Why is Eichstätt particularly suitable as a hub for Eastern Christian Studies? As a result of more than 20 years of development, there has evolved a unique focus in this field at our Faculty of Theology. The “Collegium Orientale” is a major seminary, which allows for postgraduate studies. There are always some 50 students from various Eastern churches studying in Eichstätt. 14 years ago, our “Research Center for Oriental Christianity” was founded, an association of scholars from various disciplines who are devoted to deal with the subject matter and who conduct third-party funded research projects. Finally, we succeeded just five years ago in establishing our very own “Chair for Theology of the Christian East”, which is rather unique for Catholic theological faculties in Germany.

Orthodox Theology

In March 2020, the “Arbeitsstelle Kleine Fächer” categorised “Orthodox Theology” as a “Rare Subject” at German universities due to its subject-specific independence. The Chair at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt with the denomination “Theology of the Christian East” was, thereby, assigned to “Orthodox Theology”. Although this cannot be understood in terms of a confessional affiliation, the “Arbeitsstelle” considered it proven that the Chair represents “Orthodox Theology” in a way that justifies this assignment to the “Rare Subject”. The focus in Eichstätt is on the Byzantine tradition, concentrating – apart from the Orthodox Churches – on the profile of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Thus, the Chair for Theology of the Christian East has a unique perspective, the only one of its kind on the landscape of German universities.
Currently, in addition to the Chair, three other locations of “Orthodox Theology” are listed at German universities: The chair at the Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg was established as early as 1966. In 1979, the chair at the University of Münster followed. A specialised study program has been offered since 1995/96 at the Educational Institution for Orthodox Theology at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, where a professorship was created as early as 1984. Despite this long history, “Orthodox Theology” has not been included in the official recording and monitoring of “Rare Subjects” until 2020. This delay may also be due to the fact that the subject was mostly represented as “Ostkirchenkunde” within Catholic or Protestant theological faculties. Historical, liturgical, or ecumenical approaches to Christianity in the Byzantine Empire and/or Slavonic countries were in the foreground. The Chair in Eichstätt stands in this traditional alignment, but also goes beyond it. Historical questions can become fruitful for contemporary issues, and the study of the Eastern churches broadens the perspectives of theology focused on the European West. Orthodox Theology, thus, is not a theological sub-discipline, but represents an independent hermeneutical approach to understanding Christianity, which justifies the autonomy of the “Rare Subject”. This broadening of scientific perspectives and the consideration of various genuine topics leads to the appreciation of heterogeneous and heterotopic “World Knowledge” and the deeper comprehension of global complexity.

"Wissenschaft vom Christlichen Orient"

The Research Center for Oriental Christianity (FSCO) at the KU covers a second “Rare Subject”. “Wissenschaft vom Christlichen Orient” sees itself primarily as a philological discipline that deals with the cultural heritage of Christianity in the Caucasus, the Levant, North Africa, Central Asia, and South India. The diversity of Oriental Christian communities particularly in the Near and Middle East and North Africa (MENA region) has been constantly and tremendously decreasing since the 20th century, especially due to persecution and forced migration in the aftermath of the “Arab Spring”, i.e. in the context of failed revolutions or civil wars, emerging failed states and the rise of the so-called Islamic State in the Arab World. Consequently, the rich cultural traditions and material and immaterial heritage of Oriental Christian denominations are at risk of being destroyed, lost, and absorbed or forgotten even more than ever today. Although these political and social tensions also have an impact on Europe, the study of Oriental Christianity has nevertheless been neglected. Since 1999, the chairs at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, the Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn, and the Eberhard Karl University of Tübingen for the Studies of the Christian Orient have been discontinued. Solely the position and the study program at the Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg remained. Furthermore, the aforementioned chair in Erlangen-Nuremberg also deals with the Studies of the Christian Orient. This decline shows the precarious situation of this “Rare Subject” and challenges a realignment in teaching, research, and knowledge transfer.
However, studying the “Orient” is not only necessary because the Middle East is a troubled area. Rather, Oriental Christians live at the place of origin of the Christian faith and their traditions are to be valued as a wealth in the polyphonic dialogue of global Christianity. Furthermore, their experiences with Islam, ranging from peaceful togetherness to bloody persecution, can be a profound source of learning for social coexistence of religions. Therefore, it is appropriate to complement the philological approach and to include political, cultural, and social science issues concerning the modern Middle East and also the emigrated Oriental Christians. Against this background, it seems necessary that the Oriens Christianus is considered as an essential part of intercultural studies. Beyond Eurocentrism, this would also take into account the increasing pluralisation of the religious map of Germany: Orthodox parishes, with two million faithful, rank as the third largest group of Christian denominations.

Eastern Christian Studies

In the German academic tradition, usually a distinction is made between the two subjects “Orthodoxe Theologie / Theologie des Christlichen Ostens” and “Wissenschaft vom Christlichen Orient”. In fact, the two “Rare Subjects” are not simply identical. “Orthodox Theology” focuses primarily on the Byzantine and Slavonic ecclesiastical tradition using theological methods and emphasising its present-day relevance; “Studies of the Christian Orient” deals mainly with the languages and literatures of the pre-Chalcedonian churches in their historical context. However, there are strong connecting lines and common themes that warrant joint consideration. In the English-speaking countries, the two “Rare Subjects” are often summarised as “Eastern Christian Studies (ECS)”. In these different practices, both the factual distinguishability and the organic unity of the two subjects are evident. Therefore, developing a joint structural perspective for both “Rare Subjects” is more than reasonable and justified.
The ONLINE CAMPUS is fundamentally designed to be interdisciplinary. “Rare Subjects” in the Humanities are characterised by a strong need for pronounced networking with other disciplines beyond the narrow boundaries of their own subject and departments within a university. Such a system of interdependent sciences also applies to the complexity of ECS. Synergistic collaboration with the following other “Rare Subjects” was initiated during the application phase: Arabic Studies, Byzantine Studies, Archaeology, Digital Humanities, Islamic Studies, Semitic Studies. The ONLINE CAMPUS provides connection points for numerous other “Rare Subjects”: Albanology, Ethiopian Studies, Intercultural Communication, Jewish Studies, Coptology, Romanian Studies, (South-)Eastern European Studies. Thus, the ONLINE CAMPUS is not intended to benefit only one “Rare Subject”, but to strengthen the networking among many “Rare Subjects”.