2026-2027

Syriac Orthodox Faith and Life

This course is intended for young people within the Syriac Orthodox Church in Sweden. The overall aim of the course is to give Syriac Orthodox youth an opportunity both to deepen their theoretical and practical knowledge of the church's teachings and life, and to develop their ability to reflect on, explain and speak about what they have learned. The course consists of four modules:

Module 1: Sources of the Syrian Orthodox Church, examines the ways in which tradition has been expressed throughout history, namely through the Scriptures, the Church Fathers, the liturgy and ecclesiastical law;

Module 2: Church History and Faith, which examines the history and faith of the Syriac Orthodox Church in relation to developments in the early Church, with a particular focus on Antioch.

Module 3: Patristics, focusing on key Church Fathers within the Syriac Orthodox tradition across five specific periods: the Apostolic Age, the pre-Chalcedonian period, the post-Chalcedonian period, the period following the rise of Islam, and the present day.

Module 4: Liturgy, which deals with important aspects of the liturgical life of the Syriac Orthodox Church, namely the mysteries of baptism, chrismation and the Eucharist, as well as the daily prayers (Shimo) and the prayers of the church year (Fanqitho and M’ad’dono).

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Learning objectives

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

  • tell the story of the church's development in a way that connects history with life in various Swedish communities today;
  • use the teaching of the Church Fathers to deal with current situations and show why they are still relevant;
  • explain services of worship both through studies and personal participation;
  • discuss challenges in Sweden with examples from the participants' own experiences in various social contexts;
  • evaluate traditional sources through group discussion to demonstrate their relevance today; and
  • share how learning in a group has helped them build a bridge between the Syriac Orthodox tradition and the participants' everyday lives in Sweden, with examples of how they have found new ways to express their faith in their local context.
Learning method

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.

Requirements

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 attending 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.

Syllabus

See the course syllabus for more information.

The operational council revised the syllabus on 14 January 2026.