OVERVIEW

The course explores the role of the Eastern Orthodox faith in shaping the political culture of Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, and other nations of Eastern Europe. It further reviews church-state relations over a period ranging from medieval statehood to the communist rule. The course emphasizes the centrality of religion in shaping of national identities, as well as its role in the movements for national liberation in Eastern Europe. It also focuses on the impact of Orthodox Christianity on art, architecture, music, and other aspects of cultural self-awareness and expression. Finally, the course attempts to explain the deep-rooted differences in civilization and outlook which divide Eastern Europe from the Western world.
 

REQUIRED MATERIALS

The following required books are available for purchase at the university bookstore:

• Timothy Ware. The Orthodox Church. (Penguin Books, 1997)

• John Fennell. A History of the Russian Church to 1448. (Longman Publishing, 1995)

• Nathaniel Davis. A Long Walk To the Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy. (Westview Press, 1995)

COURSE FORMAT AND REQUIREMENTS

Class meetings will be conducted in a lecture-discussion format with emphasis on discussion when appropriate to the topic and readings for that session. The readings for every meeting should therefore be read before class. All members of the class are expected to participate in class discussions, and from time to time, members of the class will be asked to assist with discussions, either individually or in small groups. You are required to ATTEND class; frequent absences nearly always result in poor performance in the course.

The two EXAMS will be closed-book and based on the required readings and the lecture material. The final exam will cover only the subject matter of the second half of the course. Every member of the class is expected to take the same exam at the same time as everyone else. In the interest of fairness, make-up exams will be given only in case of a verified serious illness or the verified death of a spouse, parent, or sibling.

You are required to write three short (3-4 pages) papers with elements of research on topics of Eastern Orthodox art and culture. (Paper guidelines to be distributed). Consult this syllabus for due days and deadlines. Any delays after the due time for a paper will result in reducing your grade with half a letter grade per day of delay.

The weight of each of these components in the final grade will be as follows:

first exam 20%

second exam 25 %

each paper 12%

participation 19 %

The PARTICIPATION grade is based on a combination of regular attendance, a short presentation on your research topic, and informed participation in class discussion. Final letter grades will be assigned according to a standard ten-point scale (A = 90 to 100; B = 80 to 89, etc.). To be eligible for course credit, the two exams must be taken and all three papers completed and turned in. Failure to take any of the examinations or to turn in a paper will result in failing the course.

INCOMPLETES will be given only upon request and for good cause. Incompletes will not be given if the student has missed so much of the course that it is in the practical sense impossible to make up the work. If an incomplete is given, the student will be asked to sign an agreement specifying the work to be completed and the date the work will be due. Any student in this course who has a DISABILITY that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her potential should contact me personally as soon as possible, so that we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunity. University rules against plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct will be honored and enforced (See the OU Student Code). The general rules about plagiarism refer also to material found on the internet.

LECTURE TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

Week One (January 12) Introduction

FILM: The face of Russia, p.1

From Ware: "Introduction", (pp. 1-8), "The Beginnings" (pp. 11-17), and "The Twentieth Century, I: Greeks and Arabs" (pp. 126-145)
 
 

Week Two (January 19) The Byzantine Empire. The Great Schism

From Ware: "Byzantium, I: The Church of the Seven Councils" and "Byzantium, II: The Great Schism" (pp. 18-72)

FILM: Eastern Orthodox: Heirs of Byzantium
 
 

Week Three (January 26 ) Church-State Relations under Orthodoxy

From packet: "The Historical Tradition of Church-State Relations under Orthodoxy",

"One God, One Emperor, One Empire", and

"Autocephaly and National Identity in Church-State Relations in Eastern Christianity: an Introduction"

Week Four (February 2) The conversion of the Slavs. Cyril and Methodius.

Kievan Russia

From Ware: "The conversion of the Slavs" (pp. 73-81)

From Fennell: History of the Russian Church, Part One (pp. 3-116)
 

Week Five (February 9) The Orthodox church under Islam

First paper due in class 6:30 p.m.

From Ware: "The Russian Church under the Mongols," "The church under Islam" (pp. 82-101)

From Fennell: History of the Russian Church, Part Two (pp. 119-239)

From packet: "Nation or Millet?"

FILM: Andrei Rublev
 

Week Six (February 16) The Russian Orthodox Church

From Ware: "Moscow and St. Petersburg" (pp. 102-125)

From packet: "The Russian Orthodox Church"

FILM: The Kremlin

Week Seven (February 23) The Orthodox Church under communism:

The Soviet Union I

First Exam

From Ware: "The Twentieth Century, II: Orthodoxy and the Militant Atheists" (pp. 145-171)

From Davis: "Introduction," "The Turnaround," "Stalin’s Last Years and the Early Khruschev Period," and "Khruschev’s Attack" (pp. XV-XXIII, 1-45)

Week Eight (March 1) The Orthodox church under communism:

Week Nine (March 8) The Orthodox church under communism:

Eastern Europe

From packet: "The Bulgarian Orthodox Church," "The Romanian Orthodox Church"

From packet: "The Serbian Orthodox Church," "The Albanian Orthodox Church," and

"The Macedonian Orthodox Church"

Week ten (March 11-19) Spring vacation

Week Eleven (March 22) The Orthodox church after the fall of communim.

Yugoslavia

Second paper due in class, 6:30 p.m.

From Davis: "Squalls and Tempests" and "Conclusion" (pp. 70-93, 212-223)

FILM: Before the Rain

Yugoslavia: Death of a nation
 
 

Week Twelve (March 29) The Orthodox church around the world

From Ware: "The Twentieth Century: Diaspora and Mission" (pp. 172-191)

From packet: "The Orthodox Church of America"
 
 

Week Thirteen (April 5) Ritual, Spirituality, Calendar

From Ware: "Faith and Worship" (pp. 195-327)
 
 

Week Fourteen (April 12) Eastern Orthodox Art and Culture:

Week Fifteen (April 19) No class (compensation for field trips)

Week sixteen (April 26)

Last Exam, regular class time