Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church

The Mount Thabor Academy
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“Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church”, with Prof. Christopher Veniamin Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. Available Units thus far:Unit 1: Introduction: Holy Scripture, Greek Philosophy, Philo of Alexandria (Season 3)Unit 2: Irenaeus of Lyons (Season 3)Unit 3: Clement the Alexandrian (Season 3)Unit 4: Origen (Season 3)Unit 5: Athanasius the Great (Season 3)Unit 6: The Cappadocian Fathers (Season 3)Unit 7: Augustine of Hippo (Season 3) Unit 8: John Chrysostom (Season 3) Unit 9: Cyril of Alexandria (Season 3)Unit 14: Gregory Palamas (Season 1)Unit 15: John of the Ladder (Season 4)Unit 16: Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites (Season 2)MISCELLANEOUSMembers-only: Special Editions (Season 5)Empirical Dogmatics: The Theology of Fr. John Romanides (Season 6)Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies ; and The Enlargement of the Heart, by Archimandrite Zacharias ; Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022) ; The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016) ; The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022) ; and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).It is hoped that these presentations will help the enquirer discern the profound interrelationship between Orthodox theology and the Orthodox Christian life, and to identify the ascetic and pastoral significance of the Orthodox ethos contained therein.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I wish to express my indebtedness to the spoken and written traditions of Sts Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites, Fr. Zacharias Zacharou, Fr. Kyrill Akon, Fr. Raphael Noica, Fr. Symeon Brüschweiler; Fr. John Romanides, Fr. Pavlos Englezakis, Fr. Georges Florovsky, Prof. Constantine Scouteris, Prof. George Mantzarides, Prof. John Fountoulis, Mtp Hierotheos Vlachos, Mtp Kallistos Ware, and Prof. Panayiotes Chrestou. My presentations have been enriched by all of the above sources. Responsibility however for the content of my presentations is of course mine alone. ©Christopher Veniamin 2024

  1. Episode 42: Caveat on Trinity and Grace of God, Part 6 of Cyril of Alexandria, C. Veniamin

    05/25/2025

    Episode 42: Caveat on Trinity and Grace of God, Part 6 of Cyril of Alexandria, C. Veniamin

    Send us a text [Episode 42: Caveat on Trinity and Grace of God, Part 6 of Cyril of Alexandria, C. Veniamin] Series: Mystical Theology Episode 42: Caveat on Trinity and Grace of God, Part 6 of Cyril of Alexandria, C. Veniamin In Episode 42: Caveat on Trinity and Grace of God, Part 6 of Cyril of Alexandria, Dr. Veniamin pauses his presentations on the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria, in order to bring back in to focus the Cappadocian understanding of hypostasis, upon which Cyril bases his emphasis on the oneness of Christ, and also the uncreated character of divine grace. For a list of the various themes contained therein, see the Timestamps below. Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog Special thanks to the video of Fr. Dimitru Staniloae, on the difference between western and eastern Christianity. Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020). Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.  Support the show Dr. Christopher Veniamin Join The Mount Thabor Academy https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (YouTube) THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (Patreon) Print Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING eBooks Amazon Google Apple Kobo B&N Further Info & Bibliography The Professor's Blog Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner Contact us: info@mountthabor.com...

    34 min
  2. Episode 41: Cyril of Alexandria, With Scholion on Appolinarius, Intro to Xtology, Pt 5, C. Veniamin

    04/27/2025

    Episode 41: Cyril of Alexandria, With Scholion on Appolinarius, Intro to Xtology, Pt 5, C. Veniamin

    Send us a text Series: Mystical Theology Episode 41: Cyril of Alexandria, With Scholion on Appolinarius of Laodicea, Intro to Christology, Pt 5, C. Veniamin In Episode 41 of our Mystical Theology, Dr. Veniamin continues his presentation of the Christology of St. Cyril of Alexandria, emphasizing the divinity of the Logos made flesh, and an important note on the heresy of Apollinarius of Laodicea (c.310 - c.390). For a list of the various themes contained therein, see the Timestamps below. Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog: https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blog Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022): https://mountthabor.com/products/saint-gregory-palamas-the-homilies ; The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016): https://mountthabor.com/products/the-orthodox-understanding-of-salvation-by-dr-christopher-veniamin ; and The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature: https://mountthabor.com/products/the-transfiguration-in-greek-patristic-literature-from-irenaeus-of-lyons-to-gregory-palamas (2022). Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage: https://mountthabor.com/pages/the-professors-suggested-reading-lists. Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.  Support the show Dr. Christopher Veniamin Join The Mount Thabor Academy https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (YouTube) THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (Patreon) Print Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING eBooks Amazon Google Apple Kobo B&N Further Info & Bibliography The Professor's Blog Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner Contact us: info@mountthabor.com...

