Educational work

The main goal of the educational activity of Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy is to train highly qualified theologians and Christian teachers in accordance with national and international standards of higher education and the needs and demands of the modern labour market.

The educational process at Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy takes place at the Faculty of Theology in accordance with the educational programme “Theology” and the curriculum for full-time and correspondence study of the first (Bachelor’s), second (Master’s) and third ( Educational and Scientific) levels of higher education.

The curriculum is based on the syllabi and working curricula of the disciplines developed by the leading academic and pedagogical staff of the Academy, discussed and approved by the Scientific and Methodological Council of Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy.

Bachelor’s, Master’s and Postgraduate studies are conducted on a full-time and correspondence course, and at the Regents’ Department – in the evening course.

Studying at the first (Bachelor’s) level of the educational and professional programme “Theology” lasts 4 years (240 ECTS credits), at the second (Master’s) level of the educational and scientific programme “Theology” – 2 years (120 ECTS credits), at the third ( Educational and Scientific) level of the educational and scientific programme “Theology” for the preparation of a Doctor of Philosophy – 4 years, Doctor of Science – 2 years, and a church choir regent – 3 years.

In accordance with the schedule of the educational process, the duration of theoretical training is 30 weeks per year (15 weeks each semester).

Current academic performance and attendance are recorded in special journals. At the end of each semester, students take the exams and tests required by the curriculum.

During their Bachelor’s and Master’s degree studies, students write and defend coursework papers in the relevant departments in the areas of biblical, theological, church-practical and pedagogical disciplines.

Students acquire practical skills of professional training and professional excellence during their liturgical, preaching, missionary and pedagogical practice.

The education is completed by final certification tests conducted by examination commissions. Graduates of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, respectively, on the basis of the resolution of the examination committee, based on the results of the comprehensive qualification exam and the defence of the Bachelor’s/Master’s thesis, receive a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree and, according to the selected set of educational components, a professional qualification.

The Head of the Academic Department of the Faculty of Theology is Bohdana Ioanivna Drofiak. Methodologists Bohdan Petrechko and priest Serhiy Bovkun work in the Academic Department.

Scientific work

Scientific work occupies a significant place in the life and activities of Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy. In modern conditions, the role and potential of theological scholarship in the life of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and society has increased significantly.

The scientific activity of the staff of Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy is represented by the arrangement, co-organisation and participation in scientific events of international and national levels – symposia, conferences, round tables, seminars, etc., as well as the preparation and publication of monographs, scientific articles in domestic and foreign professional journals.

Traditionally, since 2011, Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy has been hosting the annual International (since 2014) Scientific Conference “Orthodoxy in Ukraine”, dedicated to topical issues of Ukrainian theological thought and church history in synchrony and diachrony. Each year, it is attended by more than 100 participants, half of whom are well-known doctors and professors. The materials of the scientific speeches are always published before the conference in the same-named proceedings.

In addition, scientific events of various levels are held in accordance with the recommendations of the Holy Synod to celebrate church-wide anniversaries and memorable dates, including the 900th anniversary of the foundation of St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery (2008), the 1020th and 1025th anniversaries of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus (2008, 2013), the 940th anniversary of the foundation of St Michael’s Monastery of Vydubychi (2010), the 1000th anniversary of the repose of the Baptist of Kyivan Rus, the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles and Blessed Prince Volodymyr the Great (2015). The proceedings of the above conferences were also published in separate collections.

The academic staff of the academy constantly takes an active part in scientific events organised by Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy and other domestic and foreign research and educational institutions, establishments, and organisations, making presentations and reports, and engaging in polemics in discussions.

The results of the academic team’s scientific work are presented in monographs by Doctor of Theology, Professor Archpriest Oleksandr Trofimliuk, Doctor of Theology, Professor Archpriest Vitaliy Klos, Doctor of Theology, Professor Archpriest Kostiantyn Lozinskyi, Doctor of Church History, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Archpriest Yurii Mytsyk, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Academician Anatolii Yegenovych Konverskyi, Doctor of Church History, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Iryna Mykolaivna Prelovska, Candidate of Theology, Professor Archpriest Oleh Malaniak, Candidate of Theology, Priest Ivan Sydor, Candidate of Theology, Professor Sviatoslav Mykhailovych Chokaliuk, in the dictionaries of Candidate of Theology, Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor Oleksandr Myronchuk, as well as in numerous scientific articles by the above-mentioned and other academic staff of Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy.

The scientific achievements of professors, associate professors, lecturers, doctoral students, postgraduate students and the best students of the Academy are systematically published in the scientific professional publication “Proceedings of Kyiv Theological Academy”, founded in 1859 and restored in 2003, as well as in other publications.

The academy has a successfully functioning system of student research. Every year, more and more students are involved in research activities. Many of them are members of the Metropolitan Danyil (Chokalyuk) Scientific Student Society.

The results of research and elaborations are used in new academic disciplines and are reflected in updated lecture courses.

In line with the implementation of the concept of the development of the field of knowledge and the speciality of Theology, the course of formation of its own scientific school in the context of modern Orthodox Theology and taking into account the history and traditions of world theological thought is consistently pursued.

