St. John's Theological Seminary

04/15/2026

03/06/2026

Dr. Susan Ashbrook Harvey
Visiting Faculty Member – St. John’s Theological Seminary

Dr. Susan Ashbrook Harvey is the Willard Prescott and Annie McClelland Smith Professor of Religion and History in the Department of Religious Studies at Brown University, where she has also served as the Royce Family Professor of Teaching Excellence and as Director of the Program in Early Cultures. One of the most respected scholars in the field of early Christianity, she is internationally known for her work on late antique and Byzantine Christianity, with particular distinction in Syriac studies.

Professor Harvey’s scholarship brings together historical theology, liturgy, hymnography, ascetic practice, and the lived religious experience of ancient Christian communities. Her work has been especially influential in recovering the voices of women in early Syriac Christianity and in illuminating the role of the senses—sound, scent, ritual, and embodiment—in Christian worship and devotion. Across her career, she has written with depth and clarity on monasticism, hagiography, preaching, gender, and the formation of Christian piety in the Syriac and Byzantine worlds.

She received her B.A. in Classics from Grinnell College and her M.Litt. and Ph.D. in Byzantine History from the University of Birmingham. Before joining Brown University, she taught at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the University of Rochester. In recognition of her scholarly contributions, she has received honorary doctorates from Grinnell College, the University of Bern, and Lund University.

Professor Harvey is the author of several landmark works, including Asceticism and Society in Crisis: John of Ephesus and the “Lives of the Eastern Saints”, Scenting Salvation: Ancient Christianity and the Olfactory Imagination, Song and Memory: Biblical Women in Syriac Tradition, and most recently Ministries of Song: Women’s Voices in Ancient Syriac Christianity (2025). She has also co-authored and co-edited numerous volumes and bilingual Syriac–English texts, including Holy Women of the Syrian Orient (with Sebastian Brock), and has published widely in leading academic journals and reference works.

Beyond her academic publications, Professor Harvey has provided sustained leadership within the scholarly and ecclesial communities. She is a past President of both the Orthodox Theological Society of America and the North American Patristic Society, and she served for twenty-five years on the Eastern Orthodox–Roman Catholic Bilateral Theological Consultation for North America. In 2022, she was awarded the Order of Sankt Ignatios by the Sankt Ignatios Foundation in Sweden in recognition of her outstanding leadership and scholarship in Eastern Christian studies.

Deeply engaged with the worshiping life of the Church, Professor Harvey is a tonsured chanter at St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Her teaching and writing consistently reflect a rare integration of rigorous historical scholarship, theological sensitivity, and lived ecclesial experience.

Saint John’s Theological Seminary is honored to count Dr. Susan Ashbrook Harvey among its distinguished visiting faculty, and is grateful for her longstanding support, guidance, and contribution to the formation of students in the rich heritage of the Syriac Christian tradition.

Visit the St. John’s Theological Seminary website at www.sjtseminary.org for more information.

02/12/2026

Rev. Dr. Robert A. Kitchen
Visiting Faculty Member – St. John’s Theological Seminary

Robert A. Kitchen is a scholar of Syriac Christianity, patristics, and early Christian asceticism. He received his Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil.) in Oriental Studies (Syriac Language and Literature) from the University of Oxford, where his dissertation focused on the development of ascetic theology in early Syriac Christianity, with special attention to the Liber Graduum and Philoxenus of Mabbug. He also holds degrees from The Catholic University of America, Pacific School of Religion, and Springfield College.

Dr. Kitchen’s academic work centers on Syriac and Ge‘ez (Ethiopic) patristic literature, early Christian spirituality, asceticism, biblical interpretation, and Eastern Christian theology. He has taught Patristic Studies at Sankt Ignatios Theological Academy in Sӧdertälje Sweden, Visiting Lecturer in Syriac New Testament Exegesis at the University of Salzburg, and Instructor of Syriac at Dumbarton Oaks and the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library at Saint John’s University. He has also taught religion and philosophy at the undergraduate level.

