General Description

This course will provide an introduction to the Dogma of the Church, or Ecclesiology, through a survey of the historical and theological “landmarks” of Church history and Tradition which helped formulate the spiritual experience of the Mystery of the Body of Christ, including Holy Scripture, patristic treatises and conciliar declarations.

Objectives of the Course

This course seeks to enhance theological understanding of the Dogma of the Church, the Body of Christ. In particular, to explore the nature of the Church, its holiness, unity, catholicity, and apostolicity, its boundaries and the presuppositions of entering within, the unity of the Mysteries [sacraments] with the mystery of the Incarnation, of which the Church is the continuation, as well as the Patristic witness and canonical tradition with respect to the state of those outside of the Church.

Further Aims of the Course

1. To understand the interrelation and inseparability of the marks of the Church.
2. To study the historical sources of the doctrine of the Church.
3. To understand the presuppositions of participation in the Mystery of the Church.
4. To discern the errors of modern “ecumenical ecclesiologies” and how they contribute to the forming of the “religion of the future.”

Lecture Times and Dates:

• Meets: Tuesday evenings, 9 PM EST, 6 PM (PST), 11 AM (Wed.) (AEDT).
• February 16, 23; March 2, 9, 17[Wed],* 23, 30; April 7[Wed], 13, 20.

—> Where can read more and see the “lecture hall”?: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/orthodox-ecclesiology

—-> HOW DO I SIGN UP? GO TO: https://www.patreon.com/frpeterheers

Lecture Topics:

General titles for material and epochs to be covered.]

Lesson 1: February 16th: Introduction, What is the Church?

Lesson 2: February 23rd: The Unity of the Church and The Mystery of Baptism

Lesson 3: March 2nd: The Church in St. Augustine, Ephesus and Chalcedon

Lesson 4: March 9th: The Church in Ss. Maximos and John of Damascus, and the 6th and 7th Oecumenical Councils

Lesson 5: March 17th* [Wed.]: The Church in the 8th Oecumenical Council & Great Schism

Lesson 6: March 23rd: The Church in Ss. Symeon the New Theologian, Nicholas Kabasilas, Gregory Palamas, Symeon of Thessaloniki, and Aquinas and Trent

Lesson 7: March 30th: The Church in The Kollyvades Fathers, St. Hilarion (Troitsky) and Fr. George Florovsky

Lesson 8: April 7th** [Wed.]: The Church in St. Justin Popovich, Vladimir Lossky and Fr. Alexander Schmemann

Lesson 9: April 13th: The Church as Presented in Vatican II and Modern Ecumenism

Lesson 10: April 20th: The Church Before the Face of the Religion of the Future