The Eastern Churches: Theology and History

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Eastern Christians and their Churches are an indispensable part of global Christianity that sheds light on its origins, its basic theological tenets, its achievements and its historical failures, dilemmas, and challenges. The course provides an overview of the variety of Eastern-rite Christian Churches belonging to the different cultural traditions of Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. The students will be introduced to the theological views and liturgical life of Eastern-rite Christians, i.e., Orthodox, Oriental, and Eastern Catholic, and their fascinating history. Special attention will be given to the Byzantine tradition, from the medieval period to our day. Russian and Ukrainian religious history and contemporary church life will be explored in more detail: we will focus on the challenges their theology and history present to contemporary world and international relations. Reflections on the diversity of Eastern Christian traditions lead to insights into theological, moral, and cultural issues such as ecumenism and Christian unity, war and peacemaking, Christianity and totalitarianism, the role of liturgy and ritual in modern culture.