St Athanasius Seminar 2024
June 17-21
“Early Christian Theological Anthropology”
V. Rev. Dr John Behr
“What is the human being that you are mindful of him?” asks the Psalmist (Ps. 8:4). In fact, what it is to be human is at the heart of the Christian revelation: Christ reveals to us the truth about God and the human being, in one—one prosopon, one hypostasis; one cannot separate the revelation of God in Christ from that of the human being. Yet, there is perhaps no more contested question today than what it is to be human—transhumanism? posthumanism?—and, within this, what it is to be male and female and the plethora of issues attending upon this. In this class we will focus on the overarching biblical account from Adam to Christ through close readings of the scriptural texts and the interpretations of Saints Irenaeus, Gregory of Nyssa, and Maximos the Confessor. We will explore anthropological questions about the nature of embodiment, the relationship between life and death, and the role of sexuality in the arc that leads from those made male and female “in the image” to “the image,” Christ himself, in whom there is neither male nor female.
Fr John Behr holds the Regius Chair in Humanity at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and has taught seminars like ours around the world. A leading scholar of early Christian theology, Fr. John has written many books, including The Way to Nicaea, The Mystery of Christ, Becoming Human, John the Theologian & his Paschal Gospel, as well as translations of St Irenaeus, Origen, St Athanasius, and St Gregory of Nyssa. He is also general editor of St Vladimir Seminary Press’s Popular Patristics translation series. Fr. John is married and has three children.
Location
Ambrose University, Calgary, AB
Daily Schedule (M-F, June 17-21)
8:30 AM: First & Third Hour Prayer
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Sessions & coffee
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Sessions & coffee
Registration
Option 1: Seminar only $325
• Includes daily lunch & coffee breaks
Option 2: Seminar & Accommodations $550-625
• Includes daily lunch, coffee breaks, & residence-style accommodation from June 16-21 on the Ambrose campus
Option 3: For-credit course at Ambrose University & Seminary
• Email for details
After May 1, add $50.
Click here to register
For more information about the seminar, email Dn Jonathan Goossen at [email protected].