Academic Staff

Dr Samuel Kaldas BA (Hons) Philosophy (USyd),Grad Cert Orthodox Theology (SAGOTC),PhD Philosophy of Religion (USyd)

Mrs Sabine van Dartel Lecturer in Theology;BTh (AUCD), MTh (AUCD)

Curriculum Objectives

This graduate course unit is designed to introduce students to the spiritual theology of the Macarian corpus through the close reading of selected homilies. It explores the Macarian vision of the heart as the dwelling place of God, the dynamics of sin, grace and synergy, and the path of prayer and the commandments, situating these within the historical and theological context of late fourth century monasticism. It lays the foundations for further specialised studies in patristics and ascetical theology and offers a framework for integrating the themes of the Macarian corpus into spiritual life and pastoral care today.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course unit, students should be able to:

Outline the historical context, authorship debates and textual tradition of the Macarian corpus, including its relationship to the Messalian controversy
Explain the key themes of Macarian spiritual theology, including the mutual indwelling of God and the soul, the heart, grace and free will, prayer and the transfiguration of the human person
Analyse critically selected homilies through close reading, attending to their imagery, their exegesis of Scripture and their Syriac and Greek influences
Evaluate the place of the Macarian corpus within the wider Orthodox ascetical and theological tradition
Apply insights from the Homilies to the spiritual life and pastoral practice of contemporary Christians

Content

Context, authorship and the Messalian controversy
God, the soul and the heart: Macarian anthropology
Fall, struggle and grace: baptism, the unseen warfare and synergy
Acquiring the Holy Spirit: prayer, the Cross and the commandments
Experiencing Divine Light: sharing in the Transfiguration, eschatology and the resurrection of the body