Dr. Kitchen has published books, critical editions, translations, and scholarly articles on Syriac Christianity. His major works include The Book of Steps (Liber Graduum), The Discourses of Philoxenos of Mabbug, The Syriac Book of Steps, and The Acts of the Apostles according to the Syriac Pesh*tta. His recent publications include translations and studies of Isaac of Antioch, and Syriac and Ethiopic hagiographical texts. He has contributed to academic journals and edited volumes in patristics and Eastern Christian studies.

Dr. Kitchen has held several fellowships, from Dumbarton Oaks, the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library, Harvard Divinity School, Yale Divinity School, and the Center of Theological Inquiry at Princeton. He currently serves on the editorial boards of Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies, The Fathers of the Church series (Catholic University of America Press), and the Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity.

In addition to his academic vocation, Dr. Kitchen has served in pastoral ministry for over four decades, most recently as Minister of Knox-Metropolitan United Church of Canada in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. His work integrates scholarship with pastoral theology and spiritual formation.

At St. John’s Theological Seminary, the Rev. Dr. Kitchen brings expertise in Syriac Christianity, patristic theology, and spiritual interpretation of Scripture, enriching the Seminary’s mission of theological education grounded in the ancient traditions of the Church.

Visit the St. John’s Theological Seminary website at www.sjtseminary.org for more information.

02/07/2026

Dr. Elke Speliopoulos, PhD
Faculty Member – St. John’s Theological Seminary

Dr. Elke B. Speliopoulos is a distinguished scholar, educator, and global leader whose academic and professional journey reflects a deep commitment to theology, ethics, intercultural engagement, and ecclesial service. She serves as a Faculty Member at St. John’s Theological Seminary, contributing to the Seminary’s mission of theological formation grounded in the Syriac Orthodox tradition while engaging the broader Christian world through scholarship and dialogue.

Dr. Speliopoulos also serves as an Adjunct Faculty Member in the Department of Humanities and Communication at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, where she teaches undergraduate courses in Ethics and Public Speaking. Her teaching emphasizes moral reasoning, ethical leadership, and effective communication within diverse cultural and professional contexts.

She earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Intercultural Studies from Columbia International University (2024), where her doctoral work focused on the impact of permanent geographical relocation of Syriac Orthodox families to Germany since the 1960s on self-perception and religious experience. She holds a Master of Divinity in Missional Studies (2012) and a Master of Arts in Religion in Biblical Studies (2010) from Liberty University, graduating with high distinction and summa cm laude honors. Dr. Speliopoulos completed her undergraduate education at Providence College, earning a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration, graduating summa cm laude, ranked first in her class, and receiving the institution’s Highest Honor in Field of Study.

Dr. Speliopoulos is actively engaged in international Orthodox theological scholarship and ecumenical dialogue. She is a full member of the International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA) and presented an academic paper in June 2025 in Rome at the international conference “Nicaea and the Church of the Third Millennium: Towards Catholic–Orthodox Unity.” Her participation in this global gathering reflects her scholarly commitment to Orthodox theology, conciliar tradition, and contemporary ecumenical engagement.

She is also a contributing member of the Lausanne–Orthodox Initiative (LOI), a global forum that brings together Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and post-Reformation Christian leaders for sustained relational ecumenism and theological dialogue. Most recently, Dr. Speliopoulos served as a delegate to the LOI Global Consultation in Egypt in November 2025, participating in high-level discussions on mission, unity, and Christian witness in the modern world.

Prior to her academic vocation, Dr. Speliopoulos built an accomplished international career in executive leadership and global operations within the technology sector. She served for over two decades in senior leadership roles at SAP America, SAP Labs, and Bentley Systems, including positions such as Global Process Owner for Cloud Fulfillment, Global Process Executive for Customer Onboarding, Global Head of Services Sales Field Support, and Senior Director of North America Services. In these roles, she led multinational teams, guided complex organizational transformations, and introduced global best practices in customer engagement, operational excellence, and ethical leadership.

