We had a friendly meeting over coffee, with both Certificate and Diploma Group present, and then went on to brief prayers. In the Certificate room, Melangell spent some time going over the method of doing academic presentations and demystified the process before she, Father Stephen, Father Philip, and Father Deacon Stephen gave the introductory lectures – ranging from background to the New Testament, Early Christianity and the Mysteries of the Church. The Diploma is a rolling course over two years, meaning that both years I and II follow the same programme. If you finished your certificate last year, you don’t have to wait for year I to come round again – they are interchangeable. Fr. Deacon Stephen launched the New Testament Studies with St. John’s Gospel for the Diploma Course. Fr. Stephen moved through various aspects of Liturgy – including a visit to the church – while Fr. Philip made fasting and asceticism seem a most inviting process! Theo Andreou made his debut with the theology of the Incarnation and big names in the Alexandrian fathers; he was asked a wide variety of questions and succeeded in making the subject of who or what is a theologian accessible and thought-provoking. It was a good day altogether, and many nervous faces at the beginning of the day, relaxed, and they looked animated and keen to go on.
