Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church – Details, episodes &amp; analysis

In Episode 44 of our Mystical Theology, we begin our overview of the theology of Dionysius the Areopagite, one of the most challenging figures in the history of Christian doctrine.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I wish to express my indebtedness to the spoken and written traditions of Mtp Kallistos Ware, Vladimir Lossky, Fr. John Romanides and Mtp Hierotheos Vlachos. Responsibility for the content of my presentations is of course mine alone. ©Christopher Veniamin 2026

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

Join The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

eBooks
Amazon
Google
Apple
Kobo
B&N

Further Info & Bibliography
The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner

Contact us: info@mountthabor.com

...

Episode 42: Caveat on Trinity and Grace of God, Part 6 of Cyril of Alexandria, C. Veniamin

Season 3 · Episode 42

dimanche 25 mai 2025 • Duration 34:14

[Episode 42: Caveat on Trinity and Grace of God, Part 6 of Cyril of Alexandria, C. Veniamin]

Series: Mystical Theology

Episode 42: Caveat on Trinity and Grace of God, Part 6 of Cyril of Alexandria, C. Veniamin

In Episode 42: Caveat on Trinity and Grace of God, Part 6 of Cyril of Alexandria, Dr. Veniamin pauses his presentations on the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria, in order to bring back in to focus the Cappadocian understanding of hypostasis, upon which Cyril bases his emphasis on the oneness of Christ, and also the uncreated character of divine grace. For a list of the various themes contained therein, see the Timestamps below.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Special thanks to the video of Fr. Dimitru Staniloae, on the difference between western and eastern Christianity.

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

Join The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

eBooks
Amazon
Google
Apple
Kobo
B&N

Further Info & Bibliography
The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner

Contact us: info@mountthabor.com

...

Episode 32: Conclusions to Augustine, Part 1: Basil the Great & Gregory the Theologian, C. Veniamin

Season 3 · Episode 32

samedi 25 janvier 2025 • Duration 23:34

Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 32: Conclusions to Augustine, Part 1: Basil the Great & Gregory the Theologian, C. Veniamin

In Episode 32, we return to the Cappadocian Fathers by way of conclusion, following our overview of Augustine of Hippo, in order to bring us back to an Orthodox approach to the mystery of the Holy Trinity. We attempt a clarification of the essence-energies distinction as taught by Basil the Great, and proceed from there to a broader discussion of what is theology and who is a theologian according to Gregory of Nazianzus, the Theologian. Other themes touched upon are included in the Timestamps.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

Join The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

eBooks
Amazon
Google
Apple
Kobo
B&N

Further Info & Bibliography
The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner

Contact us: info@mountthabor.com

...

Three Basic Mistakes, Augustine of Hippo, Episode 31, Mystical Theology, Dr. C. Veniamin

Season 3 · Episode 31

lundi 6 janvier 2025 • Duration 23:27

Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 31: Three Basic Mistakes, Augustine of Hippo on the Holy Trinity, Episode 31, Mystical Theology, Dr. C. Veniamin

Based on St. Augustine’s De Fide et Symbolo, this presentation discusses three erroneous presuppositions made by the Bishop of Hippo, and perpetuated by his followers, which have influenced subsequent generations in the Franco-Latin Christianity of the West. These assumptions, discerned by Fr. John Romanides, one of the foremost Orthodox theologians of our times, may be found in his lecture, “The Filioque” (see details below). Other themes touched upon are included in the Timestamps.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020) ; and Fr. John Romanides, “The Filioque”, Patriarch Athenagoras Memorial Lectures, Franks, Romans, Feudalism, and Doctrine: An Interplay between Theology and Society (Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1981), pp. 71–90.

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

Join The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

eBooks
Amazon
Google
Apple
Kobo
B&N

Further Info & Bibliography
The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner

Contact us: info@mountthabor.com

...