Consequently, owing to the persistent and well-coordinated work of the staff of Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy, it was possible to preserve and enhance the traditions of active scientific research and create the preconditions for the intensive development of scientific activity in the future.

Methodological work

Methodological support of the educational and scientific process at Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy is provided by the Scientific and Methodological Council of Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy.

At the beginning of each academic year, the academic staff of the Academy draws up (updates) programmes and syllabi of academic disciplines in accordance with modern requirements.

They constantly develop and update working curricula, topics for coursework, Bachelor’s and Master’s theses, sets of examination tickets, etc.

Academic staff work on compiling and constantly updating lecture notes, preparing textbooks and manuals based on their materials.

Over the past ten years, the academy’s faculty has prepared and published textbooks and manuals on the New Testament Scriptures ( Candidate of Theology, Professor Archpriest Oleh Malaniak, Candidate of Theology, and Associate Professor Archpriest Yaroslav Romanchuk), patrology ( Candidate of Theology, Professor Archpriest Petro Zynych), church history (Candidate of Theology, Associate Professor Archpriest Mykhailo Lesiuk), church statute and liturgy studies (Candidate of Theology, Associate Professor Archpriest Petro Boiko), History and Theology of the Roman Catholic Church (Doctor of Theology, Professor Archpriest Kostiantyn Lozynskyi), History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Doctor of Church History, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Iryna Prelovska), church singing (Veronika Matvienko), history of Ukraine (Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Archpriest Yurii Mytsyk), ancient Greek (Doctor of Philology, Professor Lesia Zvonska), and others.

Provision of a high scientific, theoretical, methodological and professional level of teaching and innovative support of the educational process involves: 1) development and modification of curricula, preparation of training courses in accordance with current requirements; 2) ensuring the required quality of textbooks, manuals and other educational and methodological developments prepared by the academy’s staff; 3) delivering lectures and seminars; 4) stimulating discussions to develop students’ critical and creative thinking; 5) preparing scientific, methodological, educational and organisational support for students’ independent work; 6) improving the quality of students’ learning by increasing the volume of independent work, individualisation of learning, introduction of new active information and telecommunication technologies, interactive forms and methods of teaching, expanding the use of modernised electronic information resources and other software; 7) deepening the general information training of students, forming their ability to effectively use computer and communication tools and programmes, which will contribute to the development of their information culture, and developing their information culture, expanding the use of electronic technologies and resources in future work; 8) organising, carrying out and evaluating examinations and tests; 9) participating in conferences and seminars.

Instructional work

The traditions of theological education in a higher theological educational institution are closely related to the process of upbringing. A theological school, while providing education, brings up, and while bringing up, it provides an opportunity for spiritual growth and the acquisition of knowledge. The combination of educational and instructional activities is a characteristic feature of a higher theological educational institution.

Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy is based on the best traditions of education and upbringing that have been developed and tested by national theological educational institutions throughout the history of their existence. Therefore, even today, the structure of the Faculty of Theology of Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy includes an inspectorate headed by the Vice-Rector for Instructional Work.

The Inspectorate is formed by the resolution of the Academic Council, which is approved by the Rector of Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy, in order to ensure instructional work and control over the discipline of students and postgraduates. The staff of the Inspectorate is elected from the teaching staff.

To ensure the continuous functioning of the unified educational process, the Inspectorate carries out a number of tasks assigned to it.

As of 1 September 2023, the organisation of instructional activities at Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy was entrusted to the Vice-Rector for Instructional Work, Candidate of Theology, archdeacon Vasyl Didora, and a team of inspectors: Candidate of Theology, archpriest Mykhailo Omelian, priests Petro Lopatinsky, Mykhailo Almes, and Orest Zhyhalo.

The Academy holds weekly meetings of the Inspectorate Council.

For more than twenty years, the revived Kyiv Theological Schools have been led and coordinated by such pastors as archpriest Valery Semantso (inspector of KTAS), Candidate of Theological Sciences, Professor archpriest Petro Zynych (inspector of KTAS), Doctor of Theological Sciences, Associate Professor archpriest Dymytriy Sadoviak ( Vice-Rector of KTAS), Doctor of Theological Sciences, Professor archpriest Kostiantyn Lozinskyi (inspector of KTAS), Candidate of Theological Sciences, archpriest Vyacheslav Streltsov ( Vice-Rector for Educational Work of KOTA), Candidate of Theological Sciences, Associate Professor archpriest Yaroslav Romanchuk ( Vice-Rector of KOTA), Doctor of Theological Sciences, Professor archpriest Oleksandr Trofymliuk ( Vice-Rector for Educational Work of KOTA, Vice-Rector for Educational and instructional work of KOTA, First Vice-Rector of KOTA), Candidate of Theology, Associate Professor archpriest Serhiy Kolot (Senior Inspector of KOTA), Candidate of Theology, Associate Professor archpriest Petro Boyko (Senior Inspector of KOTA, Vice-Rector for Instructional Work of KOTA).

The inspection is assisted by class tutors – group supervisors.

In their free time, students visit museums and theatres, participate in academic and inter-university sports competitions and other cultural and leisure activities.

Being a licensed higher educational institution, Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy continues to function in implementing a unified educational process based on the best traditions of national theological education and training of future clergy and theological specialists.