Exploring Orthodox Christianity and the Challenges of Our Day

This course invites adult students who are inquirers or followers of the Orthodox faith into a thoughtful and prayerful exploration of Orthodox Christianity as it encounters the complex realities of the modern world. Using _Faith: Elucidations on Humanity, Evil, Christ, the Spirit, and the Church _by Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Clapsis as the primary text, students will examine how the timeless teachings of the Orthodox Church illuminate contemporary questions about personhood, community, justice, suffering, and the meaning of life in an age of rapid change.

Grounded in the patristic tradition yet attentive to present-day concerns, this course will offer a rich theological framework for understanding humanity in the image of God, the saving work of Christ, and the life of the Church as a healing communion. Through guided reading, discussion, and reflection, students will consider how Orthodox theology speaks to issues such as human dignity, cultural fragmentation, global conflict, ecological responsibility, and the search for authentic spiritual identity.

Throughout the course, students will:

Be introduced to Orthodox theological anthropology, Christology, and ecclesiology.
Explore how ancient Christian wisdom addresses the moral and spiritual challenges of contemporary society.
Reflect on the Church’s vocation in a world marked by suffering, polarization, and technological transformation.
Develop the ability to articulate an Orthodox response to modern ethical and cultural questions.
Strengthen their understanding of the Church as a living, healing, and reconciling presence in the world.

Designed for adult students seeking to integrate Orthodox faith with the realities of daily life, this course offers a space for honest inquiry, spiritual growth, and renewed vision. As a community of learners, we will discover how the Orthodox Church’s unchanging faith continues to guide, challenge, and inspire us in our own moment of history.

Required Materials:
Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course.

Faith Elucidations: On Humanity, Evil, Christ, The Spirit, And The Church

Fr. Dionysios Koulianos

[email protected]

Father Dionysios Koulianos holds an Associate of Applied Science from ITT Technical Institute (2002) in Computer Network System Technology, a Bachelor of Arts from Hellenic College (2012) in Religious Studies and a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (2015).
By the grace of God and through laying on of hands by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Sunday, June 14, 2015, at his home parish in Fort Wayne, IN. Then through the laying on of hands by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Sunday, August 2, 2015, at Saint Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria, NY to his first assignment where he served as an assistant priest. In 2016, he was transferred and elevated to proistamenos to his assignment of Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church in Braintree, MA. Fr. Dionysios and his wife, Presbytera Maria relocated to their new home on March 1st, 2020, when he was installed by His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios and elevated to Dean of the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Springfield, MA where every day live a happy life working together to glorify God with all their hearts.
He wants to serve God’s people, leading them to know Him more closely for He loves us all greatly. In this wonderful journey, we are all here, lifelong learners, present, and ready to serve God and His people with honor and dignity. May God bless you all abundantly. [email protected]

Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.

High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.

Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)

Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm

Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:

Visit zoom.us/download.
Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
Open and run the installer on your computer.
In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.

Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.

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First, read the available course descriptions, noting prerequisites, target grades, and course objectives. If you think your student is prepared for the course, go ahead and register. After registration, a placement assessment may be provided to students, depending on the course and the student's previous enrollment with Scholé Academy. Registration is finalized when the student's placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.

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