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CourseSyllabusTRT2311–FundamentalsofOrthodoxSpirituality
TrinityCollegeTorontoSchoolofTheology
SeptembertoDecember(Fall)2017
InstructorInformation
Instructor: DrPaulLadouceur,AdjunctFacultyOfficeLocation: LarkinBuilding,Office317Telephone: (450)834-7203Email: [email protected] : Tobedetermined
CourseIdentification
CourseNumber: TRT2311(formerlyTRH2451)CourseName: FundamentalsofOrthodoxSpiritualityCourseLocation: LarkinBuilding,Room_____(andonlinesection)ClassTimes: TuesdaysandFridays,7pmto10pm(sixweekirregularschedule)Prerequisites: None
CourseDescription
ThiscoursewillexploreOrthodoxspiritualtheologyfromboththematicandhistoricalperspectives,drawingontheprincipalwritingsthathavecontributedtoitsdevelopmentoverthecenturies.FromaconsiderationofthegoalofOrthodoxspiritualityasunionwithGodordeification(theosis),thecoursewillexaminethecontributionoftheOldandNewTestament;theexperienceofearlyChurch;monasticism;ancientphilosophy;liturgicalandsacramentalelements;themysticalandcontemplativeaspects;andpatristictheology.
Studentswillbeevaluatedontheirclassparticipation,abookreview,andatake-homeexamoressay.
Fortheonlinesection,classroomlecturesandseminarswillberecordedandmadeavailabletoviewonthecourseportal.Participationwillbeviaonlinediscussionforums.
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ExpandedCourseDescription
SpiritualityisprimarilyfaithlivedinthesearchforGodandtheexperienceofGod,whattheasceticFatherscalledtheologia,beyond"theology"asabstractortheoreticalknowledgeofGod.
ThiscoursewillexploreOrthodoxspiritualityfromboththematicandhistoricalperspectives,drawingontheprincipalwritingsthathavecontributedtoitsdevelopmentoverthecenturies.FromaconsiderationofthegoalofOrthodoxspiritualityasunionwithGodordeification(theosis),thecoursewillexaminethecontributionoftheOldandNewTestament;theexperienceofearlyChurch;monasticism;ancientphilosophy;liturgicalandsacramentalelements;themysticalandcontemplativeaspects;andpatristictheology.AmongtheessentialtheologicalelementsofOrthodoxspiritualityispatristicanthropology,manas"imageandresemblance”ofGod;thetripartitenatureofman;theimperfectstateofhumanity;theIncarnationoftheWordofGodandthesalvificroleofChrist;andthedistinctionbetweenthedivineessenceanddivineenergies.
Onthisbasis,theFathersdevelopedanascetictheologywhichincludessuchkeynotionsasthe“passions”andthestagesoftemptationandsin;repentanceorconversion(metanoia);theconcurrenceofdivineandthehumanelementsinthespirituallife(synergy);theheartandtheguardingoftheheart(nepsis).Theseelementsofspiritualityconstituteaframeworkforthe"practice"(praxis)ofthespirituallife:theacquisitionofvirtues,particularlythefulfillmentofthecommandmentoflove;communalorliturgicalprayer;personalprayerandparticipationinthesacraments,especiallytheEucharist;fasting;Biblicalandspiritualreading;andspiritualdirection.
TheendofthespiritualjourneyistheKingdomofGod,whichweapproachprogressivelybymeansofthetraditionalstagesofthespirituallife,purification,illuminationandperfection.TheKingdomofGodisbothpresenthereandnow,andyetishopedfor,notyetrealised.
Particularattentionwillbegiventoseveralbroadthemes,suchasthedevelopmentofhesychasticspirituality,theJesusPrayertheideaof"interiorizedmonasticism",thedomesticchurchandthetheologyoflaity.Throughoutthecourse,themeswillbeillustratedanddeepenedbythereadingsfromthegreatclassicsofOrthodoxspirituality.
CourseResources
RequiredCourseReadings
“MyBurdenIsLight”:ReadingsinOrthodoxSpiritualitytotheFourteenthCentury.
Oneofthebookslistedinthenextsection,ortheportionofthebookindicated.
