SS Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Institute
Orthodox Education for Faith and Life
What Is A Unit?
At SCMOI each course is made up of a series of units that concentrate on a particular area of study. Below are units offered at SCMOI:
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG130.5 Exploring the Christian Faith
This unit introduces students to the key topics of Orthodox theology, a discipline with spiritual and intellectual dimensions. It presents material of Scriptural revelation and Christian tradition about God and His interaction with the world and humanity. The course explores the historical journey of theological discourse from its beginnings to the present day. Key topics include: the nature of God’s existence and the practical implications of doctrines like the Trinity and the Incarnation, viewed in the context of tension and the theological debates of the early, medieval, and modern Christianity of the East and West.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG231.7 Christ and the Kingdom
This unit develops the students’ understanding of Christology, soteriology and eschatology. The unit aims to help students discuss these topics inter-contextually: that is, alongside contemporary Orthodox and western evangelical scholarship, students will learn to effectively engage with theologians from various historical contexts. Key topics include: the incarnation, earthly ministry, death, resurrection, and heavenly session of Christ; sin, atonement, justification, and sanctification; other spiritual powers; personal and cosmic eschatology, and Biblical terms for Christ.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTW252.7 Missionary Discipleship (Apologetics)
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG235.7 The Lives of the Saints
UNDERGRADUATE
MTO145.5 Spirituality for 21st Century Disciples
The unit provides students with the ability to articulate the biblical, spiritual, and ethical bases for Christian discipleship, to reflect on the appropriation of these in their own lives as developing leaders, and to gain a general understanding of such issues for Church members. The unit is structured around four modules. (1) An exploration of New Testament texts and theology regarding the nature of Christian discipleship. (2) An exploration of personal and communal practices of Christian discipleship as described in spiritual literature, the Lives of the Saints, and the biographies of contemporary disciples, with students engaging in reflection on their own beliefs, values, and practices. (3) An introductory understanding of the nature of Christian ethics in Australian society against a global context and the implications for Christian beliefs, values, and living. (4) An examination of a range of approaches to spiritual development in the Orthodox tradition, including contemporary approaches and consideration of forms of spiritual development appropriate to the student’s own experience.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTR190.5 Developing Cultural Intelligence
UNDERGRADUATE
MTO253.7 Leadership for Mission and Ministry
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG200.7 Interpreting the Old Testament
This unit examines the formation, content, background, storyline, main themes and literature of the Orthodox Old Testament canon to facilitate its faithful interpretation for and communication to diverse contemporary audiences. Students critically analyse the three worlds of the biblical text, developing an informed theory of interpretation and engaging with the patristic interpretation and contemporary perspectives and methodologies. Special focus is given to the cultivation of methods and skills for reading and communicating the various genres within this corpus.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG230.7 Trinity and Creation
This unit develops the students’ understanding of Christology, soteriology and eschatology. The unit aims to help students discuss these topics inter-contextually. Key topics include: the incarnation, earthly ministry, death, resurrection, and heavenly session of Christ; sin, atonement, justification, and sanctification; other spiritual powers; personal and cosmic eschatology, and Biblical terms for Christ.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG232.7 Spirit and the Church
This unit develops the students’ understanding of pneumatology and ecclesiology. The unit aims to help students discuss these topics inter-contextually: that is, alongside Orthodox theology and contemporary western evangelical scholarship, students will learn to effectively engage with theologians from various historical and cultural contexts. Key topics include: the Holy Spirit’s role and relationship in the Trinity; human interactions with the Spirit in salvation, worship, and sanctification; the dynamics of ecumenicalism and denominationalism; the nature of the Church, or the churches; methods and meanings of the sacraments, including baptism and the Eucharist
UNDERGRADUATE
EDU211.7 Ethical Understandings
UNDERGRADUATE
The Letters of Saint Ignatius
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG120.5 Story of the Church
This unit provides an introduction to the Church’s history, including the most significant and influential people, movements and events of the last 1900 years. It addresses the development of Christianity in the Roman Empire to the middle of the Fifth Century and the expansion of Christianity beyond the Roman Empire to Britain, northern and eastern Europe, North Africa and Asia. Key topics include: Greco-Roman Christianity, both before and after Constantine; core theological issues for the early Church; medieval Christianity’s theology, spirituality, and political influences; the Protestant and Catholic reformations of the early-modern period; and Christianity’s interactions with western modernity..
