Founded in 1973, our department is part of the Catholic Theological Faculty at the Vienna University. The department’s aims are research and teaching. Current research focuses on theological education in the Orthodox churches. Our lectures, seminars, and excursions are part of the curriculum for the study of Catholic theology and all courses are open to students of other faculties.
The Department for Theology and History of the Eastern Churches is one of a few such departments in the German speaking world. Therefore, we have many visiting students from other universities and countries. Moreover, we are in the process of developing partnerships and contacts with theological faculties in Eastern Europe.
Prof. Dr. Rudolf Prokschi, as the head of our department, is engaged in the ecumenical movement in Austria and is a member of various international ecumenical groups.
Our department focuses particularly on the theology and history of Christian churches in the East. We define “East” as the regions with predominantly orthodox or oriental Christian denominations.
Only if one sees the Eastern churches through both, the eyes of theology and history, it is possible to understand them. Therefore, the study of patrology as well as the study of early Christian history is necessary.
Furthermore, also non-theologians need the knowledge on Eastern Churches, as became clear in the deepening European integration process and after the reception of new member EU states with a majority or at least a considerable minority of orthodox population: Representatives of public life have to know and consider the religious background of member states’ people, as the discussions on values concern not only private life, but the whole society and therefore also state jurisdiction.
For these studies Vienna proved to be a good place. Located at the centre and heart of Europe, it has gained broad experience in the contact with the East. We find here established networks that allow the collaboration with various Christian, especially Eastern, denominations.
By this way, our department makes it possible for students to get in contact and study Eastern Churches in daily life as well as in their theology and history.
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