Essentialism vs Essence–Energies, Part 9 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orth. Persp., Dr. C. Veniamin

Season 3 · Episode 28

dimanche 22 décembre 2024 • Duration 34:36

Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 28: Augustine’s Essentialism and the Essence–Energies Distinction of Basil the Great, Part 9 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Dr. C. Veniamin

In Part 9 of our presentations on Augustine of Hippo a comparison is made between the theological approach of Augustine and Basil the Great vis-a-vis the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, based on our reading of Augustine’s De Trinitate Book IX, and of Basil’s Epistles 2 and 234. A brief explanation of what is meant by the “substance and attributes” distinction is also given. Other themes touched upon are included in the Timestamps.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

Join The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

eBooks
Amazon
Google
Apple
Kobo
B&N

Further Info & Bibliography
The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner

Contact us: info@mountthabor.com

...

Further Reading & Comm, De Trinitate IX, Pt 8, Augustine of Hippo: An Orth. Persp., Dr. C. Veniamin

Season 3 · Episode 27

lundi 9 décembre 2024 • Duration 29:36

Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 27: Further Reading & Commentary, Reading De Trinitate Book IX, Part 8 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Dr. C. Veniamin

In Part 8 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 27 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we continue our reading and commentary on Book IX of St. Augustine’s De Trinitate; and in so doing we delve into Augustine's theological presuppositions. Other themes broached in this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

Join The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

eBooks
Amazon
Google
Apple
Kobo
B&N

Further Info & Bibliography
The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner

Contact us: info@mountthabor.com

...

Reading & Commentary, De Trinitate IX, Pt 7, Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Persp, Dr. C. Veniamin

Season 3 · Episode 26

vendredi 29 novembre 2024 • Duration 23:49

Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 26: Reading & Commentary, Reading De Trinitate Book IX, Part 7 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Dr. C. Veniamin

In Part 7 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 26 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we continue our reading and commentary on Book IX of St. Augustine’s De Trinitate; and in so doing we touch on such key questions as, “What is theology?” and “Who is a theologian?”. Other themes broached in this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

Join The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

eBooks
Amazon
Google
Apple
Kobo
B&N

Further Info & Bibliography
The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner

Contact us: info@mountthabor.com

...

“What Is Meant By The Spiritual Life?”, Part 6 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox… Dr. C. Veniamin

Season 3 · Episode 25

samedi 16 novembre 2024 • Duration 25:52

Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 25: “What Is Meant By The Spiritual Life?”, Part 6 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Dr. C. Veniamin

In Part 6 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 25 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we attempt to outline some of the distinguishing characteristics of the Orthodox spiritual life. Other themes broached in this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

Join The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

eBooks
Amazon
Google
Apple
Kobo
B&N

Further Info & Bibliography
The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner

Contact us: info@mountthabor.com

...

Episode 11: “By Way of Conclusion”, in John of the Ladder, Prof. Christopher Veniamin

Season 4 · Episode 11

dimanche 3 novembre 2024 • Duration 23:30

Episode 11: “By Way of Conclusion”
Unit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin
Series: “Mystical Theology"

“By Way of Conclusion”, Episode 11 in our series, "John of the Ladder”, consists of concluding remarks regarding our brief overview of Steps 4 and 5 of the famous Ladder of Divine Ascent by the great John Climacus. Presented by Dr. Christopher Veniamin, themes from this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog: https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blog

Recommended background reading: The Ladder of Divine Ascent (Holy Transfiguration Monastery); Saint Silouan the Athonite, by St. Sophrony the Athonite (https://mountthabor.com/products/st-silouan-the-athonite); and The Enlargement of the Heart, by Archimandrite Zacharias (https://mountthabor.com/products/the-enlargement-of-the-heart-2nd-ed)

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

Join The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

eBooks
Amazon
Google
Apple
Kobo
B&N

Further Info & Bibliography
The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner

Contact us: info@mountthabor.com

...

“De Trinitate”, Book IX, Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Part 5, Dr. C. Veniamin

Season 3 · Episode 24

vendredi 25 octobre 2024 • Duration 24:01

Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 24: “De Trinitate”, Book IX, Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Part 5, Dr. C. Veniamin

In Part 5 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 24 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we conclude our remarks on St. Augustine’s “Commentary on Ps. 134:3 (135:3)”, and then begin reading from Book IX of his “de Trinitate”. Particular attention is given to Augustine’s understanding of “sure knowledge” in the Life to Come in contrast to the Patristic understanding of the vision of God, as expressed by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. Other themes broached in this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community.

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

Join The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support