BookReviewList
Origen,“ExortationtoMartyrdom”and“OnPrayer”.(pp.41-170).In:Origen,(NewYork:PaulistPress,1979)$31.00.ISBN:9780809121984BR65O521979McLennan&Birks&PresbyterianCollege
AthanasiusofAlexandria,TheLifeofAntonyandtheLettertoMarcellinus.$31.00.(NewYork:PaulistPress,1980).“TheLifeofAntony”and“TheLetter”(pp.1-130).ISBN:9780809122950BR1720A6A83131980Birks&PresbyterianCollege
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Pseudo-Macarius,TheFiftySpiritualHomiliesandTheGreatLetter.$34.00.(NewYork:PaulistPress,1992).Homilies1-25(pp.37-164).ISBN:9780809133123BR65P823S6513Birks
EvagriusofPontus,TheGreekAsceticCorpus.(OxfordUniversityPress,2003).Chapters1to4and7(pp.1-90and136-182).BR65E92E54McLennan
GregoryofNyssa,TheLifeofMoses.$31.00.(NewYork:PaulistPress,1978).BooksIandII(pp.1-132).ISBN:9780809121120BS580M6G7313Birks&PresbyterianCollege
JohnCassian,TheInstitutes.$50.00.(NewYork:NewmanPress,2000).Books5to10(pp.113-238).ISBN:9780809105229BR60A35no.58McLennan
JohnCassian,TheConferences.(NewYork:PaulistPress,1985).$31.00.Conferences2,3,9,10,11,14and15(pp.60-182).ISBN:9780809126941BX2435C3152513Birks
MaximustheConfessor,“FourCenturiesonLove”inE.KadloubovskyandG.E.H.Palmer,EarlyFathersfromthePhilokalia(London:FaberandFaber,1954).(pp.281-346).BR60P413McLennanAlsoinVolumeIIofthePhilokalia:G.E.H.Palmer,PhilipSherrardandKallistosWare,trans.,ThePhilokalia:TheCompleteText(London:FaberandFaber,1979-1995).McGilldoesnothavethisedition.
JohnClimacus,TheLadderofDivineAscent.$38.00.(NewYork:PaulistPress,1982).Steps1to13and27to30(pp.71-164and261-292).ISBN:9780809123308BX382J6131982Birks&PresbyterianCollege
SymeontheNewTheologian,TheDiscourses(NewYork:PaulistPress,1980).$39.00.Discourses1to10(pp.41-167).BV5039G7S913BirksISBN:9780809122301
GregoryPalamas,TheTriads.ApologyfortheHolyHesychasts$31.00(NewYork:PaulistPress,1983).ISBN:9780809124473
NicholasCabasilas,TheLifeinChrist.$26.00(CrestwoodNY:St.Vladimir'sSeminaryPress,1974).ISBN:9780913836125BX382C3L5BirksBX382.C3L5
RecommendedGeneralSecondarySources
ÉlisabethBehr-Sigel,LeLieuducœur:Initiationàlaspiritualitédel’Égliseorthodoxe,Cerf,1989;2004.158p.(42,00$).ISBN:978-2204-040020ThePlaceoftheHeart:AnIntroductiontoOrthodoxSpirituality(TorranceCA:OakwoodPublications,1992).($27.00)SMCBX383.B421992ISBN:978-088141-452325
PlacideDeseille,LaspiritualitéorthodoxeetlaPhilocalie,AlbinMichel,2003.282p.(16,00$)ISBN:978-2226-137227OrthodoxSpiritualityandthePhilokalia(WichitaKS:EighthDayPress,2008).
PaulEvdokimov,LesÂgesdelaviespirituelle,Lethielleux,2009.236p.(36,00$)TheAgesoftheSpiritualLife(Crestwood,NY:St.Vladimir'sSeminaryPress,1998).($31.00)Robarts&SMCBX382.E9213.
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GeorgesFlorovsky,TheByzantineAsceticandSpiritualFathers(1933),inTheCollectedWorksofGeorgesFlorovsky,Vol.10(Vaduz:Büchervertriebsanstalt,1987).SMCBX260.F5513v.10Onlineat:www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/fathers_florovsky_4.htm.
