In September 2007, the School of Theology “St. Athanasius of Athos” of the Orthodox University of Congo started operating in the Mont Ngafula region of Kinshasa. The school is a five-year school and offers three specializations:
- Bible – Patristic Theology – Church history,
- Functional and
- Organization and Administration of the Life of the Church.
The number of students in the first academic year of the School (2007-2008) reached 70 and remains, in general, stable until today. The average per department is around fifteen students. Attendance is compulsory. The deliveries of each course are strictly two hours. The teachers who teach come from Congo, Greece, France and Australia. Teaching takes place either face-to-face or by videoconference.
Facilities
The school is located on a green hill, about 25 km outside the capital. Approaching the school, the first thing one sees from a distance is the proud dome of the church of St. Athanasius of Athos, which dominates the centre of the inner courtyard of the institution. Monastic architecture was undoubtedly the source of inspiration for the creator of the wider complex. A high enclosure protectively frames the individual areas of the school, which are arranged around the perimeter of the church. With generous sponsorships, all the necessary spaces of an educational institution were created, organized to accommodate residential students, faculty and all those who arrive at the School with a missionary spirit to serve and offer love and knowledge.
The contribution of the Orthodox Foreign Missionary Brotherhood was great in this area as well, financing the construction of one of the four wings of the dormitories of the School.
How did I become a professor at the Congo School?
I had the good fortune to be informed by my colleague Niki Papageorgiou about this ambitious missionary effort in the heart of Africa, in which she herself had an active role as a teacher since the first academic year. I must admit that I was impressed and thought that I could also contribute something. So when Mrs Papageorgiou conveyed to me the request of His Eminence Bishop Nikiforos of Central Africa to cover the course of Byzantine Art, which I teach at the Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, I had absolutely no hesitation. I wanted to go to Kinshasa in person to teach, because I believe in the power of personal communication with students. I have now joined the academic staff of the School since the 2012-2013 academic year. The first classes (30 hours of teaching) were held in January 2013 in the first year. The barrage of questions during the course resulted in me failing to complete the syllabus. For this reason, the following year (2013-2014), the course was added to the second year. I will never forget the reception of the second-year students in February 2014. It was impossible not to shed a tear. Except for classes, the daily schedule was no different from the communal monastic life: morning meal, morning meal, teaching, lunch, teaching, vespers, dinner, and dinner. After supper and until the power went out (about 10 p.m.), we sought a few hours of rest in the lovely school garden. Most of the time, however, this was impossible, because we were approached by children who needed to have their questions answered, not only on purely theological matters. The discussions were fruitful for both sides.
What challenges do we face?
So the work that is being done in this academic institution is titanic. The problems are many, the main one being the lack of financial resources to ensure the free education of students, the supply of computers, printers, scanners, stationery and books for the enrichment of the Library. Students are required to prepare projects during their studies. But where will they look for their material if the appropriate conditions are not met? We note that the level of infrastructure of the school is strictly controlled by the official state. We want to believe that with the help of St. Athanasius of Athonitis, St. Barbara, whose chapel was inaugurated this year in the courtyard of the school, and all those who believe in the necessity of spreading the correct theological discourse to the corners of the earth, any problems will disappear and the work will grow.
Today’s students, as clergy or laity, will take the baton and minister in their own local church and their own theological school. The school’s super-bright “Katholikon” was filled every Sunday by the poor raggedy little children of the neighborhood, who came perhaps to get a sacrament and some candy, but who attended the Mass with special reverence. These children I like to think will be the future students of theology. I am grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to experience another world and I hope that He will merit me to go every year to teach and be taught. To go every year so that I may not forget that some people in the world, struggling for the obvious, may be advancing us into the kingdom of God. Maria Kazamia
An. Maria KAZAMAZA. Theology AUTH
The Congolese Theological School is a magnificent project, intended to provide the Mission with young and qualified staff who will plough the aching soil of Africa, preaching Christ risen. The theology students come from various regions of the vast country and study tuition-free, with free tuition and housing. The operation of such a school entails multiple difficulties of a financial nature and continues thanks to the repeated miracles of God’s love.
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