The ‘Evyenios
Voulgaris’ Scholarship Programme for Advanced Studies in Orthodox Spiritual
Life and Theology
Scholarship
Programme
ANNOUNCEMENT
The
Saint Maxim the Greek Institute, with the support of the Holy and Great
Monastery of Vatopaidi, is introducing the ‘Evyenios Voulgaris’ Scholarship
Programme. Evyenios Voulgaris (1716-1806) served as principal of the Athoniada
School, which had been established by the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi. In his
day, he was the greatest and most important Greek scholar, a theologian,
philosopher, polymath, a man of encyclopaedic learning, poet, Father and
Shepherd of the Church and an influential teacher for the whole of Orthodoxy.
The ‘Evgenios Voulgaris’ is directed
towards:
-
Orthodox
theologians (up to 37 years of age), holders of or candidates for a doctoral
degree.
Duration:
1 year
(October 1st – September 30th)
Programme
Language: Modern
Greek
Requirements:
-
Good
knowledge of Ancient Greek, Modern Greek and English
-
High
level of theological knowledge and exceptional academic credentials
-
Competence
in Microsoft Office and use of the Internet
Aim and Purpose of
the Programme
The aim of the ‘Evyenios Voulgaris
scholarship programme is to promote the systematic, high-level study of
Orthodox spiritual life and theology, through liturgical and spiritual
tradition and the experience of the life in Christ.
The programme will by run at the Holy
Monastery of Vatopaidi and the scholarship students will interact with both
representatives of the monastic life and lecturers in theology. The theological
method which will be applied is empirical, originating from and expressing the
life and faith of the Orthodox Church. In this way, the programme will be
consistent with the epistemological and hermeneutical principles of Orthodox
Patristic Theology. This experiential method represents a fruitful combination
of experience, scientific knowledge and understanding. All scholarship holders will
be expected to take part in the liturgical and spiritual life of the Monastery,
to broaden and deepen their theological
studies and to learn from figures who, as living spokesmen on the
Tradition of the Church, essentially offer themselves, as well as their ecclesiastical
and spiritual experience and their personal spiritual and theological
reflections, as objects of study. The programme also aims to unify the
theological voice of the Orthodox, making it a powerful theological witness in
the modern world.
The nucleus of the programme is the
study of Patristic literature, under the guidance of modern Fathers and
hesychasts (Saint Silouan, Elder Sophrony, Elder Iosif the Hesychast, Elder
Aimilianos Simonopetritis, Saint Païsios the Athonite, Saint Porfyrios Kavsokalyvitis,
Saint Justin Popović, Saint Amfilohios Makris, Saint Iakovos Tsalikis, Elder
Filotheos Zervakos, Elder Cleopa Ilie, Saint Serafim of Virytsa, Elder Tadej of Vitovnica, Fr. Seraphim
Rose and others). Awareness of contemporary reality will be assessed through
the study of these Fathers, and the solutions provided by the Fathers to the
great problems which torment people today will be identified. The simultaneous
participation of the scholarship holders in the liturgical/spiritual life and tradition of the Church, through
the monastic round of services and duties, will be a dynamic connection between
empirical and academic theology.
The scholars will take part in the
Assemblies organized by the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi, guests at which will be
outstanding figures in Church life and theology (university professors,
hierarchs, abbots and spiritual fathers). Each scholar will be able to contact
each of these on a one-to-one basis throughout the duration of the programme.
Scholars must reside in the Monastery
for six months of the year (October-November, February-March, May-June). The
remaining time will be spent on writing the final dissertation which they will
submit.
Intensive courses in
Modern Greek
At the start of the programme,
non-Greek scholars will be offered lessons in Modern Greek. These will be
taught by specialists in the field of teaching Modern Greek to foreigners.
Intensive courses
in Ancient Greek
The programme will offer scholars
lessons to improve their knowledge of Ancient Greek. These will be taught by
specialists and will involve study of Biblical, liturgical and Patristic texts.
Monthly assignments
Each scholar will be obliged to submit short
essays (six in all) on a particular subject. He will present each essay to the
other scholars at a special assembly, which will be called in the last week of
each month.
Dissertation
Moreover, at the end of the programme,
each scholar will be expected to submit a dissertation of at least 50 pages on
a subject of his choice, within the priorities /fields suggested by the
programme. The choice of subject will be made with the agreement and under the
supervision of one of the professors in charge. The dissertations of all the
scholars will be presented in the Monastery, and they will be assessed by two examiners,
one of whom will be the supervisor. The dissertations will be published in a special
volume.
Certificate of
Attendance
The Maxim the Greek Institute will
award a Diploma to those scholarship holders who successfully complete the
programme. This Diploma is not an academic degree.