Her leadership has been formally recognized through numerous awards, including the SAP Short-Term Award for Passion, acknowledging her work in advancing diversity, cultural awareness, and organizational integrity—efforts that contributed to the establishment of a dedicated Global Diversity Officer role within SAP.

Dr. Speliopoulos is bilingual in English and German and has basic knowledge of Spanish, French, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Syriac. A dual citizen of Germany and the United States, she brings a genuinely global perspective to her teaching, scholarship, and mentorship.

At St. John’s Theological Seminary, Dr. Speliopoulos integrates rigorous theological scholarship, Orthodox ecclesial engagement, and intercultural insight to form students for thoughtful ministry, ethical leadership, and faithful service in an increasingly interconnected world. Her work reflects a lifelong dedication to the Church, academic excellence, and the pursuit of Christian unity rooted in truth, tradition, and mutual understanding.

She is married to Nick, has two children JoAnne and Nick and three grandchildren.

Visit the St. John’s Theological Seminary website at www.sjtseminary.org for more information.

02/05/2026

Dr. Sebastian Brock, DPhil
Visiting Faculty Member – St. John’s Theological Seminary

Dr. Sebastian Paul Brock is internationally recognized as the foremost living scholar of Classical Syriac language, literature, and Syriac Christian tradition. His academic career spans more than six decades and has profoundly shaped the modern study of Syriac Christianity, early Eastern Christian theology, and Aramaic Christian heritage.

Born in London in 1938, Dr. Brock was educated at Eton College before pursuing classical and Semitic studies at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Classics and Oriental Languages, specializing in Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Aramaic. He completed his Doctorate (DPhil) at the University of Oxford in 1966, with a dissertation on the textual history of the Septuagint.

Dr. Brock began his academic career at the University of Birmingham (1964–1967), teaching Biblical Hebrew and New Testament Greek. He then served at the University of Cambridge (1967–1974), where he taught Classical Hebrew, Northwest Semitic Epigraphy, Aramaic, and Syriac. In 1974 he was appointed Lecturer in Aramaic and Syriac at the University of Oxford’s Oriental Institute, later becoming Reader in Syriac Studies. During his thirty years at Oxford (1974–2003), he founded and led the Master of Studies in Syriac Studies and co-founded the MPhil in Eastern Christian Studies with the late Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, establishing Oxford as a global center for Syriac scholarship. He is now Emeritus Reader in Syriac Studies and Emeritus Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford.

Dr. Brock’s scholarly work has transformed the understanding of early Syriac Christianity, especially Syriac poetry, theology, liturgy, and the transmission of Greek Christian texts into Syriac. His research has illuminated the spiritual, poetic, and theological world of figures such as St. Ephrem the Syrian and St. Isaac of Nineveh, bringing the Syriac tradition into the center of modern Christian scholarship.

Among his many influential publications are The Luminous Eye: The Spiritual World Vision of St. Ephrem, The Holy Spirit in the Syrian Baptismal Tradition, and The Treasure-House of Mysteries: Explorations of the Sacred Text through Poetry in the Syriac Tradition. His major translations include Ephrem’s Hymns on Paradise and the Second Part of the Discourses of Isaac of Nineveh, which have become standard texts for scholars and seminarians alike. He was also the principal editor and author of the landmark three-volume work The Hidden Pearl: The Syrian Orthodox Church and Its Ancient Aramaic Heritage, produced with the late Metropolitan Mor Julius Çiçek.

Dr. Brock is a Fellow of the British Academy and the recipient of numerous international honors, including the Leverhulme Medal of the British Academy (2009), the Edward Ullendorff Medal (2024), and multiple honorary doctorates, including a PhD Honoris Causa from the École pratique des hautes études in Paris. He was awarded the Medal of St. Ephrem the Syrian by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, in recognition of his unparalleled contribution to Syriac Christian heritage.