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG222.7 Living Tradition: Orthodox Church History from the 15th Century to the Present
UNDERGRADUATE
MTW253.7 Leadership for Mission and Ministry
UNDERGRADUATE
MTO140.5 Formation and Vocation
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG201.7 Interpreting the New Testament
This unit examines the formation, content, background, storyline, main themes and literature of the New Testament canon to facilitate its faithful interpretation for and communication to diverse contemporary audiences. Students critically analyse the three worlds of the biblical text, developing an informed theory of interpretation and engaging with various perspectives and methodologies. The methods and perspectives of patristic interpretation are foundational to our approach, but focus is given also to the cultivation of contemporary methods and skills for reading and communicating the various genres within this corpus.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG213.5 Introduction to New Testament Greek
This unit introduces students to the basics of Koine Greek and helps them to develop competency in using the specialist resources necessary to study the Greek text of the New Testament. Students will also be equipped with the knowledge, understanding, and skills to read and translate selected sections of the Greek New Testament as well as interact with the decisions the various English translators have made in translating this text.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG202.7 Pentateuch
This advanced exegetical unit facilitates patristic exegetical and theological analysis of the Pentateuch and its proclamation in diverse contemporary contexts. Students critically engage with current issues in Pentateuchal studies, specifically focusing on the patristic and contemporary interpretation of narrative and legal texts and their proclamation in contemporary Christian communities. Upon completing this unit, students will confidently and faithfully proclaim the Pentateuch to various audiences today.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG210.7 Engaging the Biblical Languages
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG204.7 Synoptic Gospels
This advanced exegetical unit facilitates in-depth exegetical and theological analysis of the Synoptic Gospels and their proclamation in diverse contemporary contexts. It connects strongly with the MTC formation domain, Engaging God’s Story. Students critically engage with current issues in Jesus and Gospel studies with specific focus on one of the Synoptic Gospels in its theological, rhetorical and socio-historical contexts and its proclamation in contemporary Christian communities. On completion of this unit, students will confidently and faithfully proclaim the Synoptic Gospels to various audiences today.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG212.7 New Testament Greek for Exegesis
This unit builds on Introduction to New Testament Greek to facilitate the exegesis of the Greek New Testament. The unit builds on the knowledge and skills gained through Interpreting the New Testament and, especially, Introduction to New Testament Greek and places emphasis on understanding New Testament Greek and its significance for exegesis of the New Testament. Students learn the vocabulary and morphology, and analyse Greek texts, engaging critically with Greek-based lexicons, grammars and commentaries and with the discussions of textual critics. On completion of this unit, students will confidently and faithfully exegete New Testament Greek texts and present their findings to contemporary audiences.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTO144.5 Introduction to Pastoral Theology and Ministry in the Orthodox Church
In this unit students will study priesthood in the Orthodox Church. The priesthood of Christ, the priesthood of all believers, and the priesthood of the ordained minister of Christ will be defined and contrasted to arrive at a theological basis of priesthood. The theology and formation of the ministerial priesthood, the role of the priest in the care of the soul, ritual and sacramental resources available to the priest in discharging this care, and how the role of the priest differs from that of other helping professions will be considered. Practical applications and challenges in pastoral ministry will be presented and discussed. Strategies in safeguarding the wellbeing of the priest and the congregation and relevant compliance legislation will be covered with a focus on practical application.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTW264.7 Liturgy and Worship in the Orthodox Church
The unit enables the student to develop a critical awareness of the nature of Christian worship, its theology, history, practice, and emerging trends, in the Orthodox Church. The unit will discuss the role ritual plays in human identity and development and the transforming function of worship. The history of Orthodox liturgical practice, East and West, will be surveyed, including the liturgical books, cycles, feasts, services, and the calendar. Special attention will be given to the Divine Liturgy (Eucharist). Consideration will be given to the inter-relationships between worship, life, preaching, and mission within the Orthodox Church. Clergy Track students will receive instruction on serving the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy.
POSTGRADUATE
MTG130.8 Exploring the Christian Faith
This unit introduces students to the key topics of Orthodox theology, a discipline with spiritual and intellectual dimensions. It presents material of Scriptural revelation and Christian tradition about God and His interaction with the world and humanity. The course explores the historical journey of theological discourse from its beginnings to the present day. Students discuss these topics inter-contextually from a perspective alongside modern Orthodox and Patristic scholarship. Key topics include: the nature of God’s existence and the practical implications of doctrines like the Trinity and the Incarnation, viewed in the context of tension and the theological debates of the early, medieval, and modern Christianity of the East and West.
POSTGRADUATE
MTG230.9 Trinity and Creation
POSTGRADUATE
EDU211.9 Ethical Understandings
POSTGRADUATE
MTG120.8 Story of the Church
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG206.7 Johannine Literature
This unit examines the Gospel of John, in order to understand the historical context in which it was written, appreciate its Jewish and Graeco-Roman cultural backgrounds, compare the witness of the Synoptic Gospels, deal with literary, socio-rhetorical, and theological questions that arise from exegesis of the text, gain an understanding of the theology and symbolism of the Gospel, and explore connections between this writing and contemporary issues. It also introduces the Johannine epistles and the relationship between the Gospel and the Epistles. The approach is both topical and exegetical, with an emphasis on relating patristic interpretation to contemporary study of the Johannine corpus, and exploring connections between this writing and contemporary issues.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG205.7 Romans
This advanced exegetical unit facilitates in-depth exegetical and theological analysis of St Paul’s letter to the Romans in English and its interpretation and proclamation in diverse contemporary contexts. Students critically engage with current issues in Pauline studies, scaffolded by patristic interpretation and with specific foci on the theological, rhetorical, and socio-historical contexts of Romans. On completion of this unit, students will be equipped to explicate the message of Romans confidently and faithfully and to apply the insights gained from this epistle to other areas of theological and biblical study.
