
Prof. Joris Geldhof
IL: L705; PIL:95558
KULeuven: B-KUL-A07I5A, 4 study points
Taught by:
first week: Stefan Geiger
second week: Joris Geldhof
Aims:
Students:
♦ familiarize themselves with the emergence of liturgical theology in the course of the 20th century
♦ understand the content of A. Schmemann’s, A. Kavanagh’s and D.W. Fagerberg’s approach to liturgical theology
♦ can explain the meaning of the adage lex orandi, lex credendi as well as the reasons why it is both important and controversial
♦ develop a personal and critical standpoint towards the particularity of liturgical theology as it is interpreted by Schmemann, Kavanagh, and Fagerberg
♦ can apply the insights of liturgical theology to methodological issues and to questions of a more systematic-theological nature.
Students enrolling for credit at KU Leuven:
This course is taught at Ealing Abbey, London from 4 – 15 July 2022 for academic year 2022 – 2023. This course is completed well before enrolment at KU Leuven opens at the end of August. To enquire please write to us by E-mail available at this link. After successfully completing this course at Ealing, you may thereafter enrol for this course at KU Leuven to receive KU Leuven study points / ECTS credits.

Prof. Stefan Geiger
Dates: 4 – 15 July (Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 are free days)
Hours: 1.00 – 16.00 (including one 24 minute break)
The course anticipates the student will spend 60 hours in personal reading and study.
Location: Liturgy Institute London (at Ealing Abbey)
74 Castlebar Road Ealing London, W5 2DD, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8862 2156
For further details or to register contact the Institute:
E-mail Clare Cogswell, the Registrar, at this linked E-mail address.
Location on Google Maps is found here.
KU Leuven awards 4 study points upon the successful completion of this graduate course.
The Institutum Liturgicum requires this course for its IL certificate.
Previous knowledge
Students have some background in liturgy and liturgical studies.
Content
1. The history and particularity of liturgical theology
2. Schmemann as the initiator of liturgical theology
3. Schmemann continued: Kavanagh and Fagerberg
4. Critical evaluation of Schmemann, Kavanagh, and Fagerberg.
Course Material
The students are invited to purchase a personal copy of the three books by Alexander Schmemann, Aidan Kavanagh, and David W. Fagerberg. Additional reading material will be provided by way of a master copy, which the students can then copy for themselves.
Course activities
The course is organized around a close reading of three books:
♦ ALEXANDER SCHMEMANN, Introduction to Liturgical Theology.
♦ AIDAN KAVANAGH, On Liturgical Theology by Aidan Kavanagh.
♦ DAVID W. FAGERBERG, Theologia Prima. What is Liturgical Theology.
Students are expected to read indicated chapters before each class. Classes will be devoted to intensive discussions of the background, the meaning, and the implications of the claims made by the three central authors.
Evaluation description
Examination type: Three elements are taken into account for the evaluation:
- class attendance and active participation in the discussions (30%)
- the quality of a brief presentation in class (20%)
- the quality of the final essay (50%)
The details about these three elements are clearly communicated in the first session.
When?: permanent assessment, exam outside examination period.
Evaluation type: Open questions.
Explanation: Paper/Project, Presentation, Participation during contact hours.
Second opportunity to sit the exam: Because this is an intensive summer course, the opportunity for a second exam is by appointment and depends upon the availability of the instructor.
Notes: Students must be over 18 years of age.
Students wishing to pursue our programme of studies are encouraged to begin with the two courses L701 Liturgical Research Seminar and L702 Liturgy in the West: History and Context before progressing to other courses.
This course may be taken alone or in conjunction withcourses L701 Liturgical Research Seminar or L702 Liturgy in the West: History and Context.
If students enrol in two concurrent courses, they may wish to prepare for the intensive schedule by reading suggested texts before the course begins.
The instructor will arrange with the students to be available regularly for some time at the Institute and is also available by appointment.
Dates: Block I
4 – 8 July (Monday to Friday; Saturday 9, Sunday 10 are free days)
11 – 15 July (Monday to Friday)
Non-residential day students are welcome.
Limited accommodation is available through Ealing Abbey house for guests or other religious houses or nearby.
Residential students may arrange to arrive on Saturday 2 July or Sunday 3 July or before the lecture begins at 9.30 on Monday 4 July 2022.
Residential students may arrange to depart depart after the lecture ends at 12.30 on Friday 15 or on Saturday 16 July 2022.
Additional information from KU Leuven course web-site
Academic year: 2022 − 2023
Study points: 4
Language: English
Difficulty: Master’s level-Intermediate
Duration: 26.0 hours
Periodicity: Taught biennially in even numbered years during Block I
POC: POC Theology and Religious Studies
This course is included in
Research Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion (120 ECTS)
Master of Theology and Religious Studies Study Abroad Programme in European Culture and Society (PECS)
A link to the course descriptor at KU Leuven is available here.
Page updated on 24 January 2022 by DM.