The Orthodox Church played a most significant role in the life of the Byzantine empire since, apart from its undisputed spiritual power, it occasionally got involved in political issues; it influenced like no other institution the Byzantine art; and it allowed the State (albeit not always willingly) to use it as a diplomatic vehicle in its relations with Rome and the Slavs. The course will examine the structure of the Church; the struggle against heresies; the convocation of the ecumenical synods; the relations between the State and the Church; the relations with the Catholic Church; the christianisation of the Slavs and monastic life in the empire.
The Orthodox Church in the Middle Ages
This is an In-person course which requires your attendance to the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.
Overview
Programme details
Course begins: 30th Sept 2024
Week 1: Introduction to the topic - course requirements
Week 2: The various churches that use the appellation ‘Orthodox’ but do not belong to the Orthodox Church; the ‘Eastern Churches’; The structure of the Orthodox Church
Week 3: The Orthodox Liturgy; The Orthodox Church sacraments, calendar and major feast days; Calculation for the Easter celebration
Week 4: Relations between Church and State in Byzantium; Overview of the Orthodox religious art
Week 5: Ecumenical Councils (part 1)
Week 6: Ecumenical Councils (part 2)
Week 7: Heresies: Iconomachy and Bogomils - the theological arguments of both sides
Week 8: Christianisation of the Slavs; Relations with the Catholic Church
Week 9: Monasticism
Week 10: Class visit
Recommended reading
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Availability of titles on the reading list (below) can be checked on SOLO, the library catalogue.
Preparatory reading
- East and West: the making of a rift in the Church, from Apostolic times until the Council of Florence, OUP 2003 / CHADWICK H.
- Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire, 2007 / HERRIN J.
- The Orthodox Church, Clarendon Press 1990 / HUSSEY J.
- The Eastern Schism, Oxford 1955 / RUNCIMAN S.
Digital Certification
To complete the course and receive a certificate, you will be required to attend at least 80% of the classes on the course and pass your final assignment. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £285.00 |
| Take this course for CATS points | £30.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Tutor
Dr Aphrodite Papayianni
Aphrodite Papayianni holds a PhD in Byzantine History and teaches at the University of London and OUDCE. In the last ten years, she has enjoyed spells as a Visiting Professor in Universities in Turkey and China. Through the years, Aphrodite has developed a wide teaching portfolio, from Greek Prehistory to the end of Byzantium, and has published articles in various topics of Byzantine and Crusade History.
Course aims
This course aims to enable students to develop a clear sense of the theological beliefs and ecclesiastical structure of the Orthodox Church, as well as of its influence in the Middle Ages and beyond.
Course objectives
This course will enable students to:
1. To provide a structured overview of the theological beliefs of the Orthodox Church.
2. To examine and assess the influence of the Orthodox Church in Byzantium and the rest of Europe in the Middle Ages.
3. To encourage an enquiring and analytical approach to various aspects of the history of the Orthodox Church.
Teaching methods
Teaching is varied and interactive, including lectures and discussion.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course students will be expected to understand:
1. The main beliefs of the Orthodox Church.
2. The structure of the Orthodox Church.
3. The influence of the Orthodox Church on world history.
Assessment methods
Essay or book review.
Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work the required standard.
Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form
Application
To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee for each course you enrol on. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an application form.
Level and demands
The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)
To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.