Parish Priest Program in the Tewahedo Tradition (100%)
This program offers the environment, structure and guidance necessary for the intellectual and personal formation of priests wishing to serve within the pastoral ministry of the Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The two-year course is taught in Tigrigna or Amharic and requires no knowledge of Swedish or English.
The program includes in-depth studies in Ge’ez and Ziema (liturgy and hymns), enabling participants to lead sacramental and liturgical services. In addition to this, participants are to complete nine theological training modules over the two years.
| Autumn term | Spring term | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Dogmatic Theology Biblical studies Ge'ez level 1–3 Ziema level 2 |
Ecclesiology Liturgics Ge'ez level 1–3 Ziema level 2 |
| Year 2 | Patristics Church History I Ge'ez level 1–3 Ziema level 2 |
Church History II Ecclesiastical law and administration Homiletics Ge'ez level 1–3 Ziema level 2 |
Learning objectives
Upon completion of the course, participants are expected (individually and collectively) to be able to:
- lead services with an understanding of both tradition and the congregation's spiritual needs;
- apply administrative routines for parish leadership and balance the demands of canon law with the reality of the parish;
- develop pastoral skills through collaborative exercises based on diverse experiences;
- use musical notation for liturgical contexts and develop their skills through group practice and feedback;
- tie liturgical texts to both personal experience and parish life and show how they enrich one another;
- use advanced grammar and vocabulary for Ge’ez and, through collaboration with others, gain a deeper understanding; and
- document their journey through training for ordained ministry and reflect on specific ways in which collaborative learning has transformed their understanding of ministry and how this connects to their personal calling and service.
Requirements
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 syllabus for further information. In the event of any discrepancies, the English version takes precedence.