UNDERGRADUATE
MTG214.7 Introductory Church Slavonic
UNDERGRADUATE
MTW255.7 Preaching
Students will be involved in an integrated learning process reflecting on the theology of preaching, preparing and delivering sermons. The approach taken will be to examine exemplary examples of preaching, including patristic and Orthodox models, deducing principles that can be adapted performatively by students. A combination of lecture, workshop, exercises and small group formats will be used to encourage dialogue with the lecturer, readings and experiences of others. Students will be encouraged to view the lecture material critically, relating it to their own context and to share their views.
POSTGRADUATE
MTG231.9 Christ and the Kingdom
POSTGRADUATE
MTG232.9 Spirit and the Church
This unit develops the students’ understanding of pneumatology and ecclesiology. The unit aims to help students discuss these topics inter-contextually: that is, alongside Orthodox theology and contemporary western evangelical scholarship, students will learn to effectively engage with theologians from various historical and cultural contexts. Key topics include: the Holy Spirit’s role and relationship in the Trinity; human interactions with the Spirit in salvation, worship, and sanctification; the dynamics of ecumenicalism and denominationalism; the nature of the Church, or the churches; methods and meanings of the sacraments, including baptism and the Eucharist
POSTGRADUATE
MTW Letters of Saint Ignatius
POSTGRADUATE
MTW262.7 Missionary Discipleship (Apologetics)
POSTGRADUATE
MTR292.9 Capstone Project: The Lives of the Saints
POSTGRADUATE
MTG222.9 Living Tradition: Orthodox Church History from the 15th Century to the Present
POSTGRADUATE
MTO145.8 Spirituality for 21st Century Disciples
The unit provides students with the ability to articulate the biblical, spiritual, and ethical bases for Christian discipleship, to reflect on the appropriation of these in their own lives as developing leaders, and to gain a general understanding of such issues for Church members. The unit is structured around four modules. (1) An exploration of New Testament texts and theology regarding the nature of Christian discipleship. (2) An exploration of personal and communal practices of Christian discipleship as described in spiritual literature, the Lives of the Saints, and the biographies of contemporary disciples, with students engaging in reflection on their own beliefs, values, and practices. (3) An introductory understanding of the nature of Christian ethics in Australian society against a global context and the implications for Christian beliefs, values, and living. (4) An examination of a range of approaches to spiritual development in the Orthodox tradition, including contemporary approaches and consideration of forms of spiritual development appropriate to the student’s own experience.
POSTGRADUATE
MTW253.9 Leadership for Mission and Ministry
POSTGRADUATE
MTR190.8 Developing Cultural Intelligence
POSTGRADUATE
MTO253.9 Leadership for Mission and Ministry
POSTGRADUATE
MTO140.8 Formation and Vocation
POSTGRADUATE
MTG201.9 Interpreting the New Testament
This unit examines the formation, content, background, storyline, main themes and literature of the New Testament canon to facilitate its faithful interpretation for, and communication to, diverse contemporary audiences. Our approach is grounded in the patristic and liturgical interpretive framework of the Church, but students will critically analyse the three worlds of the biblical text, developing an informed theory of interpretation and engage with various perspectives, methodologies and biblical criticisms. Special focus is given to the cultivation of methods and skills for reading and communicating the various genres within this corpus.
POSTGRADUATE
MTG200.9 Interpreting the Old Testament
POSTGRADUATE
MTG213.8 Introduction to New Testament Greek
POSTGRADUATE
MTG210.9 Engaging in the Biblical Languages
POSTGRADUATE
MTG206.9 Johannine Literature
POSTGRADUATE
MTG212.9 New Testament Greek for Exegesis
This unit builds on Introduction to New Testament Greek to facilitate the exegesis of the Greek New Testament. The unit builds on the knowledge and skills gained through Interpreting the New Testament and, especially, Introduction to New Testament Greek and places emphasis on understanding New Testament Greek and its significance for exegesis of the New Testament. Students learn the vocabulary and morphology, and analyse Greek texts, engaging critically with Greek-based lexicons, grammars and commentaries and with the discussions of textual critics. On completion of this unit, students will confidently and faithfully exegete New Testament Greek texts and present their findings to contemporary audiences.
POSTGRADUATE
MTG204.9 Synoptic Gospels
POSTGRADUATE
MTG202.9 Pentateuch
POSTGRADUATE
MTO144.8 Introduction to Pastoral Theology and Ministry in the Orthodox Church
POSTGRADUATE
MTG205.9 Romans
This advanced exegetical unit facilitates in-depth exegetical and theological analysis of St Paul’s letter to the Romans in English and its interpretation and proclamation in diverse contemporary contexts. Students critically engage with current issues in Pauline studies, scaffolded by patristic interpretation and with specific foci on the theological, rhetorical, and socio-historical contexts of Romans. On completion of this unit, students will be equipped to explicate the message of Romans confidently and faithfully and to apply the insights gained from this epistle to other areas of theological and biblical study.