The Scholarship
The scholarship is for one year and
offers: a bursary of 800 euros a month, full board and lodging at the Holy
Monastery of Vatopaidi in single rooms, with special study spaces (teaching
rooms, library, internet access), and participation in the liturgical and
spiritual life of the Monastery (services, refectory, assemblies and so on).
At the discretion of the Abbot of the
Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi, who is also the Chairman of the Programme, and on the recommendation of the
Director of the Programme, the scholarship may be extended for an extra year
for outstanding scholars, with the aim of allowing them to conduct further
research on the Holy Mountain in other Monasteries or in international academic
centres.
The Chairman of the Programme may
decide to revoke a scholarship should it be confirmed that a scholar has not
performed his academic obligations or has nor conformed to the conventions of
life in the Monastery.
The Study Guide to
the Programme
The Director of Studies of the
Programme is Protopresbyter Constantin
Coman, professor emeritus of the Theological School of the University of
Bucharest.
1. A complete list of the figures in
Church life and theology.
2. A general overview of the subjects
which will be addressed by the visiting, hierarchs, fathers and professors.
3. Select bibliography – works by
contemporary Fathers and books
referring to them – biographies, essays and studies.
4. Select bibliography of the works of
the instructors taking part in the programme.
5. A complete list of the Biblical,
liturgical and theological texts to be studied in the Ancient Greek course,
which are compulsory materials for all scholarship holders.
6. A general presentation of the
administrative and spiritual aspects of the programme in which the scholars
will be participating.
7. A list of the subjects which will be
the object of the short, monthly essays, and a presentation of the methodology
required to complete them.
8. A list of the subjects for research and
the dissertation, and a presentation of the methodology required to complete
them.
Figures in Church
life and theology
Regular Contributors
1. Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol
2. Metropolitan Ierotheos of Nafpaktos
and Ayios Vlasios
3. Metropolitan Amfilohije of
Montenegro
4. Archimandrite Efraim, Abbot of the
Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopaidi
5. Archimandrite Elisaios, Abbot of the
Holy Monastery of Simonos Petras
6. Archimandrite Zacharias Zakharou,
Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint John the Baptist, Essex
7. Archimandrite Nicholas Sakharov,
Holy Monastery of Saint John the Baptist, Essex
8. George Mantzaridis, Professor
emeritus of the Theological School of the University of Thessaloniki
9. Protopresbyter Constantin Coman,
Professor emeritus of the Theological School of the University of Bucharest
10. Protopresbyter Vasileios
Kalliakmanis, Professor of the Theological School of the University of
Thessaloniki
11. Protopresbyter Nikolaos Ludovikos,
Professor at the Ecclesiastical Academy, Thessaloniki
12. Nikos Nikolaïdis, Professor
emeritus of the Theological School of the University of Athens
Apart from the above, other visiting contributors
will honour the programme with their presence.
Co-ordinating
Committee
Nikolaos Gouraros – Director of the
Saint Maxim the Greek Institute and of the Internet Magazine ‘Pemptousia’
Georgios Manolis – Editor-in-Chief of
the Orthodoxy Section of the Internet Magazine ‘Pemptousia’
Procedure for the submission
of applications and the selection of scholarship holders
The application
process will be completed in two stages: a) an assessment of the file submitted
and b) an oral interview
Required
documentation
1. An
application for entry, addressed to the Saint Maxim the Greek Institute
2. A photocopy of the applicant’s identity card
or passport
3. Proof of doctoral degree or registration in
a doctoral programme
4. Degree in theological studies
5. Proof of competency in Ancient and Modern
Greek
6. Letter of recommendation from the spiritual
father of the scholarship applicant
7. References from two university professors
8. A short, detailed C.V.
9. A brief text in Greek supporting the
application
(up to 2 sides)
Applications
will be assessed by a special committee under the supervision of Professor emeritus
Evangelos Chrysos, President of the Saint Maxim the Greek Institute, while the
final approval of the scholarship
holders resides with the head of the programme, Abbot Efraim of the Holy and
Great Monastery of Vatopaidi.
Dates for announcement of the programme and submission of supporting
documents
7 June: International
announcement by the Institute regarding the scholarship programme and its
associated requirements
10 June-10 August: Submission of an application and file with the
required documents of proof to the programme directorate
11 August- 1 September: Assessment of the personal files by a committee
under the supervision of Professor emeritus Evangelos Chrysos, President of the
Saint Maxim the Greek Institute
1 September- 10 September: Oral interview of candidates by a
committee chaired by Archimandrite Efraim, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi
20 September: Announcement of the results
1 October: Start of the programme
