Summer program offers intensive study of Eastern Christianity

Special to the WCR
Ottawa

The Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies (MASI) is inviting participants for its annual summer intensive program.

This is a unique opportunity to earn six university credits while living and praying in community. There is a daily liturgical cycle ranging from Matins, Divine Liturgy, hours, Vespers and evening prayer.

To complement class time, students visit various area Eastern Christian churches, centres and monasteries in the region.

Since 1987, MASI has offered students the opportunity to integrate the study of the theology, liturgy and spirituality of the Christian East with a lived experience of Eastern monasticism or community life.

From 1996, this was achieved through the Institute's Summer Intensive Programs at Holy Transfiguration (Mount Tabor) Monastery in Redwood Valley, Calif., and at the Mother of God Monastery in Orangeville, Ont.

In 2005, the annual summer intensive program moved to Holy Spirit Seminary in Ottawa. This has allowed students to take advantage of the exceptional theological library at Saint Paul University while working on their class assignments.

Father Stephen Wojcichowsky, who took over as director of the institute in February, will be the on-site program administrator.

Students of all ages are welcome. Previous participants have come from all over North America and Ukraine and range in age from teenagers to seniors. The Catholic Near East Welfare Association will sponsor four students from Ukraine.

For information contact: The Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, Saint Paul University, 223 Main St., Ottawa K1S 1C4. Phone: 1-800-637-6859, ext. 2332. Email: sheptytsky@ustpaul.ca. Website: www.ustpaul.ca/sheptytsky.

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