Syriac Orthodox Faith and Life (distance learning in Arabic)

Upon completion of the course, participants are expected (individually and collectively) to be able to:

• explain how the early church developed by combining historical facts with various cultural and social perspectives;
• apply the teachings of the Church Fathers to contemporary issues by connecting tradition with modern life;
• explain church services both through theoretical knowledge and through personal experiences and observations in a shared service;
• discuss the situation of the church in Sweden with examples from the participants' own experiences in various communities;
• identify key traditional sources and explain why they are important for modern life; and
• share personal stories of how group teaching has transformed their understanding of faith and reflect insightfully on how these discussions have helped them find a deeper meaning in church traditions for their personal, family and community life.

Year of specialisation

• present the teachings of the Church both through individual study and ideas from group discussions;
• compare beliefs between different church traditions and show how learning from differences improves understanding;
• Tell the story of the church in a way that includes diverse cultural and social perspectives;
• explain how the church's services shape both personal faith and community cohesion;
• discuss ethical issues by connecting the wisdom of the church to current Swedish contexts and various social perspectives;
• reflect deeply on how theological discussions within the group have helped them navigate real-life issues in their spiritual journey and demonstrate with personal examples how traditional teachings can guide both individual decisions and community engagement;
• Tell the story of the church's development in a way that connects history with life in various Swedish communities today.

At Sankt Ignatios College, the overarching principle guiding learning is that all knowledge is intersubjective.

Knowledge is a dialogue that requires humility and empathy.

The course is based on collaborative and dialogic learning, where participants actively shape both their shared learning journey and the course itself. Content, materials, and methods are adapted in real-time based on the participants' needs, interests, and contributions. In addition to mastering the subject matter, a central goal is for each participant to become aware of how shared learning experiences and dialogue transform their thinking, practice, and identity. Through dialogue, storytelling, group discussions, joint reflection, creative expression, and collective exploration, participants develop an awareness of their own development while simultaneously supporting others. The learning community becomes a space where everyone's experiences and questions not only enrich understanding but also actively guide the course's direction, helping each individual integrate learning into their own life context in a meaningful and personally transformative way.

All students at the Syriac seminary are expected to participate in 4 joint campus activities during the academic year: Syriac symposium; Post-Christmas liturgy; Easter activity; and End-of-school closing ceremony.

Attendance is compulsory. Participants are expected to take part in all course activities, both by being present and actively participating in scheduled sessions, and by completing assignments outside scheduled lessons. If participants miss lessons, they may need to complete additional assignments to meet the course’s learning objectives. To be considered as having completed the course, 80% attendance and active participation are required.

See the course syllabus for more information.

The operational council revised the syllabus on 14 January 2026.