top of page
BTI Consortium | Last Updated August 15, 2025 - 11:00AM
PREACHING, LITURGY, & RITUAL
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPS8119-01
Liturgical Preaching
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This course is an introduction to the art of liturgical preaching. Included will be discussion of the nature, content, and context of the homily with emphasis on developing skills of preparation, composition, and delivery. There will be opportunity for frequent student preaching with the use of videotape for teacher, peer, and self-evaluation.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Weiss, Joseph E, SJ
W
10:00AM-12:50PM
Grading Option
PF
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
Y
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPS7054-01
Introduction to Liturgy
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
To introduce the basics of liturgical theology, the course is divided into three parts: liturgical history and sources; ritual studies including art, music and environment; and liturgical practice, planning and celebration.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Ganir, Phillip A, SJ
MW
08:30AM-09:50AM
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTA 801 OL
Sacred Music: Methods and Materials
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
Students will critically engage with materials and approaches in the principal areas of present- day church musicians including: choral and vocal techniques, conducting, the organ and other instruments, alternative and contemporary worship, and professional concerns. This course will enable students to gain greater competencies needed to function at optimal levels as a music minister or director in worship, religious, pastoral and educational settings. This will be accomplished through engagement with the methods and materials of church/synagogue (sacred) music and worship.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Shenton, Andrew
see notes
See notes
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
Y
Online?
SYNC
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
7 week schedule! 9/2 to 10/17
School
Harvard Divinity School
HDS 2038
Liturgical Theology
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
�Liturgy is the faith of the Church in motion.� �Aidan Kavanagh
In this course, students will learn to think theologically about worship and liturgy in the Christian tradition. We will read classic texts by Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Reformed Protestant authors (Schmemann, Lathrop, Wainwright, Kavanagh, and others), alongside recent theological work in response to the liturgical upheaval of COVID-19. We will also consider topics such as the worship of the early church, the profound impact of the liturgical movement of the twentieth century across Christian traditions, and liturgy as Christian formation. Final projects will engage students� specific research interests, traditions, and professional aspirations. This course counts as Anglican/Episcopal polity.
Professor
Class Day & Time
TBD
TBD
TBD
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
ETHC 7345
Science, Economy and Liturgy
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This course attempts to apply recent developments in Complexity Theory and Emergence Theory to social ethical concerns such as economic justice, just governance, and philanthropy. At the same time, it seeks to offer a theological interpretation of the cosmological accounts provided by these sciences.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Dr. Timothy G. Patitsas
T
2:10pm-4:30pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
MUSB 5011 Z1
Ecclesiastical Chant II in English
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
The sacraments and services found in the Great Euchologion are studied for practical use. Prereq: Byzantine Music I and Ecclesiastical Chant in English.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Mr. Georgios Theodoridis
F
12:20pm-2:20pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
SYNC
Prerequisites?
Y
Notes
Byzantine Music I and Ecclesiastical Chant in English.
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
MUSB 5402
Byzantine Music IV
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This course is a systematic study of the theoretical and practical aspects of the Second, Plagal Second abd Varys Modes of the Psaltic Art within the context of the Anastasimatarion. By the end of the semester, students will be able to perform the resurrectional hymns of the liturgical book of Octoechos or Parakletike of the aforementioned modes in both parallage (solmization) and melos (melody).
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rev. Odisseys Drossos
arr.
arr.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
1.5
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
MUSB 6501
Byzantine Music V
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This course is a systematic study of (i) the model melodies (prologoi-prosomoia) commonly used in musical settings of Byzantine hymns, and (ii) the hymns chanted in sacraments and other services of the Greek Orthodox Church (baptism, wedding, funeral, sanctification of water, etc.). By the end of the semester students will be able to perform the majority of hymns found in the liturgical books without relying on a musical score.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rev. Odisseys Drossos
MW
1:10pm-2:00pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
1.5
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
MUSB 6701
Byzantine Music VII
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This course is a systematic study of Byzantine hymns chanted during major feast days of the ecclesiastical year of the Greek Orthodox Church within the context of the Doxastarion. A great emphasis will be placed on studying the idiomela and doxastika for the feasts of Christmas, Theophany, Annunciation, Dormition of the Virgin Mary, as well as the idiomela and doxastika for the periods of Triodion and Pentecostation. Prerequisites: Byzantine Music I-V.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rev. Odisseys Drossos
M
2:30pm-4:30pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
1.5
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
Y
Notes
Byzantine Music I-V
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
MUSW 5350
Beginning Voice
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
The class aims to provide the fundamental foundations of vocal coordination, which include: ear
training, pitch matching, octave matching, and interval matching. All skills will be worked using the
latest methodologies in voice science to coordinate the efforts of hearing, voice production, recall,
and feedback interpretation. Syllables such as Parallagi, Solfeggio or Numerals will also be used as
tools. Testing out of this class is optional with an individual assessment to be arranged with the
Professor, prior to the start of semester [Testing time TBD]. It is recommended that seminarians take
the course during their first year of studies before they take the Voice Class (.5 credits).
