its better-known Western counterparts (Catholicism, Protestantism). Its traditional territories are in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, with a diaspora of tens of millions. In its teachings, practices, and ethos, Orthodoxy is still very much pre-modern, traditional and mysticalin its self-consciousness. However, it is a church which exists in multiple societies which are only partially 'modernized' and partially 'secularized’. In this module you will investigate the radical transformation of the modern philosophical, theological and spiritual traditions of Eastern Orthodox Christianity since the publication of the classic spiritual anthology of texts, the Philokalia (1782). You will engage with the primary texts of major Orthodox thinkers, especially in the Russian, Greek and Romanian traditions, as well as contemporary debates in Orthodox political and sexual theologies.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aims of the module are:

• To explore select aspects of the history of Eastern Orthodox Christianity from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 down to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.  
• To explore the role in Orthodox Christianity of hesychastic prayer and spirituality or the tradition of the ‘Prayer of the Heart’, as expressed classically in the 5 volume Philokalia, as well as other hagiographical and monastic literature.  
• To examine a selection of the texts of key historic Orthodox philosophers, theologians and spiritual writers ranging from the 18^th century down to the contemporary period.
• To study important movements in modern Orthodox Christian thought (e.g. neo-patristic synthesis, Russian religious thought, sophiology), with particular critical attention to the binarism of ‘East’ and ‘West’ and the influence of Western philosophy (e.g. Idealism, phenomenology). 
• To explore the role of spirituality in the philosophical and theological thinking of multiple thinkers. 
• To investigate the role played by Orthodox Christian liturgy, specific liturgical arts (e.g. iconography) and asceticism in modern Orthodox Christianity. 
• To study key topics in modern Orthodox theology and religious philosophy, especially, theological epistemology and metaphysics, idealism, Trinitarian theology, Christology, pneumatology, anthropology, ecclesiology with particular attention to ecumenism and Eucharistic theology and eschatology. 
• To examine the different conceptualizations of Tradition in Orthodoxy and the role creativity plays in each.  
• To look at key contemporary debates in the last decade especially in the area of LGBTQ+ identity and inclusion in the Orthodox Church, political theology (e.g. church and nation) and science and religion. 
• To explore the relationship of the Church Fathers and the discipline of Patristics to Orthodox theology with particular focus on the authority of patristic teaching and the movement of Palamism 
• To investigate modern Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical order, monastic life and the character of particular local churches from Albania and Greece to Russian and Ukraine. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Critically evaluate in detail the difference and similarity between modern Orthodox Christian theological and philosophical conceptions and their Western counterparts
• 2. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and critical understanding of the history of Orthodox Christianity in the modern period, the structure, life, teachings and spread of the different Orthodox churches, and the different historical and contemporary constructions of tradition and modernity and East and West in modern Orthodox Christianity
• 3. Describe in detail and critically assess the history of Orthodox encounters and creative engagement with Western culture, philosophy and religion
• 4. Demonstrate a nuanced critical understanding of multiple key Orthodox Christian philosophers, theologians and spiritual writers as well as the role of spirituality, mysticism, liturgy, asceticism and Patristic tradition in modern Orthodox thought
• 5. Analyze in detail the differing conceptions of sexuality, science and politics in contemporary Orthodox Christianity

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of, and critical reflection on, contrasting and even contradictory scholarly and historical perspectives
• 7. Demonstrate command in some core methods of study: Christian historical analysis, systematic theological reasoning and philosophical analysis?
• 8. Demonstrate an advanced ability to analyse and then put into dialogue different Orthodox Christian thinkers showing a detailed understanding of the multi-faceted history of modern Orthodox Christianity, especially in its encounters with the modern West

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 9. Communicate clearly and critically in written and oral forms and participate with sympathy and good humour in class discussions?
• 10. Assimilate effectively in a relatively short span complex and detailed arguments, being able to both understand and critically analyse them but also to communicate this knowledge clearly to others

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:? 

? 

• The history of modern Orthodoxy, its churches and their structures and life 
• Multiple Orthodox Christian philosophers, theologians and spiritual figures and writers 
• The history of modern Orthodox Christian theologizing and philosophizing on multiple modern issues from the plurality of churches, the West, politics, sexuality, tradition and science 
• The role of spirituality, liturgy, iconography, asceticism and the Eucharist in modern Orthodoxy 
• Study of the Eastern Patristic corpus, the Philokalia and their reception in modern Orthodoxy 
• Multiple systematic theological topics from Trinitarian theology and Christology to anthropology and eschatology 

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.? 