In May 2024, Dr. Brock was received into the Syriac Orthodox Church by Holy Chrismation, a deeply meaningful culmination of a lifetime devoted to the study and preservation of Syriac Christianity. He is married to Helen Hughes-Brock, an archaeologist specializing in Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece.

As Visiting Faculty at St. John’s Theological Seminary, Dr. Brock brings to the seminary not only unmatched scholarly distinction but also a lifetime of devotion to the Syriac Orthodox tradition, its sacred texts, poetry, theology, and living heritage. His presence is a profound blessing for the formation of both clergy and lay leaders, as well as all who seek a deeper understanding of the Syriac Christian faith and tradition.

Visit the St. John’s Theological Seminary website at www.sjtseminary.org for more information.

01/31/2026

https://youtu.be/TG-aXKYzvUY

Watch the opening ceremony again on Suboro TV TV and MORAN TV TV on February 2, 2026 at 3:00pm EST

Opening Day Ceremony of Saint John's Theological Seminary on January 20, 2026. Saint John's Theological Seminary is a Syriac Orthodox Educational Institution...

01/30/2026

https://youtu.be/xZGcexickXk

Opening Day Ceremony of Saint John's Theological Seminary on January 20, 2026. Saint John's Theological Seminary is a Syriac Orthodox Educational Institution...

01/20/2026

His Eminence Dr. Mor Severios Roger Akhrass, Ph.D.
Visiting Faculty Member – St. John’s Theological Seminary

Patriarchal Vicar for Syriac Studies

His Eminence Dr. Mor Severios Roger Akhrass, Ph.D., was born on March 7, 1981, in Sarba, Lebanon, to Mr. Riad Akhrass and Mrs. Fadia El-Haddad Akhrass. He is a bishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, serving as the Patriarchal Vicar for Syriac Studies and Director of the Department of Syriac Studies at the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate in Atchaneh, Lebanon.

He received his early education at Collège des Frères Maristes – Champville in Beirut and pursued Musicology at the National Conservatory of Music in Lebanon. After obtaining a French-Lebanese Baccalaureate with honors, he joined the St. Aphrem Theological Seminary in Ma‘arrat Saydnaya, Syria, where he completed his theological studies with the highest distinction.

His Eminence went on to earn Bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Theology from the Catholic University of Paris, both with distinction, followed by a Master of Arts in Theology from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), graduating with highest honors. His master’s thesis, “The Apostle Peter and Antioch in the Writings of Severus the Great,” explored the ecclesiological identity of the See of Antioch through the writings of one of the Church’s most profound theologians, St. Severus of Antioch.

He subsequently earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Patristics from the Catholic University of Paris in 2013, graduating Summa Cum Laude (Mention Excellence), the highest academic distinction. His doctoral dissertation, later published as Michel le Grand: Le Livre des Chapitres (Vols. I–II, Paris, 2015), is an extensive historical, literary, and theological study of Michael the Great, one of the most significant patriarchs and historians of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

In 2014, His Eminence was appointed a Visiting Scholar at the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library (HMML) at St. John’s University in Minnesota, USA. During his time there, he contributed to the cataloging, preservation, and digital documentation of ancient Syriac manuscripts, further strengthening global scholarship on Syriac Christianity.

His Eminence has served as Instructor of New Testament, Syriac Grammar, and Ascetical Theology at the St. Aphrem Theological Seminary in Syria and currently teaches Patristics at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) in Lebanon. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Journal, the longest-running scholarly publication of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

He has been a member of the official theological dialogue commission between the Anglican Communion and the Oriental Orthodox Churches since 2014 and has represented the Syriac Orthodox Church in numerous ecumenical and inter-Orthodox dialogues, including the Working Committee for Dialogue between the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches in Greece. His research and ministry consistently reflect a deep commitment to ecclesiology, ecumenism, and the theology of Church unity.