Professor
Class Day & Time
Ms. Brooke Wilcox
R
10:40am-12:00pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
0.5
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
PAST 7201
Preaching: Proclaiming the Kingdom
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This course is a preparation for the ministry of proclaim�ing the word of the kingdom. Students are exposed to the theology of preaching, and methods of interpretation, preparation, and production of sermons. Lectures examine the listening assembly and the listening pulpit, the Liturgy and the homily, experiencing and expressing the word. The emphasis is on the prophetic, as well as on the practi�cal, dimension of preaching. While this course is taught in the fall semester, the practical segment continues in the spring semester.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rev. Luke A. Veronis
TR
2:10pm-3:30pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
PAST 7212
Preaching Practicum
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
A required practicum for those enrolled in PAST 7201 in the current/previous semester.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rev. Luke A. Veronis
TBA
TBA
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Hebrew College
LGY591
Siddur
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
Transform words of liturgy into words of prayer. We will focus our attention on the weekday Shacharit service because it offers a foundation for understanding many other Jewish tefillah liturgies and because it is the primary tefillah experience we will engage in together at Hebrew College. We will spend some time on liturgical variations for Shabbat and holidays. We will use Nusah Ashkenaz as our base text because it is the most common liturgy used in North America, though we will note some moments of liturgical variation with Nusah Sefard.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rabbi Jessica Kate Meyer
M
2:30 � 4:00 pm
Grading Option
PF or Audit
Credits
2
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
Requires Hebrew 4 or above.
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPS8135-01
Liturgical Presiding for Lay Ministry
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This course provides lay pastoral ministry students with a theoretical understanding and practical experience of liturgical presiding. Areas addressed include methods of preparation, evaluation, and ritual skills. The main goal of this course is to establish an initial competence in leading the assembly in liturgical celebrations according to the directives of the Catholic Church for Lay ministry.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Weiss, Joseph E, SJ
T
12:30PM-03:20PM
Grading Option
PF
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
Y
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMST7058-01
Sacraments in the Life of the Church
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This course will assist participants in developing the sacramental dimension of their pastoral perspective. After exploring sacrament in its broadest sense and other fundamental elements of Roman Catholic sacramental theology, we will examine each sacrament both in its role in the life of the church as well as its role in each individual's faith journey. We will address historical background and contemporary issues about the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist; the Sacraments of Healing - Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Sick; and Sacraments of Vocation; Marriage and Holy Orders.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Bergin, William N
W
01:00PM-03:50PM
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTC 817
Introduction to Christian Worship
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
An introduction to the spirit and structure of Christian worship. Word, sacraments, calendar, music, and pastoral offices are analyzed and described in terms of their relevance to congregational life, spirituality, catechesis, and mission.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Tucker, Karen
TR
9:30am-10:45am
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Harvard Divinity School
HDS 2908
Preaching in the Unitarian Universalist and Free Church Traditions
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
An introduction to the practical art of thematic and relational preaching in the Unitarian Universalist and Free Church traditions. Participants can expect to begin the process of finding their own voices in their preaching while developing their theological understandings, all in the context of supportive peers. This is an experiential seminar; depending on the size of the seminar (max. ~8), students will be crafting and delivering worship elements and preaching at least every other week. Through the rigor of regular classroom preaching and constructive critique, participants can expect to grow confidence in public speaking, and skill in motivating and inspiring people in their faith. This is a limited enrollment course. Interested students should attend the first meeting of classes, after which enrollment decisions will be processed.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Feingold Thoryn
T
12:00pm-02:45pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
Y
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
LITG 5324
Teleturgics I for Antiochians
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
A liturgical practicum designed primarily to help the candidate for ordination develop a liturgical ethos, style, and presence. The course offers an analysis of the structural elements of the divine services and instruction on the use of the liturgical books of the Orthodox Church. The course is especially concerned to help the student develop skills for the proper conduct and celebration of the divine services. The class allows for role-playing and analysis.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rev. Dr. Elie Estephan
W
11:30am-1:30pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
MUSB 5202
Byzantine Music II
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This course is a systematic study of the theoretical and practical aspects of the First and Plagal Fourth Modes of the Psaltic Art within the context of the Anastasimatarion. We will study the resurrectional hymns of the liturgical book of Octoechos or Parakletike of the aforementioned modes in both parallage (solmization) and melos (melody). Additionally, we will examine the characteristics of the diatonic genus and the heirmologic and sticheraric styles of chant. Prerequisite: Byzantine Music I.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rev. Dr. Romanos Karanos
TR
12:00pm-12:50pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
1.5
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
Y
Notes
Prerequisite: Byzantine Music I.
