(St) Severus of Antioch - Hero or Heresiarch?

Severus of Antioch is controversial figure who is venerated as a saint in Oriental Orthodoxy and is anathematized in Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic circles due to his vehement opposition of the Council of Chalcedon. He wrote and preached against Apollinarianism, Nestorianism, Eutychianism, Julianism and Chalcedonianism. In this presentation, Andrew Abdelmalek will examine Severus in the light of his writings to judge his orthodoxy. His writings will then be compared and contrasted with Chalcedonian fathers such as John of Damascus, with the goal of evaluating the accusations and polemics made against Severus, understanding his Christology, and determining its compatibility with Chalcedonian Orthodoxy.

Bio: Andrew Abdelmalek finished his degree in Religious Studies at McMaster University in May 2017, and in June 2017, he began his Masters in Theological Studies at the Orthodox School of Theology at Trinity College where Christology and the Chalcedonian Controversy are the main focus of his thesis. Andrew is a board member of the North American Academy of Ecumenists and has participated in translating and reviewing translations of a number of texts, the latest of which was his translation of “Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition” into Arabic.

Tuesdays at Sheptytsky
November 20, 2018