Montréal QC Montréal Institute of Orthodox Theology 1997

Montréal, Québec, L’Institut de Théologie de Montréal, 1997

Montréal Institute of Orthodox Theology, 1997

Prehistory

The Montréal Institute of Orthodox Theology does not have a direct ancestor (as it were) ; but there was a context in which it developed.

Sign of the Theotokos Church OTI

In Montréal, Québec, Canada, during the mid-1970s, at Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Cathedral (Archdiocese of Canada, The Orthodox Church in America), Priest John Tkachuk (with the blessing of Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns) initiated a series of educational conferences for the benefit of Orthodox Christians in general.

After he had established the Sign of the Theotokos Parish in Montréal in1978, this annual conference continued to develop.

In March, 1978, the first “Orthodox Theological Institute” (OTI) retreat was organised, and it was led by the Priests John Tkachuk and Ihor Kutash. There followed a long series of speakers who addressed these sessions during the following decades. All this developed under the insightful leadership of Father John and Matushka Mary Tkachuk.

Father John organised the arrival in Montréal of a series of speakers who made their presentations in the context of the annual educational conferences which were generally to be held in Châteauguay on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River. The place in which they met was a Grey Nuns’ convent (now the Hôtel Manoir d’Youville). It had facilities for retreats and small conferences.

People began to travel from such places as Québec City, and Ottawa, Kingston, and Toronto in Ontario, in order to participate. This conference received the name “The Orthodox Theological Institute” (OTI) of Montréal, and it continued to function for several decades under the leadership of Father John Tkachuk.

The value of the annual retreats and the various lectures cannot be overstated. The beneficial influence was not limited either to the parish of the Sign of the Theotokos, nor to the region of and near Montréal. Many people attended from other places, such as Ottawa and Kingston (not all of them yet Orthodox believers), and they were all refreshed and strengthened by these opportunities. It was the personality and ability of Father John Tkachuk which made it easier for people to feel that they could and should attend.

Although it is not directly related, the future theological studies programme at Longueuil that developed with the University of Sherbrooke after 1997 is one of the fruits of this annual conference.

It may be said by extension that the fruit of the seed of this conference can be seen in the eventual development of 2 other attempts to provide Orthodox Christian theological education in Canada.

Winnipeg

One was the establishment in 2003 of the Saint Arseny Orthodox Christian Theological Institute in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This particular institute was one supported actively by the Archdiocese of Canada of The Orthodox Church in America (both of which have been constantly concerned with education). It offered theological courses for the purpose of educating the parishioners of the Church, and for preparing candidates for tonsure as readers, for ordination as subdeacons, and for ordination to the Holy Diaconate. Further, it was a revival of the Holy Ascension Pastoral School established at Sifton, Manitoba, by Bishop Arseny (Chahovtsov) of Winnipeg in the 1930s.

Toronto

In 2006, under the leadership of Professor Richard Schneider, the Orthodox and Eastern Christian Studies programme at Trinity College in Toronto, Ontario, was developed. In 2015, it became the "Orthodox School of Theology at Trinity College in Toronto".

Formation of the Montréal Institute of Orthodox Theology, 1997

In the late 1990s, responsibility for the continuation and development of the Orthodox Theological Institute (OTI) was taken up by Dr. John Hadjinicolaou. Previously, he had been a beneficiary of the OTI, and he had become active in its development.

It was written in the Spring Issue of the “Canadian Orthodox Messenger”, p. 3, on 2 December, 1997, the University of Sherbrooke, Québec, initiated its new certificate programme in Christian Theology at its Longeuil Campus in south-shore Montréal (adjacent to the Longueuil Metro station, and near the Jacques-Cartier Bridge). This was the culmination of many conversations between Mr Hadjinicolaou and members of the Faculty of Theology, Ethics, and Philosophy of the university. The project was catalysed by the university’s professors Jean-Paul Desclos and Andrius Valevicius. The programme was begun as an integral part of the regular programme and budget, and there were well-qualified pan-Orthodox teachers who provided the courses.

It was in 1998 that the Greek Orthodox Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy in Toronto, Ontario, was established by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada) (now the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada).

The courses offered by the University of Sherbrooke continued until 2015, when the university decided to close the Faculty of Theology.

The Montréal Institute of Orthodox Theology at the University of Laval, 2015

It was in 2015 that the founder of this theological programme, Dr. John Hadjinicolaou, and his associates came to an agreement with the University of Laval. They were, at that time, able to form a new partnership with the first-rate Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies of Université Laval, of Québec City.

As is written in the self-description of the Montréal Institute of Orthodox Theology by Dr. John Hadjinicolaou,

 The basic foundations are being laid for what we hope will be a very long-lasting 
 endeavour.  The future of the Montreal Institute of Orthodox Theology very much 
 depends on our ability to continue on the path of humble service that has allowed 
 us to garner the trust and confidence of so many.

Academic Programme of the Institute

Undergraduate Certificate in Orthodox Theology (30 credits)

The Certificate programme is designed to familiarise students with the theological and cultural foundations of the Orthodox Christian tradition. Students also acquire a better understanding of the unique religious and cultural contributions Orthodox Christian communities make in a multicultural society.

Through well-structured courses, students are introduced to the study of the basic elements of Orthodoxy, and they are guided through the analysis and interpretation of Orthodox Christian theology, spirituality and liturgical practices. The main theological currents and authors within Orthodox theology provide the context for the development of critical thinking skills. In addition, students are introduced to the available resources for theological research.

Programme Objectives

The Programme aims to enable its students to :

✚ Learn more about the Orthodox tradition ;

✚ Compare Orthodox Christianity to other Christian groups ; and

✚ Enrich their knowledge of theology, spirituality, and liturgy in the Orthodox tradition, and broaden their general knowledge base.

Programme Structure

Courses are offered according to 7 major themes :

✚ Church History

✚ Dogmatic Theology

✚ Spirituality

✚ Liturgical Theology

✚ Biblical Studies

✚ Patristic Theology

✚ Specific Topics in Orthodox Theology

Graduate Diploma in Orthodox Theology (30 credits)

The Graduate Diploma provides more specialised knowledge of key aspects of the Orthodox tradition, and aims to engender a broad reflection on the destiny of Orthodox Christianity in the 21st century. Strongly rooted in the age-old tradition of the Orthodox Church, the programme initiates students to both ancient and modern-day authors in order to provide a solid basis for understanding the major contemporary challenges facing Orthodoxy.

Programme Objectives

Through the use of well-structured seminars and lectures, the programme aims to enable students to :

✚ Assess the current status of the Orthodox Christian world ;

✚ Learn about contemporary issues and challenges faced by the Orthodox Church ;

✚ Familiarize themselves with the founding texts of the Orthodox tradition ;

✚ Improve their understanding of the history and theology of the Orthodox Church ;

✚ Reflect on major themes of Orthodox spirituality and liturgical practice ; and

✚ Develop a research project in Orthodox theology.

Programme Structure

The programme is structured according to 4 modules : Required Courses ; Foundational Texts of the Orthodox Church ; Historical Aspects and Theology of the Orthodox Tradition ; and Orthodox Culture and Spirituality.

Advancement Perspectives

Students who complete the Graduate Diploma in Orthodox Theology can obtain credit towards a Master’s Degree in Theology from Université Laval (Québec City).

Additional requirements for a Master’s Degree include a supervised thesis.

It is also possible to pursue a doctorate in theology in an area related to Orthodox Christian theology.