Recommendation: The Mount Thabor Academy Videos (gratis post)

A wealth of lectures on Orthodox ascetical writers by Professor Christopher Veniamin

With my previous post having touched on things Orthodox, it seemed fitting to follow it up with a quick recommendation. I wish to thank Greg Bunch, a reader of this Substack and a friend, for introducing me to the site below and, in particular, to Professor Christopher Veniamin's recorded lectures. The Mount Thabor Academy publishes fine Orthodox theological books, as well, and any serious student in ascetical and mystical theology may enjoy browsing here.

The video page is, in my estimation, a treasure (and one can also find these same lectures available on YouTube and other podcast providers). I was especially appreciative of his series on St. Gregory Palamas, but everything here is of high quality. About Prof. Veniamin, the Academy website has this to say:

DR. CHRISTOPHER VENIAMIN is a spiritual child of St. Sophrony the Athonite (1896-1993).

Born and raised in London, England, of Greek Cypriot parents, Dr. Veniamin holds his first degree in theology from the University of Thessalonica and his doctorate from the University of Oxford. He is Emeritus Professor of Patristics at St. Tikhon's Seminary in Pennsylvania, and Dean & COO Emeritus at the Antiochian House of Studies in California, where he also served as Professor of Patristic Theology and Dogmatics, established the Ph.D.Program in Orthodox Studies, and spearheaded the drive for full accreditation with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in North America and Canada.

Prof. Veniamin's works include Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies; The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition; and The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature: From Irenaeus of Lyons to Gregory Palamas.

Dr. Veniamin also holds the four-year Degree in Byzantine Music from the celebrated School of St. Romanus Melodus and St. John Damascene in Thessalonica, and is a pupil of Eleftherios Georgiades, former Lampadarios of the Great Church of Christ.

Prof. Veniamin is also the Founder and President of Mount Thabor Publishing (MTP), established in 2005 to produce quality books in Orthodox theology and the spiritual life, and the presenter of videos and podcasts for The Mount Thabor Academy, on the interrelationship between theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present.

Without further ado, then, I commend these lectures and the entire site, accessible by clicking here.