Byzantine Catholic Seminary Starts its Second Online Course - Introduction to Liturgy

PITTSBURGH, PA, February 09, 2011 (Press-News.org) The eight-week course - Intro to Liturgy - begins on February 14th and is designed to equip students as intelligent people of faith and provide them with the skills necessary to read and critically assess liturgical materials with a particular focus on the Byzantine liturgical tradition.

It will cover basic liturgical theology, liturgical prayer, monastic, cathedral, and hybrid liturgical offices and the historical development of the two Eastern Typika and conclude with an overview of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom as a pathway for thinking about the importance of liturgical language and translation, local liturgical traditions, and liturgical reform.

Fr. Stelyios Muksuris will be teaching the course, bringing a wealth of personal and professional expertise to his classroom. A priest in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Fr. Stelyios has served a number of parishes in Greece as well as the United States. He has taught at St. Anselm College, Manchester, NH, the University of Pittsburgh's Russian and Eastern European Studies Department and the Byzantine Catholic Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA. He currently serves as editor of the Greek Orthodox publication, Illuminator, as well as administrative assistant to the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Pittsburgh.

The cost per course for students seeking a certificate is $500. Courses may be audited for $350. A non-refundable deposit of $50 is required at registration but will be applied toward the entry fee for those who enroll. The Online Learning Program at BCS not only serves Byzantine Catholic Churches, but the wider community interested in learning about the Eastern Church.

The online Certificate is offered in partnership with The Learning House, Inc., an online education partner that helps colleges and universities develop and deliver online degree programs. The program is designed to provide students with a broad general grounding in the religious, historical and cultural traditions of Eastern Christianity. Curriculum includes eight online courses focusing on Scripture, liturgy, dogma and history.

Special attention is paid to the unique study of Eastern and specifically Byzantine Christianity and their place in Western, multicultural and multi-religious contexts. The Online Learning Program at BCS not only serves Byzantine Catholic Churches, but the wider community interested in learning about the Eastern Church.

Said one participant of this past fall's initial offering..."This was my first experience with an online course. I felt this was a good experience and the site was easy to use." Of their comfort with what the Seminary presented, another offered, "I think the Seminary provides excellent teachers. The class moved quickly and the workload was steady. I especially appreciated the instructor's input on the discussion boards."

Those interested in learning more about the Seminary's Online Learning Program can visit BCS Online Campus (http://online.byzcathsem.edu) or contact Dr. Collins at 412-321-8383, ext. 23 | scollins@byzcathsem.edu. As classroom space is limited, we encourage all those who desire to attend the Introduction to Liturgy online course to register promptly and reserve their place.

About Byzantine Catholic Seminary
Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius (www.byzcathsem.edu) is a school of theology whose primary mission is to prepare candidates for priestly ministry to the Byzantine Catholic Churches of North America. The academic programs of the Seminary are open to qualified off-campus students whether lay or religious. The Seminary is fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools of the United States and Canada.

About Learning House
The Learning House, Inc. (www.learninghouse.com) is a comprehensive online education solutions partner that helps colleges and universities offer and manage their online degree programs. Learning House provides a total online campus solution to each of its clients, including online course development and publishing, learning management system customization and hosting, online program marketing (www.elearnportal.com), 24/7 technology support, faculty and staff training, online education infrastructure and consulting.