The Stephen and Catherine Pappas Patristic Institute is again pleased to offer its week-long Summer Patristic Studies Program on the campus of Hellenic College Holy Cross in Brookline, MA on July 30 – August 4, 2017. This is a unique opportunity to study and discuss classic Patristic texts through small group-study brief faculty lectures. The intended audience for the program includes theology and religious studies students at the masters and undergraduate levels, clergy, interested lay people, and undergraduates with an interest in learning more about the Church Fathers. Doctoral-level students are also encouraged to participate, or to apply for teaching fellowships.
The current list of courses for this summer includes the following selection. Each student will choose two courses during the program:
- Wealth and Poverty in the Patristic Tradition
Dr. Brian Matz, Fontbonne University
- The Ascending Pilgrimage: The Spiritual Life according to Irenaeus of Lyons
Don Springer, McMasters Divinity School
- Reading Scripture with the Fathers
Dr. Bruce Beck, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
- Economia and Ecology: The Church Fathers on the Creation
Dr. David Goodin, McGill University
- Virtues and Vices in the Eastern and Western Fathers
Kevin Clarke, Ave Maria University
- Lives of the Saints: Imitation as Spiritual Formation
Dr. Sean Moberg, (PhD, Catholic University)
- Lord’s Prayer in Patristic Tradition,
Dr. Zachary Kostopoulos, Research Fellow, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
The program goes from Sunday evening, July 30, through Friday afternoon, August 4. Housing is provided on campus in the campus dormitory from Sunday evening through Friday night. If you would prefer to stay in a hotel, please let me know so that we can facilitate your accommodation at a nearby hotel. Each course will be offered daily during a three-hour session. Each participant will have the opportunity to take two courses (see below for more details on the schedule and methodology).
To register for the program, please fill out the web registration form here. Please send any questions about the program to Dr. Bruce Beck at bbeck@hchc.edu. Registration fees are not due until the beginning of the program, July 30, 2017.
Program Fees:
- Registration (includes lunch and breaks): $450
- Dormitory Room and Board (for 6 nights, Sun – Fri, and meals) $300
Program Details:
- Goal: to provide the opportunity for in-depth, group study of significant theological topics of contemporary relevance based on selected writings of the ancient Church.
- Primary Audience: Masters-level students of theology, divinity, or similar programs who wish to further their knowledge of the writings and practices of the early Church. All others interested in coming are also welcome to apply.
- Pedagogical Method: each course will study primary patristic texts organized topically. Each class period has three types of learning; 1) the instructor provides an overview of the texts being studied, including their historical contexts and relevance for the class; 2) the class divides into small groups of 6-8 persons led by Teaching Fellows who are doctoral students; 3) the instructor offers a 20-30 minute lecture followed by further discussion with the entire class.
- Structure of Program
Check in Sunday afternoon between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. Orientation and opening presentation will be Sunday evening after dinner.
Sessions will be held Monday through Friday per the above schedule.
Sessions will consist of group, text-study sessions led by faculty along with doctoral-level teaching assistants.
Each session will be 3 hours, consisting of
- 15 minutes introduction of the texts by instructor
- 90 minutes group study led by instructor and teaching fellow
- Break (30 Minutes)
- 45 minutes lecture and further discussion
Each participant will choose two courses of study for the week. Each course will meet 5 times (once each day).
Founded by a generous grant from the late Stephen Pappas and his wife Catherine, the goal of the Pappas Patristic Institute is the advancement and promotion of eastern patristic studies in the service of the academy and of the Church.