THE HOLY BYZANTINE CATHOLIC ORTHODOX CHURCH (CHURCH IN AFRICA).

VISION

Saint John’s Seminary will offer its seminarians the opportunity to grow mentally, spiritually, socially, emotionally and
physically in their love of Jesus Christ and His Holy Bride the Church. It does this through its focus on the following major
themes of formation; Doctrinal Formation, Spiritual Formation, Communicational Formation, Pastoral Formation and
Evangelical Formation.

MISSION STATEMENT

Saint John’s Seminary is entrusted in the development of biblical, traditional and professional competent Byzantine
Catholic Orthodox ministers of Jesus Christ who will impact the church, world and their region. This mission is rooted in the
school’s doctrinal, traditional and professional heritage, and is put in to practical effect through five educational formations;
Doctrinal Formation, Spiritual Formation, Communicational Formation, Pastoral Formation and Evangelical Formation.

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

DOCTRINAL FORMATION

Educational Purpose; To develop ministers with strong biblical, doctrinal and traditional convictions.

Institutional Strategy; Through exposure to the Holy Bible and Traditions of the Christian Faith, we encourage students to
become lifelong students of the Word of God. A biblical and traditionally centered curriculum, focus on ministry will guide
students to integrate principal with practice. The mentored internship forges and tests a biblically, theologically and
traditionally informed philosophy of ministry on the seminarian.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Educational Purpose; To develop ministers with spiritual maturity who are actively growing in their knowledge of God
and their identity in Christ. A deep, personal, loving, sincere and fervent relationship with God and His Holy Church that; will
continue after ordination. To reveal a life of personal holiness, discipline, and sensibility to the realities of the world. To
participate in the Divine Liturgy, faithful meditation on the Holy Word and faithful prayer, all of which are characteristics of
the spirituality of Orthodox Priest.

Institutional Strategy; Emphasis in maturity of character, personal and interpersonal development. It is measured by a
personal faculty interaction and evaluation. Special emphasis is placed in spiritual formation classes and mentored
internship.

COMMUNICATIONAL FORMATION

Educational Purpose; To develop ministers with effective communication skills who strive to communicate the Holy Word
of God accurately and relevantly; and are becoming specialists in one or more of the following areas as affective
preachers; creative teachers; proficient facilitators of small groups, communities, and task forces; competent ministers
who are able to discern spiritual and emotional needs, listen well, and guide towards the well-being of the members of his
Christian community.

Institutional Strategy; Communication skills are integral to the curriculum. The mentored internship requires regular,
evaluated communication experiences at various levels, Pastoral mentors model these skills through accountability groups,
spiritual formation classes, liturgy and classroom instruction.

PASTORAL FORMATION

Educational Purpose; To develop ministers with a love and passion to strengthen the Holy Church, who define,
personalize, motivate, influence God’s people, and guides the church toward renewal and unity. He will also understand the
vital spiritual and organizational components in planting, developing and maintaining a healthy church and understand and
employ appropriate ministry strategies. Ministries will be accomplished through effective teamwork and by humbly leading
others without the need for manipulation or competition.

Institutional Strategy; Our curriculum fosters ministry competencies for all stages of life. Most importantly, the mentored
internship provokes students to experience church life in a crucible that tests these important skills.

EVANGELICAL FORMATION

Educational Purpose; To develop ministers with a global evangelistic missionary vision who affirm a sensitivity to multi-
ethnic, interdenominational and world missions of the holy body of Christ the Church. To encourage a partnership with
missions through prayer, giving and visiting them.

Institutional Strategy; Biblical, traditional and doctrinal competency, spiritual maturity, effective communicational skills
and ministry leadership are essential to mission development. A annual Mission Conference will foster a missionary
passion. Our partnership with various organizations exposes students to local and global church renewal efforts.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************

************************************************************************************************************************
                                                            DIACONATE

DIACONAL FORMATION

As the Sacred Diaconate is an important ministry in the Orthodox Church and not just a stepping-stone to the Priesthood,;

The Fall semester of the second year of instruction is designed to prepare men and women for service as deacons in the
Church. The liturgical courses offered in this semester focuses on the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and other Services.

The Third semester students will be encouraged to petition for ordination, after having received the endorsement of
mentor and Seminary faculty, in order to have an opportunity to learn, through active participation, how to serve the Divine
Services in the Seminary Chapel and elsewhere within the Diocese.