JeanMeyendorff,SaintGrégoirePalamasetlamystiqueorthodoxe,Seuil,2001.(15,00$).StGregoryPalamasandOrthodoxSpirituality(CrestwoodNY:StVladimir'sSeminaryPress,1974).($26.00).SMCBX395.P3M428131998
AMonkoftheEasternChurch[FrLevGillet],OrthodoxSpirituality:AnOutlineoftheOrthodoxAsceticalandMysticalTradition(Crestwood,NY:St.Vladimir'sSeminaryPress,1996).SMCBX382.M651978(outofprint–photocopy$10.00).UnMoinedel'Églised'Orient[pèreLevGillet],Introductionàlaspiritualitéorthodoxe,DescléedeBrouwer,1983.116p.(Épuisé).
DumitruStaniloae,OrthodoxSpirituality:APracticalGuidefortheFaithfulandaDefinitiveManualfortheScholar(SouthCanaanPA:StTikhon’sSeminaryPress,2002).SMCBX382.S7313.DumitruStaniloae,Théologieascétiqueetmystiquedel'Égliseorthodoxe(Paris:ÉditionsduCerf,2011).480p.(80,00$)ISBN:978-2204090445
CoursePortalThiscoursewillmakeextensiveuseoftheUniversityofToronto’sLearningPortalalsoknownas‘Blackboard’.
Toaccesstheportal,gototheUofTportalloginpageathttps://portal.utoronto.caandloginusingyourUTORidandpassword.OnceyouhaveloggedintotheportalusingyourUTORidandpassword,lookfortheMyCoursesmodule,whereyou’llfindthelinktothewebsiteforallyourBlackboard-basedcourses.(YourcourseregistrationwithROSIgivesyouaccesstothecoursewebsiteatBlackboard.)Notealsotheinformationathttp://www.portalinfo.utoronto.ca/content/information-students.
Pleaseensurethatyouarefamiliarwithhowtoaccessthesystemandnavigatethroughit.Theportalwillbeusedinthefollowingways:
• Keepinganupdatedversionofthecoursesyllabusandcalendar• Providingcoursereadings,bibliographiesandotherhandouts• Sharingadditionalonlineresources• Communicatingclassnoticesandupdates• Issuingassignmentguidelinesanddeadlines• Acceptingassignmentsubmissions• Providingfeedbackandgradesforallassignmentsandothercourserequirements
Inaddition,fortheonlinesection,theportalwillbeusedinthefollowingways:
• Deliveringweeklycourselecturesandseminars(availablealsoforclassroom-basedstudentsforreview)
• Enablingstudentparticipationandinteractionintheblogs,discussionforumsandotheronlinecommunications(seecourserequirementsandevaluationbelow)
AuditorswhodonothaveaUTORidshouldspeaktotheinstructortoreceiveguestaccesstothecourseportal.
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Asintheclassroom,onlinecommunicationmustbecarriedoutrespectfullyandcivillyatalltimes.Writingwithintheonlinemediaofblogs,discussionforumsisnotanexcuseforlaziness,lackofproperreflectionoruncivility.Argumentsmustbecarefullycrafted,respectfullypresentedandgroundedinsourcetextsandsolidreflection.Studentswhofailtoadheretotheseguidelineswillnotsucceedinthiscourse.
CourseLearningObjectives
Studentssuccessfullycompletingthiscoursewillbeableto:
• DescribetheBiblicalandhistoricalfoundationsofChristianspiritualityingeneralandOrthodoxspiritualityinparticular;
• SummarizeandexplainkeycomponentelementsandphasesoftheChristianspirituallifeasdescribedbytheprincipalEasternChristianteachersandauthors;
• IdentifyanddiscussthemainEasternChristianpastoralandspiritualwritingsandauthorstothe14thcentury;
• Discussandassess,byacriticalreadingandreview,ofoneofthemajorspiritualtextsfromthisperiod;
• Identifytheprincipalprimaryandsecondarysourcespertinenttooneofthetopicscoveredinthecourse.
