The Antiochian House of Studies is our Archdiocese’s graduate-level theological school. It offers distance-learning programs in Orthodox theology for clergy and laypeople who want serious theological education without leaving their jobs or parishes.
Founded in 1980, AHOS operates as the educational arm of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. It’s fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, which means its degrees meet the same standards as any brick-and-mortar seminary. But here’s what makes it different: you can complete most of your coursework online while still working at the refinery or teaching school or raising kids.
The school offers several programs. There’s the Master of Divinity for men preparing for ordination. There’s a Master of Theological Studies for laypeople who want graduate-level theological formation. They’ve got a Master of Pastoral Care and Counseling, a Doctor of Ministry program, and even a PhD in Orthodox Studies. And for folks who aren’t ready to commit to a full master’s degree, there’s the St. Stephen’s Certificate in Orthodox Theology.
That certificate program is worth explaining because it’s the most accessible option. You don’t need a college degree to enroll, just a high school diploma and the willingness to do graduate-level work. It takes about two and a half years to complete. You’ll study Scripture, the Fathers, liturgical theology, church history, and pastoral theology. There are concentrations available too: youth ministry, Byzantine chant, iconology, and studies in Oriental Orthodoxy. The certificate won’t automatically qualify you for ordination, but it’ll give you a solid theological foundation and it’s often exactly what parish council members, Sunday school teachers, and choir directors need.
Here’s how the distance-learning model actually works. You complete coursework online through readings, papers, and directed ministry projects. But you can’t do the whole thing from your laptop. AHOS requires periodic in-person residencies where students and faculty gather for a week of intensive classes, liturgical services, and community life. These residencies usually happen at the Antiochian Village in Pennsylvania or other Archdiocesan locations. For the St. Stephen’s Certificate, you’ll attend two residencies over the course of the program. The residencies aren’t just academic requirements. They’re formational. You’re praying the services together, eating meals with your classmates, meeting the faculty face-to-face. It’s how you build the relationships that sustain you through the rest of the program.
The curriculum is thoroughly Orthodox and grounded in the Antiochian tradition. You’ll read St. Athanasius and St. John Chrysostom, not just contemporary theologians. You’ll study the Divine Liturgy as theology, not just ritual. You’ll learn canon law and pastoral practice alongside doctrine and Scripture. The whole approach is what they call “applied Orthodox theology,” which means you’re not just learning facts about the faith but how to live it and teach it and shepherd others in it.
Who attends AHOS? Deacons and priests taking continuing education. Men in the ordination track who need theological formation. Parish council presidents trying to understand what they’ve gotten themselves into. Converts who came into the Church five years ago and realized they’ve barely scratched the surface. Lifelong Orthodox who want to go deeper than Sunday liturgy allows. The student body is mixed, which is good. You’ll be in class with people from different backgrounds and different stages of life.
The Archdiocese established AHOS because not everyone can move to Brookline or Crestwood for three years. Plenty of men have felt a call to the priesthood but had families to support and couldn’t relocate. Plenty of laypeople wanted theological education but couldn’t quit their jobs. Distance learning isn’t second-best in this case. It’s what makes theological formation possible for people with real lives and real responsibilities.
If you’re curious whether AHOS might be right for you, start by visiting their website at ahos.edu. Look at the St. Stephen’s Certificate requirements. Talk to your priest about whether this kind of study would serve your growth in the faith. The application process isn’t intimidating, and the school is genuinely interested in forming Orthodox Christians, not just collecting tuition checks. You might find that what you’ve been hungry for has been available all along.
