Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church

The Mount Thabor Academy

Land USA

Sjanger Utdanning, Historie, Kurs

Språk EN-GB

Episoder 84

Siste 26.05.2026

Mystical Theology is a lecture series with Prof. Christopher Veniamin introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church. It approaches its subject with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. Units cover early Christian thinkers such as Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Athanasius the Great, the Cappadocian Fathers and Augustine of Hippo, as well as later figures like John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, Gregory Palamas, John of the Ladder, and Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites. The course also includes special editions, a unit on empirical dogmatics and the theology of Fr. John Romanides, and suggested background reading. It is produced by the Mount Thabor Academy, the educational arm associated with Mount Thabor Publishing.

Episoder

Episode 45: Dionysius the Areopagite, Authorship & Dating, C. Veniamin 26.05.2026 1t 1min

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 45: Dionysius the Areopagite, Authorship & Dating, C. Veniamin In Episode 45 of our Mystical Theology, we continue our overview of the theology of Dionysius the Areopagite, one of the most challenging figures in the history of Christian doctrine. This episode also contains personal reflections on aspects of the spiritual life learned from St. Sophrony the Athonite. For a list of the various themes contained therein, see the Timestamps bel...
Episode 44: Dionysius the Areopagite, Introduction, C. Veniamin 13.03.2026 46min

Send us Fan Mail 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 Thabo...
Episode 42: Caveat on Trinity and Grace of God, Part 6 of Cyril of Alexandria, C. Veniamin 24.05.2025 34min

Send us Fan Mail [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 ...
Episode 41: Cyril of Alexandria, With Scholion on Appolinarius, Intro to Xtology, Pt 5, C. Veniamin 27.04.2025 25min

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 41: Cyril of Alexandria, With Scholion on Appolinarius of Laodicea, Intro to Christology, Pt 5, C. Veniamin In Episode 41 of our Mystical Theology, Dr. Veniamin continues his presentation of the Christology of St. Cyril of Alexandria, emphasizing the divinity of the Logos made flesh, and an important note on the heresy of Apollinarius of Laodicea (c.310 - c.390). For a list of the various themes contained therein, see the Timestamps below. Q&...
Episode 40: Cyril of Alexandria, Introduction to Christology, Part 4, Dr. C. Veniamin 13.04.2025 27min

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 40: Cyril of Alexandria, Introduction to Christology, Part 4, Dr. C. Veniamin In Episode 40 of our Mystical Theology, Dr. Veniamin presents the foundations of Christology as formulated by St. Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria (d. 444), in the context of the Nestorian controversy (429 – 431). For a list of the various themes contained herein, see the Timestamps below. Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog Recommended background read...
Episode 39: Alexandria and Antioch: Christological Tendencies, Intro Pt 3, Dr. C. Veniamin 06.04.2025 24min

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 39: Alexandria and Antioch: Christological Tendencies, Intro Pt 3, Dr. C. Veniamin In Episode 39 of our Mystical Theology, the tendencies to be found in Alexandrian and Antiochian Christology are discussed as a prelude to our overview of the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444). See also the themes in the Timestamps below. Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregor...
Episode 10: “Repentance and The Prison”, in John of the Ladder, Dr. C. Veniamin 30.03.2025 41min

Send us Fan Mail Episode 10: “Repentance and The Prison”, in John of the Ladder, Dr. C. Veniamin Unit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin Series: “Mystical Theology" “Repentance and The Prison”, Episode 10 in our series, "John of the Ladder”, is based on the reading of the first half of Step 5: “On Repentance… and about the Prison”, is one of the most challenging chapters in Patristic theology and the spiritual life. Presented by Dr. Chris...
Episode 38: The Nestorian Perspective: Intro to Christology, Part 2, Dr. C. Veniamin 13.03.2025 26min

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 38: The Nestorian Perspective: Intro to Christology, Part 2, Dr. C. Veniamin In Episode 38 of our Mystical Theology, the difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical dyophysite Christologies is described, and in the process the Christological views of Theodore of Mopsouestia (c. 350-428) and Nestorius of Constantinople (d. c. 451) are presented as a prelude to the great contribution of Cyril of Alexandria. For other themes included in this...
Episode 36: Could Christ have sinned? Intro to Christology, Dr. C. Veniamin 28.02.2025 35min

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 36: Could Christ have sinned? Intro to Christology, Dr. C. Veniamin In Episode 36 of our Mystical Theology, Dr. Christopher Veniamin introduces the central doctrine of the Christian Faith - the Church’s teaching on the mystery of the Person of Jesus Christ - by asking the question, “Could Christ have sinned?”. For themes included in this presentation, see the Timestamps below. Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog Recommended background ...
Episode 35: John Chrysostom: The Language of Holy Scripture, Eunomius & The Light of Tabor, Dr. C. Veniamin 15.02.2025 27min

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 35: John Chrysostom: The Language of Holy Scripture, Eunomius & The Light of Tabor, Dr. C. Veniamin With Episode 34, we come to the end of Volume 1 of our series, Mystical Theology. Through Chrysostom’s appreciation of the Transfiguration of Christ on Tabor, we catch a glimpse of the theological presuppositions, the gnosiology, of one of the greatest commentators of Holy Scripture in the history of Christianity. And we note that his theol...
Episode 33: Conclusions to Augustine, Pt 2: Gregory of Nyssa, Life of Moses 01.02.2025 31min

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 33: Conclusions to Augustine, Part 2: Gregory of Nyssa, Life of Moses, Part 6 of The Cappadocian Fathers, Dr. C. Veniamin In Episode 33, we have the second part of our Conclusions to the Unit on the Cappadocian Fathers and Augustine of Hippo. This consists of Gregory of Nyssa’s Life of Moses (paragraphs 152-169), in which St. Gregory presents the God-seer Moses in his ascent towards God and deification (theosis). One of the key themes in Nyss...
Episode 32: Conclusions to Augustine, Part 1: Basil the Great & Gregory the Theologian, C. Veniamin 24.01.2025 23min

Send us Fan Mail 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 ...
Three Basic Mistakes, Augustine of Hippo, Episode 31, Mystical Theology, Dr. C. Veniamin 05.01.2025 23min

Send us Fan Mail 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 O...
Essentialism vs Essence–Energies, Part 9 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orth. Persp., Dr. C. Veniamin 21.12.2024 34min

Send us Fan Mail 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 exp...
Further Reading & Comm, De Trinitate IX, Pt 8, Augustine of Hippo: An Orth. Persp., Dr. C. Veniamin 08.12.2024 29min

Send us Fan Mail 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 l...
Reading & Commentary, De Trinitate IX, Pt 7, Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Persp, Dr. C. Veniamin 29.11.2024 23min

Send us Fan Mail 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 i...
“What Is Meant By The Spiritual Life?”, Part 6 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox… Dr. C. Veniamin 15.11.2024 25min

Send us Fan Mail 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 Recom...
Episode 11: “By Way of Conclusion”, in John of the Ladder, Prof. Christopher Veniamin 03.11.2024 23min

Send us Fan Mail 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&amp...
“De Trinitate”, Book IX, Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Part 5, Dr. C. Veniamin 25.10.2024 24min

Send us Fan Mail 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...
“Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good” (Ps. 135:3), Augustine of Hippo, Part 4, Dr. C. Veniamin 09.10.2024 32min

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 23: “Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good” (Ps. 135:3), Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Part 4, Dr. C. Veniamin In Part 4 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 23 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we discuss the significance of St. Augustine's commentary of Psalm 135:3: “Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good”. Other themes broached in this episode are listed in the Timestamps below. Q&As available i...