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
MUSB 5502
Byzantine Music Chorus
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
The St. Romanos the Melodist Byzantine Choir is a vocal ensemble that performs faithful and spiritually uplifting renditions of the Byzantine and post-Byzantine sacred musical works in the traditional style created and preserved at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. The choir regularly performs in liturgical services as well as at concerts, conferences, lectures, fundraising events, state and national holiday celebrations, and school cermonies both in Boston and throughout the United States. In addition to Byzantine chant, it performs Greek folk music, poular and arts songs, as well as modern English adaptations and original settings of sacred texts. The choir meets weekly to study and rehearse the repertoire for upcoming performances.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rev. Dr. Romanos Karanos
R
7:00pm-9:00pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
0.5
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
MUSB 6551
Service Rubrics
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This course is a study of service rubrics, in accordance with the Typikon of the Great Church of Christ. Students will familiarize themselves with the liturgical books and study the services of the Orthodox Church with an emphasis on weekday Vespers and Orthos for Sundays. We will also study how the yearly cycles of movable and immovable feasts work in parallel with the weekly cyclical system of the Octoechos and how their co-existence affects the structure and individual components of liturgical services.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rev. Dr. Romanos Karanos
R
1:00pm-2:20pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
MUSB 6831 Z1
Byzantine Music IX
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
The material taught in this course is equivalent to the material taught in the 4th year of Gteek conservatories and provides comprehensive preparation for the final examination required for a Holy Cross Certificate in Byzantine Music. Students are expected to become competent in performing more technically demanding repettoire, including Gregoty Ptotopsaltis' chetubic hymns, Pettos the Peloponnesian's communion hymns, Pettos the Peloponnesian's Kytie i en pollais amattiais, Ioannis Koukouzelis' Anothen oiprofitai, the ancient hymn Ton despotin kai archierea, and the anaphota hymns for the Divine Litutgy of St. Basil. Prerequisites: Byzantine Music I-V.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Mr. Georgios Theodoridis
F
2:30pm-4:30pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
1.5
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
SYNC
Prerequisites?
Y
Notes
Byzantine Music I-V.
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
MUSW 5351
Voice Class
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
Although open to all students, this semester-long course is required of all seminarians. The class aims to improve individual voices while working with a class. The fundamentals of chanting/singing will be used, which include: attitude, posture, control of breath, attacks and releases, the jaw (neck and throat), registers, resonance, enunciation, etc. It is recommended that seminarians take the course during their first year.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Ms. Brooke Wilcox
R
2:30pm-3:20pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
0.5
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
PAST 7201 Z1
Preaching: Proclaiming the Kingdom
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This course is a preparation for the ministry of proclaim�ing the word of the kingdom. Students are exposed to the theology of preaching, and methods of interpretation, preparation, and production of sermons. Lectures examine the listening assembly and the listening pulpit, the Liturgy and the homily, experiencing and expressing the word. The emphasis is on the prophetic, as well as on the practi�cal, dimension of preaching. While this course is taught in the fall semester, the practical segment continues in the spring semester.
Professor
Class Day & Time
TO BE ANNOUNCED
ASYNC
ASYNC
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
ASYNC
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Hebrew College
CAN519
Basic Cantillation
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This class is an introduction to basic concepts of Torah cantillation. It is not just about learning the melodies. Students will acquire and/or improve skills to chant Torah on weekdays, Sabbaths and Festivals using a common Ashkenazi trope. Topics will also include the rituals surrounding the Torah service, the history of cantillation/trope, correct contemporary pronunciation of Biblical Hebrew, and the underlying syntactic structure of the whole system of cantillation. While this course is primarily for Rabbinical students, others are welcome (depending on size of the class), provided they have adequate sense of musical pitch and the ability to read and translate Biblical Hebrew (with the help of a dictionary). This course will meet for 9 sessions from September 2 until November 25 (with a break for holidays).
Professor
Class Day & Time
Cantor Louise Treitman
T
2:30 pm � 4:30 pm
Grading Option
PF or Audit
Credits
2
Professor Approval Req'd?
Y
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Saint John's Seminary
ST501
An Introduction to the Sacred Liturgy
BTI Category
Semester
Preaching, Liturgy, & Ritual
FA25
This course provides the student with a systematic introduction to the Western liturgical patrimony of the Catholic Church. It examines the historical, theological, canonical, and pastoral realities which undergird the celebration of the liturgy. In the first part of the course, the student will come to understand the origins of the liturgy and its major eras of development and reform. In the second part, the principal liturgical books of the Roman Rite are examined in detail, since these are the texts which a candidate for Holy Orders will encounter most frequently in the work of ministry. In the third part, pastoral considerations for the contemporary celebration of the liturgy are discussed.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Fr. Stamm
TR
9:00-10:15 AM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
NA
bottom of page