Academics

In order for the candidates to be well-prepared to understand the patrimony of their own Church of the East, there will be a heavy emphasis on the study of the Aramaic language, both in its Classical (Syriac) and Vernacular forms. This study will begin from the first year of formation.

According to the needs of theology, of the modern world, and the requirements of the Church for the training of priests, there will be a full-scale study of Philosophy, and the men will take complete courses in the History of Classical and Modern Philosophy, Logic, Epistemology, Philosophy of Nature, Anthropology, Ethics, Political Philosophy, and Metaphysics, as well as other electives. The courses will follow the Great Books program of Liberal Arts, and thus only primary texts will be used. Moreover, the students will be expected to be fluent writers and will have term papers for every course as well as exams.

More particularly to the Seminary of Mar Abba the Great, the history, theology and liturgy of the Church of the East will be studied in depth alongside Aramaic and Philosophy. All courses will be taught by experts in the field.