ProgrammeOutcomes
CourseOutcomes:KnowledgeoftheAreaofConcentration
CourseElements
ProgrammeOutcomes
Studentssuccessfullycompletingthiscoursewillbeableto:
Thisoutcomewillbeachievedthroughthesecourseelements:
ThiscourseoutcomecorrespondstotheseaspectsoftheBasicDegreeLearningOutcomes
DescribetheBiblicalandhistoricalfoundationsofChristianspiritualityingeneralandOrthodoxspiritualityinparticular
Lectures/seminardiscussions
Take-homefinalexamoressay
Religiousheritage
Culturalcontext
Capacityforministry
Personalandspiritualformation
SummarizeandexplainkeycomponentelementsandphasesoftheChristianspirituallifeasdescribedbytheprincipalEasternChristianteachersandauthors
Lectures/seminardiscussions
Take-homefinalexamoressay
Religiousheritage
Culturalcontext
Capacityforministry
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Evaluation
Requirements–ClassroomSection
Thefinalgradeforthecoursewillbebasedonthefollowingareas:• Classparticipation(20%):inadditiontoweeklyattendanceandparticipation,studentswill
eitherintroduceoneofassignedreadingsfromtheCourseReader(“MyBurdenIsLight”),ormakeanoralpresentationonthebookselectedfortheBookReview.
• BookReview(30%):studentswillprepareabookreviewononeofthebookslistedabove,ortheportionofthebookindicated.Inadditiontothemaintext,youshouldalsoreadanyPrefaces,Introductionsetc.andconsultthereferences,footnotesandbibliography(secondarymaterial).Thebookreviewshouldbeaminimumof2,000wordsandamaximumof3,000words.
• Take-homefinalexamORessay(50%):Studentsmaychoosebetweenatake-homeexamORanessay.
1. Take-homeexam
Thetake-homeexamwillhavetenquestions,ofwhichstudentsarerequiredtoanswerfive.Thequestionswillbebasedonboththebookofreadingsandmaterialcoveredinclass.Studentsmayuseothersourcesaswelltopreparetheiranswers,suchasoneormoreoftherecommendedgeneralsecondarysourcesmentionedabove,aswellasthesourcesofthevariousreadingscontainedinthebookofreadings.
Answerstothequestionsmustbetype-writtenandshouldbeatleast300wordsandnomorethan500words.Allcitations,includinganymaterialtakenfrominternet,shouldincludeproperreferences(footnotes)tothesourcecited(author,title,publisher,year,pagenumber).
Personalandspiritualformation
IdentifyanddiscussthemainEasternChristianpastoralandspiritualwritingsandauthorstothe14thcentury
Lectures/seminardiscussions
Take-homefinalexamoressay
Religiousheritage
Culturalcontext
Discussandassess,byacriticalreadingandreview,ofoneofthemajorspiritualtextsfromthisperiod
Bookreview Religiousheritage
Culturalcontext
Capacityforministry
Identifytheprincipalprimaryandsecondarysourcespertinenttooneofthetopicscoveredinthecourse
Lectures/seminardiscussions
Take-homefinalexamoressay
Religiousheritage
Culturalcontext
Capacityforministry
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2. Essay
Thesubjectandtheinitialbibliographyforthewrittenessaywillbeselectedduringthecourseinconsultationwiththeinstructor.Theessayshouldbeaminimumof3,000wordsandamaximumof4,000words.
Examplesofessaytopics:
1.Thelife,writingsandteachingsofoneofthemajorauthorscontainedinthebookofreadings(otherthantheauthorwhosebookthestudentisreviewing).
2.Oneofthetopicscoveredinthelectures.
3.Atopicpertainingtothesubjectofthecourseofspecialinteresttothestudent.
Requirements–OnlineSection
Theonlinesectionwillfollowthesamerequirementsastheclassroom,apartfromclassparticipationbeingonline.Inadditiontoongoingparticipationonlineinthediscussionforumsthroughoutthecourse,studentswilleitherintroduceoneofassignedreadingsfromtheCourseReader(“MyBurdenIsLight”),ormakeawrittenpresentation/blogonthebookselectedfortheBookReview.
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GradingSystem
PolicyonLateAssignments
Theinstructorreservestherighttodeductupto2.5%ofthefinalassignmentgradeforeachweekthatanassignmentislate.Studentsaregenerallygranteda‘graceweek’providedtheinstructorisinformedofanyspecialcircumstancesbeforetheassignmentdeadline.