A distinguished theologian and prolific writer, His Eminence has published numerous scholarly works in Arabic, Syriac, French, and English. His books and editions have enriched the field of Syriac studies, including:

160 Unpublished Homilies of Jacob of Serugh (2 vols., Patriarchate of Damascus, 2017)

Philoxenus of Mabbug: Dogmatic and Spiritual Writings (5 vols., 2007–2023)

Michel le Grand: Le Livre des Chapitres (2 vols., Paris, 2015)

The Spiritual Masterpiece of Canonical Prayer (Brussels, 2019)

He has authored more than 60 academic articles and chapters on topics spanning Syriac theology, Patristics, Biblical exegesis, ecclesiology, and liturgy. Many of his recent publications explore ecumenical relationships and the reception of the ecumenical councils from an Oriental Orthodox perspective, such as:

“Reception of the Clergy Ordained by the Heterodox in the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch with Special Reference to the Anglican Holy Orders” (Proche-Orient Chrétien, 2024)

“The Number of Ecumenical Councils: An Oriental Orthodox Point of View” (Proche-Orient Chrétien, 2018)

“Communion, Alliance, and Heritage: The Relations of Antioch with Its Suffragan Churches during the Pontificate of Severus the Great” (Proche-Orient Chrétien, 2014)

His Eminence is also a sought-after speaker and lecturer, having presented at international symposiums and academic gatherings throughout the Middle East, Europe, and North America, including France, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Russia, Egypt, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, and the United States. In August 2025, he was invited to participate in the Ecumenical Week in Sweden to present on “Developing an Ecumenical Hermeneutic to Overcome the Division from 451 and Beyond.”

He serves on the scientific boards of Brill’s Patristic Studies in Global Perspective and Eastern Christian Texts series and on the editorial boards of Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies and the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Journal.

His Holiness the Patriarch consecrated him as a bishop on June 25, 2021, under the ecclesiastical name Mor Severios.

Fluent in Arabic, Syriac, and French, and proficient in English, Biblical Greek, Hebrew, and Turoyo, His Eminence is widely recognized as a leading authority on Syriac Patristics, Ecclesiology, and Ecumenical Dialogue. His work continues to build bridges between the Syriac Orthodox tradition and the wider Christian world, combining pastoral wisdom with deep theological insight.

Beyond his academic and ecclesiastical responsibilities, His Eminence enjoys playing the oud, chess, and table tennis.

His Eminence is honored to serve as a Visiting Faculty Member of St. John’s Theological Seminary, contributing to its mission of advancing theological education rooted in the Syriac Orthodox tradition and fostering dialogue among Christian traditions.

Visit the St. John’s Theological Seminary website at www.sjtseminary.org for more information.

01/19/2026

Viewers may access the live telecast via the following Facebook event link on on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 8:00 PM (EST - NEW YORK TIME)
https://www.facebook.com/events/1467337622063853/
Important viewing note: Once you open the link, please click “Watch Live Video” located at the top right of the page to join the live broadcast.

Saint John’s Theological Seminary will formally mark the beginning of its academic and spiritual mission with an Opening Day Ceremony on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 8:00 PM (EST - NEW YORK TIME). The historic event will be held virtually via Zoom, welcoming participants from across North America and around the world.

The Opening Day Ceremony celebrates the inauguration of the Seminary’s first academic class and the official launch of an institution dedicated to theological education, spiritual formation, and scholarly engagement rooted in the Syriac Orthodox tradition.

The program will include prayers, inaugural addresses, and messages from distinguished church leaders and scholars, reflecting the Seminary’s commitment to faith, learning, and service. All are warmly invited to witness this significant milestone as Saint John’s Theological Seminary opens its doors and begins its mission for the glory of God and the service of His Church.