Pappas Patristic Institute

10/08/2026

Tonight! Don't miss a free evening of theological discussion, fellowship, and good food (and w**e). Dr Paul Blowers will address the question, "How Much Letter is in the Spirit? Contemplating the Sensus Litteralis in Patristic Exegesis."

No registration required.

10/05/2026

We're just days away! This Thursday through Saturday (Oct 8-10, 2026), scholars of Early Christian and medieval theology will assemble in Boston for a discussion of the Spiritual Sense of Scripture. Join us!

10/02/2026

For the feast of St Dionysios, why not read the whole Corpus Areopagiticum in one sitting? We guarantee your life will be changed, or your money back.

09/23/2026

Yes! You can drop in for only part of the conference if you are near campus but cannot attend the whole event. Here is an overview of the schedule. Please join us for any part of this gathering to hear some of these amazing papers. If you will be joining us for meals and for the duration of the conference, please register (link below, in the comm.).

09/22/2026

In this new, *Open Access* article on the Poetry of St Gregory Nazianzen, Christos Simelidis (a member of the Administrative Board of the Pappas Patristic Institute) presents a revised version of the Theologian's 'On His Own Verses,' connecting the text to the Origenian language calling readers to cling only to Scripture and to its higher, spiritual sense.

"As I see many in our present life writing works without measure, flowing with ease, and wasting the greater part of their time in labors, whose profit is nothing but empty chatter, and yet writing in a high-handed, authoritarian manner, so that everything is stuffed with nonsense, like the sands of the seas or the gnats of Egypt..."

[link in the comments]

09/21/2026

We hope you'll join us for the opening lecture of our upcoming conference on Patristic Exegesis as Contemplation: The Spiritual Sense of Scripture (🗓Thursday, October 8, 2026). Even if you can't attend the full event, this opening lecture is free and open to the public. It will be followed by a w**e and cheese reception and stimulating conversation. "Open Access" and ample parking available. Come join us!

09/18/2026

📯 OPEN ACCESS (aka Free [for now])

New Cambridge Element, Clement of Alexandria, Early Christian Instruction and the 'Catechetical School' by Edward J. Creedy, out now! Read for free for the next 4 weeks at
https://cup.org/3TCr0KM

09/15/2026

Today (Sept 15) is the feast of St Symeon of Thessaloniki, a successor of St Gregory Palamas famed for his liturgical commentaries, his promotion of the Jesus Prayer, and his defense of the Orthodox faith at the twilight of the Byzantine Empire.

"Let every pious person, therefore, continuously invoke the name of the Lord as a prayer, both in his own mind and with his tongue, whether he is standing still, walking, sitting, or lying down, in everything he says and in everything he does. Let him force himself to do it at all times. If he does, he will find great peace and joy, as those who devote themselves to this prayer know from experience. Nevertheless, since this work is beyond the capacities of those living in the world, and even those monastics who live in a busy environment, it is necessary for this practice to be part of everyone’s life at least at dedicated times; and it is necessary for everyone to have a rule for saying this prayer according to their strength, whether they are clergy, monastics, or laity."
-St Symeon of Thessaloniki, Chapters on Prayer

09/14/2026

Less than a month left to register for our upcoming conference on the Spiritual Exegesis of Scripture! We would love to have you with us in Boston for this amazing conversation.

09/14/2026

Wishing a blessed feast to all who seek refuge under the lifegiving Cross!

Σταυρός, νεκρῶν ἀνάστασις·
σταυρός, Χριστιανῶν ἐλπίς·
σταυρός, χωλῶν βακτηρία·
σταυρός, πενήτων παραμυθία·
σταυρός, πλουσίων χαλινός, ὑπερηφάνων καθαίρεσις·
σταυρός, τρόπαιον κατὰ δαιμόνων, νέων παιδαγωγός·
σταυρός, ἐμπόρων ἐμπορία, ἀπηλπισμένων ἐλπίς, πλεόντων κυβέρνησις·
σταυρός, χειμαζομένων λιμήν, πολεμουμένων τεῖχος·
σταυρός, πατὴρ ὀρφανῶν, δικαίων σύμβουλος·
σταυρός, θλιβομένων παράκλησις, νηπίων φύλαξ, ἀνδρῶν κεφαλή, πρεσβυτέρων στέφανος·
σταυρός, φῶς τῶν ἐν σκότει καθημένων·
σταυρός, βασιλέων μεγαλοπρέπεια, βαρβάρων φιλοσοφία·
σταυρός, δούλων ἐλευθερία, ἀπαιδεύτων σοφία·
σταυρός, Προφητῶν κήρυγμα, Ἀποστόλων σύνδρομος, Μαρτύρων καύχημα·
σταυρός, παρθένων σωφροσύνη, ἱερέων χαρά·
σταυρός, Ἐκκλησίας θεμέλιος, οἰκουμένης ἀσφάλεια·
σταυρός, ναῶν εἰδώλων καθαίρεσις, Ἰουδαίων σκάνδαλον·
σταυρός, ἀδυνάτων δύναμις, νοσούντων ἰατρός·
σταυρός, λεπρῶν κάθαρσις, παραλυτικῶν ἀνόρθωσις·
σταυρός, πεινώντων ἄρτος, διψώντων πηγή·
σταυρός, μοναζόντων θάρσος, γυμνητευόντων σκέπη.

-St Ephrem the Syrian (Graecus), On the Precious and Lifegiving Cross, on the Second Coming, and On Charity and Almsgiving