Over the centuries, the Christian East has passed on its uniqueness through the traditions that still characterize it today, through many forms of expression across its different regions. The presence of the Eastern Catholic Churches in territories often deeply scarred by war has purified and strengthened their faith and identity, making them like a House built on a hill, whose light “has illumined the universal Church” (OL 1). Can. 28.1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCCO) promulgated in 1990, describes the Eastern Catholic heritage through liturgy, theology, spirituality, and canon law—dimensions consolidated by the history and cultures of the various communities concerned. The Magisterium—including Orientalium dignitas (1894), Orientalium ecclesiarum (1964), and Orientale lumen (1995)—along with the Second Vatican Council, invites all the faithful to deepen their knowledge of the Christian East and its heritage, but above all, calls for theological centers of formation to preserve and promote the authentic identity of Eastern Christians.

Therefore, faithful to the instructions of the Magisterium, the Faculty of Theology (PUG), in collaboration with the Faculty of Oriental Ecclesiastical Sciences (PIO), offers an “Eastern First Cycle” to students who belong to the different Eastern Churches.

Eastern Rite students will take all courses of the statutory First Cycle of Theology as follows: (p....)

•  In the 1^st year all Courses offered are prescribed for all students of the Roman (or another Latin) Rite and Eastern Rite students.
• in the 2^nd year, 1^st semester, Eastern Rite students take courses TP1015or and TP1017or; in the 2^nd semester, courses TP1020or, TP1017or and TP1B17or; and
• in the 3^rd year, 1^st semester, TP1038or:

as an alternative to the courses bearing the same code number (TP1015; TP1017; TP1020; TP1B17; TP1038).