Working toward inhabiting the mind of the Church Fathers and Mothers.
Nurturing communion across
the gifts of particularity.
Saint Athanasius
On the Incarnation
with David Goa
Inner Monasticism
with Andrew Bingham
& Steve Bynum
Saint Maximos the Confessor On the Divine Liturgy
with Andrew Bingham
We will seek to renew the past, attend to the present, and be at ease before the future.
This means not to think about theology or Orthodoxy, but rather to think from within the tradition, sounding its depths and compassing its scope. To do this we will strive to respect the dignity of the faith by working at a scale that nurtures caring deeply and attending closely — engaging in close reading of primary texts, close thinking, close listening, and close dialogue with others. The ethos of this thinking is formed by the rhythms, lines, tonalities of our tradition, and from this vantage point we want to stress a ‘new word’ or a ‘renewed word’ about the texts we have received, with the goal always of working toward inhabiting the mind of the Fathers and Mothers, in our day as they did in theirs.
To engage in teaching on the gifts of Orthodox tradition on the spiritual life and its implications for the life of the world.
Grounding itself in Saint Macrina’s close attention to loving instruction, this thinking will address both theological works and ideas, and from within a traditional rhythm and habit of mind will attend closely both to what is being stated and how it is being phrased, how it takes flesh in the dance of life, and furthermore how it is alive within us. This is the central focus, rhythm, and tone of the Centre. Corresponding to this work, we will engage in conversations on current issues for the church and public life, national and international, and reflect on Orthodox ways of engagement for the healing of the world, for the common goodness of our natural inheritance, seeking in all these events to nurture communion across the gifts of particularity.
OFFERINGS
Lectures
SMC lectures occur four times per year, in the liturgical seasons of feast-days of the Theotokos: her Nativity, Presentation at the Temple, Annunciation, and Dormition. Pitched for varied appreciation, each lecture will offer a ‘new word’ for our world, a ‘renewed word’ which sounds fresh horizons for theology, and will be followed by extended conversation. Focus will be on thoughts or figures of enduring interest for the Christian tradition and its comprehension of and relationship to the world. Lectures will occur via Zoom, and may be recorded and later available on the SMC website.
Seminars
SMC seminars occur over the course of five days, towards the end of each June. Each seminar will attend closely to the work of a theologian or thinker in the Church, often a Holy Mother or Father essential to the Faith, and will seek to comprehend the depth and horizon of that traditional voice. Seminars may occur via Zoom or in person, with participation via invitation. Seminar offerings may be recorded and later available on the SMC website.
Courses
SMC courses will be held in-person over two weeks each July, in Vancouver or Toronto. Courses will be theme- or topic-based, expansive and calmly lit, and focus on what is elemental or ultimate to the Faith: spiritual formation, the measure of theological flourishing, currents of the tradition, or the compass essential to striving to draw ever-closer to the Divinity. Courses are geared towards those who seek a deeper intellectual sense of the Orthodox tradition, and are open to all. Given its length, work may be expected from the student before and after the duration of the course.
Symposia
SMC symposia occur over two days each summer, as July becomes August. The symposia are intended to gather voices for discussion of the ideas and life of our Church and Tradition, particularly as they speak to ‘the life of the world’ and our sharing of love and joy with others in it. There will be two or three speakers each day, with afternoons spent in conversation, Vespers, and then the agape table. With joy in company as its heart, our symposia will offer a fulsome experience of Orthodox thought, life, and community.
The Long Conversation
SMC’s The Long Conversation provides a long-form exploration and account of lives lived well in thought, and how thought inwardly forms life. Conceived as a vesperal regard, our recorded dialogues address issues of one’s intellectual and spiritual formation, working life with others, thoughts and ideas dearly held, and sense of the future. These dialogues will be available on the SMC website in oral form.
Renew the past, attend to the present, and be at ease before the future.
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