? 

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.? 

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Thomas Arentzen, Ashley Purpura and Aristotle Papanikolaou, Orthodox Tradition and Human Sexuality (New York: Fordham University Press, 2022). 
• Antoine Arjakovsky, The Way: Religious Thinkers of the Russian Emigration in Paris, trans. Jerry Ryan (Notre Dame, IN: Notre Dame University Press, 2013). 
• Elizabeth Behr-Sigel, Discerning the Times: The Vision of Elizabeth Behr-Sigel, eds. Michael Plekon and Sarah E. Hinlicky (Crestwood, N.Y.:  Saint Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2001). 
• Brock Bingaman and Bradley Nassif, eds., The Philokalia: A Classic Text of Orthodox Spirituality (Oxford/NY: Oxford University Press, 2012). 
• Sergii Bulgakov, Sophia, The Wisdom of God: An Outline of Sophiology, trans. Patrick Thompson, O. Fielding Clarke and Xenia Braikevitch (Hudson, NY: Lindisfarne Press, 1993 [1937]). 
• Brandon Gallaher and Paul Ladouceur, eds., The Patristic Witness of Georges Florovsky: Essential Writings (London: T & T Clark/Bloomsbury, 2019). 
• Brandon Gallaher and Gregory Tucker, eds., Eastern Orthodoxy and Sexual Diversity: Perspectives on Challenges from the Modern West, British Council Bridging Voices Exeter-Fordham Report (Washington, DC: British Council USA, 13 November, 2019). 
• Thomas Hopko, Women and the Priesthood (Crestwood: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1999). 
• Christopher Knight, Eastern Orthodoxy and the Science-Theology Dialogue (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2022). 
• Paul Ladouceur, Modern Orthodox Theology: Behold, I Make All things New (Rev 21:5) (London: T & T Clark, 2019). 
• Vladimir Lossky, The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church, trans. Fellowship of St Alban and St Sergius (Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1976). 
• Andrew Louth, Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology (London: SPCK, 2013). 
• ---., Modern Orthodox Thinkers: From the Philokalia to the Present (London: SPCK, 2015). 
• Leonid Ouspensky, Theology of the Icon, 2 vols. trans. Anthony P. Gythiel (Crestwood, NY:  St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1990). 
• Michael Plekon, Living Icons: Persons of Faith in the Eastern Church (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame, 2002). 
• Alexander Schmemann, Introduction to Liturgical Theology, trans. Asheleigh E. Moorhouse (Leighton Buzzard, Beds.,/NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1975 [1966]). 
• ---., For the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy (Yonkers, NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2018). 
• Kristina Stoeckl., Ingeborg Gabriel and Aristotle Papanikolaou, eds., Political Theologies in Orthodox Christianity (London: T & T Clark-Bloomsbury, 2017). 
• Maria Skobtsova, Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, trans., Mother Maria Skobtsova: Essential Writings (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2003). 
• Robert F. Taft, The Byzantine Rite: A Short History (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1992). 
• ---., Beyond East and West: Problems in Liturgical Understanding (Rome: Edizioni Orientalia Cristiana, 1997). 
• Paul Valliere, Modern Russian theology: Bukharev, Soloviev, Bulgakov. Orthodox Theology in a New Key (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 2000). 
• Kallistos [Timothy] Ware and Mother Mary, trans. The Festal Menaion (London:  Faber and Faber, 1969). 
• ---. The Lenten Triodion (London/Boston:  Faber and Faber, 1978). 
• Kallistos [Timothy] Ware and Gerald Palmer, Philip Sherrard, trans. and eds., The Philokalia, 4 vols. [5th forthcoming] (London: Faber & Faber, 1979-1995). 
• Kallistos Ware, The Orthodox Way (Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1979). 
• ---., The Orthodox Church, 3^rd Ed. (London: Penguin, 2015). 
• Gayle Woloschak and Vasilios Makrides., eds., Orthodox Christianity and Modern Science (Turnhout: Brepols, 2019). 

Key words search

Eastern Orthodoxy, Modern, Ancient, Mysticism, Tradition, Theology, philosophy, spirituality, sexuality, politics, Greek, Russian, Catholic, Christianity, Patristics, Church Fathers