Our vocational programs are for those who wish to work in the Church. These programs combine academic studies with seminary life, where students are provided the tools, support, and guidance they need for their personal and spiritual formation. At Sankt Ignatios we have five seminaries: the Byzantine Seminary, the Coptic Seminary, the Seminary of the Church of the East, the Syriac-Orthodox Seminary, and the Tewahedo Seminary.
Next program start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: College & University
Length: 4 years
Study pace: Full-time (125%)
A four-year program that establishes a solid foundation in orthodox theology, and focuses on the candidate's formation as a spiritual and communicative leader. The program leads to a bachelor's degree in theology with a focus on Eastern Christian studies as well as a vocational qualification in pastoral ministry.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
Application period: January 15th - February 15th.
Next program start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: College & University
Length: 2-6 years
Study pace: Full-time (125%)
A six-year program that guides students into a deep intuitive understanding of orthodox spirituality and theology, and prepares them to serve as teachers and theologians within the Orthodox Church. The program leads to a master's degree in theology with a focus on Eastern Christian studies, and a vocational qualification as religious educator (Paidagogos / Malphono / Malphonitho / Marigeta).
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
Application period: January 15th - February 15th.
Next program start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: College
Length: 2 years
Study pace: Full-time (125%)
A two-year program that trains candidates in expressing the gospel through practical service, as preparation for ordination to the diaconate in the Orthodox Church. The program leads to a diploma in diaconal ministry.
-->Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next program start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: College
Length: 2 years
Study pace: Full-time (125%)
A two-year program that builds a broad theological foundation and equips students to share their knowledge with others. The program leads to a diploma as parish assistant (Reader / Maqryono).
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next program start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk High School
Length: 2 years
Study pace: Full-time (100%)
A two-year program that introduces the three disciplines within the Tewahedo tradition and prepares candidates for ordination as priests in Tewahedo mission-parishes. The program leads to a diploma in pastoral ministry.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next program start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk High School
Length: 2-4 years
Study pace: Full-time (100%)
A two-year program that provides in-depth knowledge of qene bet and especially zema bet, and prepares students for service as debteras in the Tewahedo Church. The program leads to a diploma as debtera.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Eastern Christian Studies is the name of the field of academic study concerned with the Orthodox Churches. These programs are purely academic and contain no seminary component. They are mainly aimed at those who wish to take on the challenge of furthering the field of Eastern Christian Studies, and contribute to the global theological discourse through research.
Next program start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: University
Length: 4 years
Study pace: Part-time (50%) during year 1-2 & full-time (100%) during year 3-4
A four-year bachelor’s program where students acquire a solid understanding of orthodox theology and tradition, and enter into the scientific discourse that comprises the field of Eastern Christian studies.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next program start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: University
Length: 2 years
Study pace: Full-time (100%)
A two-year master's program where students acquire a deeper understanding of the field of Eastern Christian studies as well as proficiency in scientific discourse at an advanced level.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next program start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: University
Length: 4 years (Full-time) or 8 years (Part-time)
Study pace: Full-time (100%) or Part-time (50%)
A four-year program where doctoral students build upon the skills they have acquired during their graduate studies, and learn to independently conduct research as well as how to publish their research in the research community and convey their findings to a popular audience.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
For those who cannot commit to full-time on-site studies we offer shorter distance courses on various subjects. These courses are all part-time, and are given at the Folk High School level. The courses take place online via our student portal. Some of the courses contain mandatory meetups in addition to the distance learning.
Next course modules: Starting August 20th - Church History, Patristics, Liturgics.
Type of education: Folk highschool
Length: One semester per module or 2,5 years for all modules
Study pace: Part-time (50%)
A modular distance course that explores Church history and the four sources of the faith. The modules are each one semester long and can be taken in any order, or even separately. The course contains a total of five modules: Church History, The Apostolic Scriptures, Patristics, Ecclesiology, and Liturgics.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period open
This course is always open for applications. Your application must reach us at least one week before the specific course module starts.
Apply via application form (PDF).
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next course start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk highschool
Length: 1 year (40 weeks)
Study pace: Part-time (50%)
A basic one-year course in icon painting for those who want to learn more about the icon, and develop their skills in painting an icon. The course consists of theoretical parts via distance learning, as well as mandatory meetups in Södertälje for the practical parts.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next course start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk highschool
Length: 1 year (40 weeks)
Study pace: Part-time (50%)
This one-year course constitutes a systematic exploration of the theory and practice of Byzantine church music. The course combines distance studies with mandatory meetups.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next course start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk highschool
Length: 1 year (40 weeks)
Study pace: Part-time (50%)
A one-year introduction to the history and methodology of the Sunday School that explores stages of child development, useful educational materials, and pedagogical methods for teaching young adults. We offer two directions for this course, one based on the Coptic tradition, and one based on the Syriac-orthodox tradition.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next course start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk highschool
Length: 1 year (40 weeks)
Study pace: Part-time (50%)
A one-year course which provides leadership training in a scout or youth association context. The course deals with leadership, the management of voluntary associations, how to manage projects, foundations in orthodox faith, as well as the history, theory and methodology of the scout movement. The course combines distance studies with mandatory meetups.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next course start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk highschool
Length: 1 year (40 weeks)
Study pace: Part-time (50%)
This one-year course acts as a general orientation on the Syriac-orthodox tradition, with a special focus on the development of the Church between the 4th and 16th centuries.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next course start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk highschool
Length: 1 year (40 weeks)
Study pace: Part-time (50%)
A one-year course leading students through the history of the Serbian-Orthodox Church under the Ottoman Empire, Communism and the War in Yugoslavia, and exploring Serbian-Orthodox spirituality in the light of St. Savas legacy.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next course start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk highschool
Length: One semester per module or 2 years for all modules
Study pace: Part-time (50%)
A modular distance course for those who want to study in Arabic and are interested in the Orthodox Church's theology and tradition. The modules are each one semester long and can be taken in any order, or even separately. The course contains a total of five modules: Church History and The Apostolic Scriptures, Patristics, Ecclesiology, and Liturgics.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next course start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk highschool
Length: 1 year (40 weeks)
Study pace: Part-time (50%)
A one-year course for those who want to study in Amarinya and are interested in the theology and tradition of the Ethiopian-Orthodox Church.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next course start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk highschool
Length: 1 year (40 weeks)
Study pace: Part-time (50%)
A one-year course which provides speakers of Arabic dialects (ʿāmmiyya) with the opportunity of learning basic reading and writing skills in standard Arabic (fuṣḥá), and introduces them to liturgical texts. The course combines distance studies with mandatory meetups.
This course starts during the beginning of both the autumn and spring terms.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
Next course start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk highschool
Length: 1 year (40 weeks)
Study pace: Part-time (50%)
A one-year course that explores how the Church is organised based on the sources of Church law. The course also provides knowledge in communication, administration and economics, as well as leadership and positions within the Church.
Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside the EU:
This program is not open for applicants outside the EU.
We offer general education for adults, equivalent to primary and secondary school, which provides general entry requirements for higher education.
Next course start: Fall term 2019
Type of education: Folk highschool
Length: 1-4 years
Study pace: Full-time (100%)
A one to four year course equivalent to primary or secondary school, which provides general entry requirements for higher education.
-->Applicants within Sweden:
Application period: March 15th - April 15th.
Applicants outside Sweden:
This program is not open for applicants outside Sweden.