Course description: The calendar texts about the Orthodox saints, the synaxarion of the Orthodox Church, are an often overlooked source of historical and theological insight. This course, in seminar form, focuses in particular on the synaxarion texts of Sundays and feast days based on the large synaxarion compiled by Hieromunk Makarios of Simonopetra, which has been translated into many European languages, but not yet into Swedish. Participation in the course presupposes good knowledge of Swedish, and some knowledge of English, French, or Greek.
Learning outcomes:
- Discover the value of the Synaxarion as a historical, liturgical and even theological source.
- Discover the interconnectedness and interdependence of the Synaxarion with the other central sources of the Orthodox tradition, especially the Scriptures and the liturgical texts.
- Gain knowledge, through the texts themselves, concerning the Orthodox church year.
- Learn to identify and solve problems relating to translating the synaxarion into Swedish.
Course material: “The Synaxarion – The Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church” by
Hieromonk Makarios of Simonos Petra (Trans. Christopher Hookway), Holy Convent of The Annunciation of Our Lady, Ormylia (Chalkidike, Greece), 1998 or the French original “Le Synaxaire. Vie des saints de l’Eglise orthodoxe” published by the Greek publishing house “Indiktos”.
Grading scale: pass-fail