********************************************************************************************************************************************
                                                         FORMATION and ORDINATION

PRIESTLY FORMATION

Men who are considered candidates for the Holy Priesthood, with the blessing of the diocesan Hierarch, endorsement of
mentor and permission of the faculty, will be permitted to enter the forth semester program. Under the guidance of the
Primate Archbishop His Beatitude Mar +Azarias, students will be mentored in those skills necessary for a good, well-
rounded Orthodox Pastor. Field work in the hospitals, hospices, prisons and diocesan church will form a major part of the
sixth semester program. Classes will be held in Canon Law, Liturgics, and other areas of Pastoral Life, Parish
Administration and Counseling . Students will be expected to participate in the cycle of liturgical services at Seminaries
Chapel or local parish. The last four weeks of the final semester it takes place in San Marino California at the Campus of
Saint John’s the Divine after the seminarian may elect to be ordination in the Holy Trinity Church in San Marino or return
home for ordination.

********************************************************************************************************************************************
                         MASTERS OF DIVINITY and DOCTORATE OF DIVINITY

MASTERS OF DIVINITY

Men and women who are considered candidates for a Masters of Divinity, with the blessing of the diocesan Hierarch,
endorsement of mentor and permission of the faculty, will be permitted to enter the forth year program. Classes will be
held in Byzantine Theology, Ancient Theology, Mediaeval Theology, Modern Theology and Patristic Theology. The student
will submit, an in-depth research paper on a selected topic in theology that has been endorsed by the Committee and
approved by the Faculty. The Thesis: (1) must show scholarly knowledge of the subject, and demonstrate extensive
research and originality of thought and it must be substantial in character and length (approximately 50,000 words), (2) the
student will work under the supervision of a Faculty member (Faculty Supervisor) selected by the Committee. After the
approval of the supervising faculty member, it is to be submitted to the Committee. The examination of the Thesis will be
conducted by a panel of three examiners including: the dissertation Faculty Supervisor; the Chair of the Committee on
Advanced Degrees; and one external examiners appointed by the Dean of the Seminary upon recommendation of the

DOCTORATE OF DIVINITY

Men and women who are considered candidates for a Masters of Divinity, with the blessing of the diocesan Hierarch,
endorsement of mentor and permission of the faculty, will be permitted to enter the fifth year program. Classes will be held
in Ecumenical Theology, New Testament Theology and Paulist Theology. The student will submit, and successfully defend,
a dissertation in the major area of study that has been endorsed by the Committee and approved by the Faculty. The
dissertation: (1) Must show scholarly knowledge of the literature of the subject, and demonstrate extensive research and
originality of thought and it must be substantial in character and length (approximately 75,000 words), (2) The student will
work under the supervision of a Faculty member (Faculty Supervisor) selected by the Committee. After the approval of the
supervising faculty member, it is to be submitted to the Committee. The examination of the dissertation will be conducted
by a panel of three examiners including: the dissertation Faculty Supervisor; the Chair of the Committee on Advanced
Degrees; and one external examiners appointed by the Dean of the Seminary upon recommendation of the supervisors
and the Committee. The examining panel will report to the Faculty, via the Chair of the Committee, their judgment of the
dissertation and of the student’s defense of it.

                                                                                        NOTE
                                                        We will have a Bachelors program very soon.

********************************************************************************************************************************************

Fall – Reader Certification
Catechism
Church History in the West
Communication
Historical Trends
Liturgy
Music
New Testament
Old Testament
Total Units

Spring – Ministers Certification
Catechism
Church History in the West
Communication
Doctrine
Liturgy
Music
New Testament
Old Testament
Total Units

****************************************

Fall – Diaconal Formation
Catechism
Comparative Theology
Counseling (12 Steps)
Diaconia
Liturgy
New Testament
Old Testament
Total Units

Spring – Priestly Formation
Canon Law
Comparative Theology
Homiletics
Music
New Testament
Old Testament
Patristics
Spirituality
Total Units

****************************************

Fall – Priestly Formation
Canon Law
Homiletics
Religion and the Law
Liturgics
New Testament
Old Testament
Patristics
Spirituality
Total Units

Spring – Priestly Formation
Apocrypha
Byzantine Canon Law
Homiletics
Pastoral Administration
Pastoral Life
Pastoral Field Work
Pastoral Spirituality
Spirituality
Total Units

****************************************

( Masters of Theology) (M. Theo)

Fall – Course Requirements
Byzantine Theology
Ancient Theology
Mediaeval Theology
Modern Theology
Patristic Theology
Total Units

Spring – Course Electives

Master Thesis

Evaluated Transfer Units
Master Units
Total credits for Masters

****************************************

( Doctorate of Divinity) (D. Div)

Fall – Course Requirements

Ecumenical Theology
New Testament Theology
Paulist Theology
Total Units

Spring – (Dissertation)

Doctorate Dissertations

Evaluated Transfer Units
Doctorate Units
Total credits for Doctorate