    25 min
  3. Episode 40: Cyril of Alexandria, Introduction to Christology, Part 4, Dr. C. Veniamin

    04/13/2025

    Episode 40: Cyril of Alexandria, Introduction to Christology, Part 4, Dr. C. Veniamin

    Send us a text Series: Mystical Theology Episode 40: Cyril of Alexandria, Introduction to Christology, Part 4, Dr. C. Veniamin In Episode 40 of our Mystical Theology, Dr. Veniamin presents the foundations of Christology as formulated by St. Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria (d. 444), in the context of the Nestorian controversy (429 – 431). For a list of the various themes contained herein, see the Timestamps below. Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020). Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage. Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.  Support the show Dr. Christopher Veniamin Join The Mount Thabor Academy https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (YouTube) THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (Patreon) Print Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING eBooks Amazon Google Apple Kobo B&N Further Info & Bibliography The Professor's Blog Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner Contact us: info@mountthabor.com...

    28 min
  4. Episode 39: Alexandria and Antioch: Christological Tendencies, Intro Pt 3, Dr. C. Veniamin

    04/06/2025

    Episode 39: Alexandria and Antioch: Christological Tendencies, Intro Pt 3, Dr. C. Veniamin

    Send us a text Series: Mystical Theology Episode 39: Alexandria and Antioch: Christological Tendencies, Intro Pt 3, Dr. C. Veniamin In Episode 39 of our Mystical Theology, the tendencies to be found in Alexandrian and Antiochian Christology are discussed as a prelude to our overview of the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444). See also the themes in the Timestamps below. Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020). Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage. Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.  Support the show Dr. Christopher Veniamin Join The Mount Thabor Academy https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (YouTube) THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (Patreon) Print Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING eBooks Amazon Google Apple Kobo B&N Further Info & Bibliography The Professor's Blog Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner Contact us: info@mountthabor.com...

    24 min
  5. Episode 10: “Repentance and The Prison”, in John of the Ladder, Dr. C. Veniamin

    03/30/2025

    Episode 10: “Repentance and The Prison”, in John of the Ladder, Dr. C. Veniamin

    Send us a text Episode 10: “Repentance and The Prison”, in John of the Ladder, Dr. C. Veniamin Unit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin Series: “Mystical Theology" “Repentance and The Prison”, Episode 10 in our series, "John of the Ladder”, is based on the reading of the first half of Step 5: “On Repentance… and about the Prison”, is one of the most challenging chapters in Patristic theology and the spiritual life. Presented by Dr. Christopher Veniamin, themes from this episode are listed in the Timestamps below. Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020). Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage. Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.  Support the show Dr. Christopher Veniamin Join The Mount Thabor Academy https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (YouTube) THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (Patreon) Print Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING eBooks Amazon Google Apple Kobo B&N Further Info & Bibliography The Professor's Blog Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner Contact us: info@mountthabor.com...

    42 min
  6. Episode 38: The Nestorian Perspective: Intro to Christology, Part 2, Dr. C. Veniamin

    03/13/2025

    Episode 38: The Nestorian Perspective: Intro to Christology, Part 2, Dr. C. Veniamin

    Send us a text Series: Mystical Theology Episode 38: The Nestorian Perspective: Intro to Christology, Part 2, Dr. C. Veniamin In Episode 38 of our Mystical Theology, the difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical dyophysite Christologies is described, and in the process the Christological views of Theodore of Mopsouestia (c. 350-428) and Nestorius of Constantinople (d. c. 451) are presented as a prelude to the great contribution of Cyril of Alexandria. For other themes included in this presentation, see the Timestamps below. Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020). Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage. Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.  Support the show Dr. Christopher Veniamin Join The Mount Thabor Academy https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (YouTube) THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (Patreon) Print Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING eBooks Amazon Google Apple Kobo B&N Further Info & Bibliography The Professor's Blog Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner Contact us: info@mountthabor.com...