Thispenaltyisnotappliedtostudentswithmedicalorcompassionatedifficulties;studentsfacingsuchdifficultiesarekindlyrequestedtoconsultwiththeirfacultyadvisororbasicdegreedirector,whoshouldmakearecommendationonthemattertotheinstructor.Theabsolutedeadlineforthecourseistheexaminationdayscheduledforthecourse.Studentswhoforexceptionalreasons(forinstance,adeathinthefamilyoraseriousillness)areunabletocompleteworkbythisdatemayrequestanextension(SDF=‘standingdeferred’)beyondtheterm.AnSDFmustberequestedfromtheregistrar’sofficeinthestudent’scollegeofregistrationnolaterthanthelastdayofclassesinwhichthecourseistaken.TheSDF,whenapproved,willhaveamutuallyagreedupondeadlinethatdoesnotextendbeyondtheconclusionofthefollowingterm.IfastudenthasnotcompletedworkbuthasnotbeengrantedanSDF,afinalmarkwillbesubmittedcalculatingazeroforworknotsubmitted.
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CourseGrades
ConsistentlywiththepolicyoftheUniversityofToronto,coursegradessubmittedbyaninstructorarereviewedbyacommitteeoftheinstructor’scollegebeforebeingposted.CoursegradesmaybeadjustedwheretheydonotcomplywithUniversitygradingpolicy(http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/grading.htm)orcollegegradingpolicy.
Policies
Accessibility.Studentswithadisabilityorhealthconsiderationareentitledtoaccommodation.StudentsmustregisterattheUniversityofToronto’sAccessibilityServicesoffices;informationisavailableathttp://www.accessibility.utoronto.ca/.Thesoonerastudentseeksaccommodation,thequickerwecanassist.
Plagiarism.Studentssubmittingwrittenmaterialincoursesareexpectedtoprovidefulldocumentationforsourcesofbothwordsandideasinfootnotesorendnotes.Directquotationsshouldbeplacedwithinquotationmarks.(Ifsmallchangesaremadeinthequotation,theyshouldbeindicatedbyappropriatepunctuationsuchasbracketsandellipses,butthequotationstillcountsasadirectquotation.)Failuretodocumentborrowedmaterialconstitutesplagiarism,whichisaseriousbreachofacademic,professional,andChristianethics.AninstructorwhodiscoversevidenceofstudentplagiarismisnotpermittedtodealwiththesituationindividuallybutisrequiredtoreportittohisorherheadofcollegeordelegateaccordingtotheTSTBasicDegreeHandbook(linkedfromhttp://www.tst.edu/content/handbooks)andtheUniversityofTorontoCodeofBehaviouronAcademicMattershttp://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=4871.Astudentwhoplagiarizesinthiscourse.Studentswillbeassumedtohavereadthedocument“Avoidanceofplagiarismintheologicalwriting”publishedbytheGrahamLibraryofTrinityandWycliffeColleges(http://www.trinity.utoronto.ca/Library_Archives/Theological_Resources/Tools/Guides/plag.htm.
Otheracademicoffences.TSTstudentscomeunderthejurisdictionoftheUniversityofTorontoCodeofBehaviouronAcademicMattershttp://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm).
Back-upcopies.Pleasemakeback-upcopiesofessaysbeforehandingthemin.
Obligationtocheckemail.Attimes,thecourseinstructormaydecidetosendoutimportantcourseinformationbyemail.Tothatend,allcreditstudentsarerequiredtohaveavalidutorontoemailaddress.StudentsmusthavesetupautorontoemailaddresswhichisenteredintheROSIsystem.Informationisavailableatwww.utorid.utoronto.ca.Thecourseinstructorwillnotbeabletohelpyouwiththis.416-978-HELPandtheHelpDeskattheInformationCommonscananswerquestionsyoumayhaveaboutyourUTORidandpassword.Studentsshouldcheckutorontoemailregularlyformessagesaboutthecourse.Forwardingyourutoronto.caemailtoaHotmail,Gmail,Yahooorothertypeofemailaccountisnotadvisable.Insomecases,messagesfromutoronto.caaddressessenttoHotmail,GmailorYahooaccountsarefilteredasjunkmail,whichmeansthatemailsfromyourcourseinstructormayendupinyourspamorjunkmailfolder.
