Saint Yared Academy for Systematic Theology

CURRICULUM DESIGN-TEMPORARY

Our plan is to enlighten the youth in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church with deep theological studies that goes beyond literal level of biblical narrations. The curriculum design includes about eight courses categorized into four main academic divisions:

I) Scripture: Biblical Studies (Old Testament, New Testament), and Patristic Studies (Patrology). Patrology, which is referred to as "Patristics," stands as one of the most determinant theological courses given in the Orthodox and Catholic Seminaries. It studies the life and writings of Church fathers up from the immediate successors of the Holy Apostates down to the 6th century.

II) Theology: Comparative Dogmatic Theology, Christian Ethics, Ecclesiology, Sacraments.

III) History: General Church History, Ethiopian Church History

IV) Cultural Studies: Geez (Ethiopic Language).

General Course Description

1) Scriptural Studies such as The Old-New Testament and petrology shall be given following the Ethiopian Orthodox method of allegorical interpretation. There are two styles of scriptural commentaries:

A) Literal: The Literal method of exegesis is a simple way of understanding where a reader can take the story literally as described in the text.

B) Allegorical: The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church allegorical interpretation reflects that the Bible and Patristic writings have various levels of meanings and tends to focus on the spiritual sense (which includes the allegorical sense, the moral (or typological) sense, and the analogical sense) as opposed to the literal sense. The Allegorical interpretation looks for a deeper meaning and a symbolic representation within the text while not necessarily denying that the text has a literal meaning or that the historical incidents reported are true.

2) Comparative Dogmatic Theology is designed to reflect the position of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in terms general doctrinal studies such as Trinitarianism, Christology, Mariology, Angelology, Sacraments, Intercession of the Saints, etc.

3) Christian Ethics is a branch of Christian theology that defines virtuous behavior and wrong behavior from a Christian perspective. Systematic theological study of Christian ethics is called moral theology.

4) Ecclesiology defines the Church as the body of Christ and demonstrates its role and its orders (Sirate Bete Christian). In this course, we study ecclesiastical orders of Orthodox worship, St. Yared's hymns and the value of incense and Holy Icons that make the Orthodox Church different from other denominations.

5) General Church History or ecclesiastical studies the foundation of Christianity and the way the Christian Church has developed since its inception. It also accounts the role of early Church fathers such martyrs and apologists to dogmatic development and continuity of the Christianity.

6) Ethiopian Church History deals with 2000 years history of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, foundation and the priceless contributions the Church has made to the ethical and cultural development of Abyssinians.

7) Geez also called Ethiopic is a Semitic language of ancient Ethiopia, now used only as the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Geez is the language of Ethiopian sacred books. Although it has long ago ceased to be spoken, it is revving again because it is being recently given as a language of research in many top universities.

Conclusion: From the Orthodox point of view, most courses like Doctrinal Theology, Church History, Ecclesiology and Christian Ethics are given based on three sources: The Holy Bible, Patristic Studies (Haimanote Abew), and Holy Tradition.

Tradition is "The life of the Holy Spirit in the Church."

"For ask of the former generation, and search diligently among the race of fathers: (for we are of yesterday, and know nothing; for our life upon the earth is a shadow :) shall not these teach thee, and report, and bring out words from heart? Does the rush flourish without water, or shall the flag grow up without moisture?" (Job 8:8).

"He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the church for his mother. If anyone could escape who was outside the ark of Noah, then he also may escape who shall be outside of the church" (St. Cyprian of Carthage).