A rare chance to learn about Armenian canon law

(stnersess.edu) - Enter the St. Nersess Global Classroom this Fall and discover the Armenian Church's surprising world of canon law.

Dr. Roberta Ervine, St. Nersess Seminary's exceptional Professor of Armenian Studies will offer a series of one-hour presentations on Armenian Canon Law this Fall. Her fascinating lectures will be streamed live over the Seminary's dedicated ustream.com channel every Wednesday at 7:30PM beginning September 12.

The intimidating western ecclesiastical term canon law is an unfortunate translation for the Armenian word kanonagitut‘iwn. The Armenian understanding of canon law as applied to Christian communities was drawn from St. Paul's exhortations to the Corinthians, Galatians and Philippians more than it was from the jurisprudential literature of the Byzantine Empire. Kanonagitut“iwn is not a penal code; it is not a legal system; it is not an arcane subject understood only by a handful of bearded scholars.

So if Armenian canon law is not canon law, what is it? This course will look at the sources, historical development and principles of kanonagitut“iwn through the eyes of some of its greatest practitioners and architects.

Dr. Ervine, an expert in medieval Armenian theological thought and culture, has been captivating students at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary since 2001. She is the editor of the St. Nersess Theological Review and recently authored The Blessing of Blessings. St. Gregory of Narek's Commentary on the Song of Songs.

Global classroom available here.