    27 min
  7. Episode 36: Could Christ have sinned? Intro to Christology, Dr. C. Veniamin

    02/28/2025

    Episode 36: Could Christ have sinned? Intro to Christology, Dr. C. Veniamin

    Send us a text Series: Mystical Theology Episode 36: Could Christ have sinned? Intro to Christology, Dr. C. Veniamin In Episode 36 of our Mystical Theology, Dr. Christopher Veniamin introduces the central doctrine of the Christian Faith - the Church’s teaching on the mystery of the Person of Jesus Christ - by asking the question, “Could Christ have sinned?”. For themes included in this presentation, see the Timestamps below. Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020). Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage. Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.  Support the show Dr. Christopher Veniamin Join The Mount Thabor Academy https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (YouTube) THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (Patreon) Print Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING eBooks Amazon Google Apple Kobo B&N Further Info & Bibliography The Professor's Blog Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner Contact us: info@mountthabor.com...

    36 min
  8. Episode 35: John Chrysostom: The Language of Holy Scripture, Eunomius & The Light of Tabor, Dr. C. Veniamin

    02/15/2025

    Episode 35: John Chrysostom: The Language of Holy Scripture, Eunomius & The Light of Tabor, Dr. C. Veniamin

    Send us a text Series: Mystical Theology Episode 35: John Chrysostom: The Language of Holy Scripture, Eunomius & The Light of Tabor, Dr. C. Veniamin With Episode 34, we come to the end of Volume 1 of our series, Mystical Theology. Through Chrysostom’s appreciation of the Transfiguration of Christ on Tabor, we catch a glimpse of the theological presuppositions, the gnosiology, of one of the greatest commentators of Holy Scripture in the history of Christianity. And we note that his theology, though expressed in somewhat different terms, is the same as that of Athanasius the Great and of Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and Gregory of Nyssa. We also provide a road map for Volume 2 of our Mystical Theology. And finally, by way of conclusion, we add a brief word on Essentialism, Pantheism, and Deification. Other themes touched upon in this episode are included in the Timestamps. Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020). Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage. Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.  Support the show Dr. Christopher Veniamin Join The Mount Thabor Academy https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (YouTube) THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY (Patreon) Print Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING eBooks Amazon Google Apple Kobo B&N Further Info & Bibliography The Professor's Blog Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner Contact us: info@mountthabor.com...

    28 min
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About

“Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church”, with Prof. Christopher Veniamin Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. Available Units thus far:Unit 1: Introduction: Holy Scripture, Greek Philosophy, Philo of Alexandria (Season 3)Unit 2: Irenaeus of Lyons (Season 3)Unit 3: Clement the Alexandrian (Season 3)Unit 4: Origen (Season 3)Unit 5: Athanasius the Great (Season 3)Unit 6: The Cappadocian Fathers (Season 3)Unit 7: Augustine of Hippo (Season 3) Unit 8: John Chrysostom (Season 3) Unit 9: Cyril of Alexandria (Season 3)Unit 14: Gregory Palamas (Season 1)Unit 15: John of the Ladder (Season 4)Unit 16: Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites (Season 2)MISCELLANEOUSMembers-only: Special Editions (Season 5)Empirical Dogmatics: The Theology of Fr. John Romanides (Season 6)Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies ; and The Enlargement of the Heart, by Archimandrite Zacharias ; Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022) ; The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016) ; The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022) ; and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).It is hoped that these presentations will help the enquirer discern the profound interrelationship between Orthodox theology and the Orthodox Christian life, and to identify the ascetic and pastoral significance of the Orthodox ethos contained therein.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I wish to express my indebtedness to the spoken and written traditions of Sts Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites, Fr. Zacharias Zacharou, Fr. Kyrill Akon, Fr. Raphael Noica, Fr. Symeon Brüschweiler; Fr. John Romanides, Fr. Pavlos Englezakis, Fr. Georges Florovsky, Prof. Constantine Scouteris, Prof. George Mantzarides, Prof. John Fountoulis, Mtp Hierotheos Vlachos, Mtp Kallistos Ware, and Prof. Panayiotes Chrestou. My presentations have been enriched by all of the above sources. Responsibility however for the content of my presentations is of course mine alone. ©Christopher Veniamin 2024

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