WARNING!

All assistive technologies that take the heavy lifting out of essay writing are banned.  All essay scripts are routinely scanned for use of ChatGPT and other AI essay writers. Any student caught using these will be immediately disqualified and may be permanently barred from this program. 

Q: IS THIS FOR ME?

A: If you are an Orthodox Christian who wants to know more about the Faith and Life of the Church and you want to do that in some detail to be better equipped to serve God through His Church ... then YES, most certainly it is for you!

Q: WON'T IT BE VERY DIFFICULT?

A: No, we assure you it will not.  No existing knowledge will be assumed.  The only thing you might need help with is study skills, but we will help you with that from the beginning.

Q: WILL I GET ANYTHING AT THE END OF THE COURSE?

A: Yes, a Diploma.

Q: WHO WROTE THESE LECTURES?

A: Mostly Archpriest Gregory Hallam and Fr. Emmanuel Kahn.  In Year 1 Term 3 (Church History) the collaboration was between Fr. Gregory and Mr. Dimitri Brady.  Other lectures have been written by guest contributors and these have been indicated on the appropriate pages.

Q: IS THIS DIPLOMA BLESSED FOR USE IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH?

A: Currently in the UK and Ireland It is blessed for use in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland.  Internationally it is licensed for use in Cuba and Macedonia and it is also affiliated with the St. Gregory Nazianzen Orthodox Institute (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Islands of the Caribbean - Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople).  International students other than those in Cuba or Macedonia need to register here in the UK using the registration form on this web site.  Spanish language translations of all the lectures and assignments are also available on this web site although, for registration in the UK and Ireland, English should be used please when completing assignments.

Q: IS E-QUIP RUN OUTSIDE THIS ARCHDIOCESE?

A: Yes. Other local Delivery Centres (please enquire) will have their own Course delivery and assessment procedures, albeit governed by E-Quip's copyright licence agreement. Contact us to establish whether or not E-Quip is run in your jurisdiction or country.  If it is not then the British Isles and Ireland delivery centre(s) will fulfil this role for you. The copyright licence fee is $100 per parish or $1,000 per diocese (or the equivalent in local currency).

Q: WHO OWNS E-QUIP AND IS IT ONLY FOR ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS?

A: St Theodore Ecclesiastical Trust (a UK non profit charity registration number 1029085 / England and Wales) owns the intellectual property on this website and reproduction of the content, except for personal and private use, is strictly forbidden.  However, E-Quip is offered as a service to anyone who wishes to benefit from it, not just Antiochian Orthodox Christians.

Q: IS THIS COURSE RECOGNISED BY ANY HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION?

A:  At the moment no, although we may explore this in the future.  However, such recognition is sometimes problematic in western secular academic institutions which often try to control course delivery in ways that are not consistent with Holy Orthodoxy.  There are also many extra costs involved which would restrict our development potential and accessibility for students.  It matters much more to us that the Course is blessed and accredited by the hierarchs of our Church.  In consequence, we receive no external grants or funding, either from secular institutions or the Church.

Q:  WHO WILL DO THE TEACHING?

A:  Each Centre delivering this course has a team of experienced and theologically trained lecturers. Remote learning on this web site and completion of the diploma are managed by the UK team headed up by Archpriest Gregory Hallam and with the blessing of our Archbishop, His Eminence, Metropolitan Silouan.  International students will be served by the UK team unless
E-Quip is run locally under licence.

Q: WHEN WILL IT START AND HOW OFTEN DOES IT MEET?  HOW DOES REMOTE LEARNING DIFFFER?

A: Locally delivered lectures start when there is a sufficient number of students at a nearby Delivery Centre, Local (LDC) or International (IDC). For students living at some distance from the nearest Centre, the Course can start at any time. Remote students simply need to have successfully completed all 18 assignments. They can work at their own pace both starting and finishing at their own convenience. Although ordinarily, done well, the 18 assignments would take 2 or 3 years to complete, it might be possible to reduce that to a minimum of 18 months with the necessary experience and knowledge.
 