Emailcommunicationwiththecourseinstructor.Theinstructoraimstorespondtoemailcommunicationsfromstudentsinatimelymanner.Allemailcommunicationsfromstudentsshouldbesentfromautorontoemailaddress.Emailcommunicationsfromotheremailaddressesarenotsecure,andalsotheinstructorcannotreadilyidentifythemasbeinglegitimateemailsfromstudents.Theinstructorisnotobligedtorespondtoemailfromnon-utorontoaddresses.
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CourseSchedule
Subjectsanddatesaretentative.
COURSEOUTLINE RELATEDREADINGSANDORALBOOKREPORTS
CLASS1
I.INTRODUCTIONTOTHECOURSE.
1.Courserequirementsandoutline. CourseOutline.
2.Whatisspirituality?
3.ThegoalofOrthodoxspirituality
II.COMPONENTELEMENTSOFORTHODOXSPIRITUALITY.
1.BiblicalFoundations. 1.TheBibleandOrthodoxSpirituality(p.7).
CLASS2
2.TheEarlyChurch. 8.CyrilofJerusalem(p.99).11.JohnChrysostom(p.161)12.TheodoreofMopsuestia(p.167A)
3.Monasticism. 3.DesertFathers(p.27).9.BasiltheGreat(p.111).14.Palladius(p.196).
CLASS3
4.Monasticism. 4.AthanasiusofAlexandria(p.51).
5.Liturgy. 27.1.NicholasCabasilas(p.326).
6.TheGreekHeritage. 2.Origen(p.8).7.1.EvagriusPonticus-Foundations(p.79).7.4EvagriusPonticus–OnPrayer(p.89).
CLASS4
7.TheologicalElements:TheTrinity,Christ,theHolySpirit,theChurch.
8.PatristicAnthropology:
1)ImageandResemblance. 6.EphremtheSyrian(p.77).
2)HumansAreCompositeBeings
CLASS5
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3)TheFaculties(orPartsorPowers)oftheSoul
4)TheMind(noûs)andtheHeart. 5.MacariustheGreat(p.68).
5)Synergy.
9.TheStagesorModesoftheSpiritualLife.
CLASS6
III.PURIFICATION.
1.ThePassions. 7.2EvagriusPonticus-Practicos(p.83)20.1MaximustheConfessor(p.251).
2.StagesofTemptationandSin. 22.HesychiusofBatos(p.281).23.PhilotheusofSinai(p.288).
3.Repentance. 19.SophroniusofJerusalem(p.244).24.AndrewofCrete.
4.MasteryofthePassions. 13.JohnCassian(p.168).17.Dorotheus(p.216).
5.Attention(nepsis)orCustodyoftheHeart. 22.HesychiusofBatos(p.281).23.PhilotheusofSinai(p.288).
CLASS7
6.TheAcquisitionofVirtues. 7.3EvagriusPonticus-Vices-Virtues(p.88A).28.VespersofFirstWeekinLent(p.348).
CLASS8
7.SpiritualPractices(praxis). 16.BarsanuphiusandJohn(p.204).18.1.IsaactheSyrian(p.226).27.2.NicholasCabasilas(p.337).
CLASS9
IV.ENLIGHTENMENT.
1.TheGiftsoftheHolySpirit.
2.ContemplationofGodinCreation.
CLASS10
3.SpiritualUnderstandingofScripture. 10.GregoryofNyssa(p.118).
4.ApophaticKnowledgeofGod. 15.Pseudo-Dionysius(p.200).
CLASS11
V.PERFECTION.
1.DetachmentandInnerPeace(apatheia). 21.JohnClimacus(p.260).
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2.PurePrayer. 18.2.IsaactheSyrian(p.235).26.GregoryPalamas(p.317).
CLASS12
3.LoveofGodandLoveofNeighbour. 20.2.MaximustheConfessor(p.253).
4.KnowledgeorVisionofGod-theDivineLight(theoriaortheologia).
25.SymeontheNewTheologian(p.302).
PleasenotethatthissyllabusissubjecttochangeinaccordancewiththeregulationsintheTSTBasicDegreeHandbook.
