T9721 – Cappadocian Legacy

Unit Code

T9721

Unit Name

The Cappadocian Legacy (postgraduate)

Unit Weighting

9  Credit Points

Type of Unit

Specialised

Prerequisites, corequisites or exclusions

T8581 Church Fathers: An Introduction

Academic Staff

Very Rev. Dr Doru Costache, BTh (Bucharest 1993), PhD (Bucharest 2000), Associate Professor

Curriculum Objectives

This graduate course unit explores the fourth century representatives of the Cappadocian patristic tradition within their historical milieu, their connections with other strands of tradition, and their lasting significance for the history of theology and the Christian experience.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Appraise the historical, ecclesial and cultural context within which the fourth century rep-resentatives of the Cappadocian tradition flourished
2. Evaluate the ways in which the Cappadocians assimilated and transformed the earlier patristic tradition
3. Display a profound awareness of the theological and spiritual legacy of the fourth century Cappadocians
4. Critically analyse the selected writings of the Cappadocians from the viewpoint of their theological and spiritual significance
5. Critically assess the relevant scholarship

Content:

1. The historical and cultural context of fourth century Cappadocian tradition
2. The early Christian roots of fourth century Cappadocian tradition
3. Main representatives of fourth century Cappadocian tradition
4. The theological significance of fourth century Cappadocian tradition
5. The spiritual significance of fourth century Cappadocian tradition