AHOS Residency Objectives
Residency constitutes one of the foundational pillars of theological formation at AHOS. Far more than a mere academic requirement, it is a transformative context in which theological knowledge is not only transmitted but embodied through personal encounter and communal life.
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Encounter with Living Tradition
Residency offers students the opportunity to engage directly with the living tradition of the Church through personal relationships with the Metropolitan (or Hierarchical representative), the President, the Dean, faculty, staff, and fellow students. These relationships cultivate trust, mentorship, and the spiritual enrichment necessary for ecclesial and pastoral formation. -
A Crucible of Theological Formation
Taking place in the concreteness of time and space, Residency serves as the crucible where theological principles are forged into lived realities. It embodies the enduring Antiochian heritage of theological education—an integrated model of learning that refuses to separate doctrine from life. This is achieved through lectures, group and one on one meetings between students and faculty (?) -
Integration into the Ethos of the School
Residency initiates students into the unique spiritual, liturgical, and intellectual ethos of AHOS. Here, the contextualization of ministry within the Antiochian Orthodox worldview begins, anchoring future clergy, laity, future theologians, and teachers in a tradition that is both patristic and contemporary through daily prayers, Divine Liturgy, and collective and personal interactions with academic and spiritual mentors. -
Spiritual Enrichment and Communal Prayer
As a space of spiritual deepening, Residency invites students into the rhythm of prayer, liturgy, and study. The interplay of intellectual and spiritual disciplines fosters a holistic and ascetical approach to theology. -
Formation of Pastoral Identity
Most crucially, Residency initiates and nurtures the formation of a personal pastoral and diaconal identity, rooted in humility, love, and service to Christ and His Church. -
Orientation to the Academic Year
It functions as the formal inauguration of the academic cycle, offering students a comprehensive introduction to the curriculum, academic expectations, and theological trajectory of their studies.
Commencement and Culmination
The opening week of Residency includes the graduation ceremonies, thereby visually linking the beginning of formation with its intended telos: the sanctification of the whole person for ministry.
