Part I: Historical and Ecclesial Foundations

A. Origins and Historical Development

  1. Eastern Orthodox Church — Ecclesial identity and structure
  2. History of the Eastern Orthodox Church — Development from apostolic era
  3. East–West Schism — The Great Schism of 1054
  4. Byzantine Empire — Political and cultural context
  5. Pentarchy — The five ancient patriarchates

B. Ecumenical Councils and Doctrinal Formation

  1. First Council of Nicaea — Christological foundation (325)
  2. First Council of Constantinople — Pneumatology (381)
  3. Council of Ephesus — Theotokos and Christology (431)
  4. Council of Chalcedon — Hypostatic union (451)
  5. Second Council of Constantinople — Three Chapters controversy (553)
  6. Third Council of Constantinople — Monothelitism (680–681)
  7. Second Council of Nicaea — Iconography (787)
  8. Quinisext Council — Canonical legislation (692)

C. Sources of Authority and Tradition

  1. Sacred tradition — Concept and transmission
  2. Eastern Orthodox theology — Theological method
  3. Church Fathers — Patristic authority
  4. Ecumenical council — Conciliar authority
  5. Biblical canon — Orthodox Old and New Testament
  6. Septuagint — Old Testament textual basis

D. Biblical Interpretation

  1. Hermeneutics — Interpretive method
  2. Allegorical interpretation of the Bible — Spiritual sense
  3. Typology (theology) — Typological exegesis
  4. Literal and figurative language — Levels of meaning
  5. Antiochene school — Historical-grammatical emphasis
  6. Alexandrian school — Allegorical emphasis

Part II: Theology Proper—God and Creation

A. The Nature of God

  1. Apophatic theology — Via negativa
  2. Cataphatic theology — Via positiva
  3. Essence–energies distinction — Palamite theology
  4. Attributes of God in Christianity — Divine attributes
  5. Divine simplicity — Orthodox understanding
  6. Tabor Light — Uncreated light
  7. Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite — Divine darkness and mystical theology

B. Trinitarian Theology

  1. Trinity — Foundational doctrine
  2. Nicene Creed — Trinitarian confession
  3. Filioque — Western addition controversy
  4. Hypostasis (philosophy and religion) — Person vs. essence
  5. Perichoresis — Mutual indwelling
  6. Monarchy of God the Father — Paternal monarchy

C. Creation and Providence

  1. Christian views on creation — Orthodox cosmology
  2. Logos (Christianity) — Christ as Logos in creation
  3. Divine providence — God's governance
  4. Icon — Created world as icon of divine
  5. Hexaemeron — Six days of creation

Part III: Christology and Soteriology

A. Person of Christ

  1. Christology — General doctrine
  2. Hypostatic union — Two natures, one person
  3. Theotokos — Mary as God-bearer
  4. Communicatio idiomatum — Communication of properties
  5. Kenosis — Self-emptying
  6. Transfiguration of Jesus — Revelation of divine glory
  7. Dyothelitism — Two wills in Christ
  8. Perichoresis — Interpenetration of natures

B. Work of Christ

  1. Atonement in Christianity — Orthodox soteriology
  2. Recapitulation theory of atonement — Irenaean model
  3. Ransom theory of atonement — Christus Victor theme
  4. Harrowing of Hell — Descent and victory
  5. Resurrection of Jesus — Central event
  6. Ascension of Jesus — Exaltation

C. Salvation and Deification

  1. Theosis (Eastern Christian theology) — Divinization
  2. Synergy (theology) — Divine-human cooperation
  3. Grace in Christianity — Uncreated grace
  4. Original sin — Orthodox understanding
  5. Ancestral sin — Consequence vs. guilt
  6. Salvation in Christianity — Holistic view

Part IV: Pneumatology and Ecclesiology

A. The Holy Spirit

  1. Holy Spirit in Christianity — Third person of Trinity
  2. Procession of the Holy Spirit — From the Father
  3. Paraclete — Comforter and advocate
  4. Gifts of the Holy Spirit — Charismatic endowment
  5. Pentecost — Descent upon Church

B. Nature of the Church

  1. One true church — Orthodox ecclesiology
  2. Four Marks of the Church — One, holy, catholic, apostolic
  3. Mystici Corporis Christi — Church as body
  4. Communion of saints — Unity of living and departed
  5. Apostolic succession — Episcopal continuity
  6. Sobornost — Conciliarity and catholicity
  7. Phronema — Mind of the Church