Q: WILL I HAVE TO COMPLETE THE ESSAYS?

A:  If you are taking the Diploma option, yes, ... 2 essays each term from a choice of 5 options, making 6 altogether over each year.  FULL ASSISTANCE WILL BE GIVEN for those for whom this might otherwise be a daunting prospect.

Q: WHAT ABOUT TUTORIAL SUPPORT?

A: This can be arranged at any time. Your tutor can be contacted in the side panel of this website and arrangements can be made for phone contact or a Zoom session.  International Delivery Centres will have their own teams fulfilling this role.

Q: WHO WILL BE ASSESSING THESE ESSAYS?

A:  Archpriest Gregory Hallam (Course Director); Fr Emmanuel Kahn (Assistant Course Director) and Fr Chrysiostom MacDonnell.  International Delivery Centres will have their own teams fulfilling this role. 

Q: WILL I NEED TO ATTEND EVERY WEEK (UNLESS PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES PREVENT?

A:  For students able to attend a local centre, yes, as far as possible.  There are 10 meetings in each of 3 terms annually.  There is also, however, a Distance Learning option which is the usual option for most.  The Distance Learning Option has the advantage of students completing the essays at their own pace.

Q: IN LOCAL CENTRES MAY I ATTEND OCCASIONALLY AS A “VISITOR” AND NOT COMPLETE ANY ESSAYS?

A:  Yes you may ... but you won’t qualify for the Diploma.

Q: MAY NON ORTHODOX ATTEND?

A:  This course is not designed for those who have little first-hand experience of Orthodoxy and who are not yet part of the life of the Church.  It is not aimed, for example, at enquirers but rather Orthodox Christians who want to be better equipped for their faith and life.  However, non-Orthodox may take the Diploma by agreement with their local Course Director.

Q:  WILL IT COST ANYTHING?

A:  No, not in the UK and Ireland! However, in the UK and Ireland, you can make a donation to St Theodore Ecclesiastical Trust, the copyright holders, should you so wish (details on the Registration page). You are entirely free to access and study the content of this site and pursue the diploma without any payment whatsoever.  This service will remain free for all!

Q: WHAT ARE THE FUNDING AND COST ARRANGEMENTS FOR IDC'S

A: International Delivery Centre students should consult their own local Course Directors since donations and / or fees are set locally as per the Licence Agreement. Individual international students who do not have their own Delivery Centre are subject to the local arrangements of this geographical and ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the UK and Ireland.

Q: WHO BENEFITS FROM ANY DONATIONS MADE HERE ON THIS SITE OR THE LICENCE FEES PAID BY IDC's TO ST THEODORE ECCLESIASTICAL TRUST?

A:  St Theodore Ecclesiastical Trust, in receipt of IDC licence fees and personal donations, is the funder of the parish of St Aidan's Orthodox Church, Manchester UK.  Since the writing and development team of E-Quip derives entirely from this parish, its trust justifiably retains all the donation income from those using Archdiocesan Delivery Centres. The parish's financial contribution to the Archdiocese is fulfilled according to requirements and for a long time has remained the largest single contributor.  Local Delivery Centres outside the Archdiocese are charged a Licence Fee and may, therefore, retain any local donations.

There are 3 classes of participants ... STUDENTS, VISITORS and SUBSCRIBERS.

STUDENTS are those taking the Diploma and either living within visiting range of a Delivery Centre or those who opt for Distance Learning..  STUDENTS may register here or locally for IDC students and are expected to attend weekly under the local centre option. STUDENTS not living within reasonable distance of a Local Delivery Centre, including International Students without their own licensed program may apply for the Distance Learning in the usual manner.  The qualification for attaining the Diploma is simply the satisfactory completion of all Assignments to the required standard.  Full support will be given either locally or by Distance Learning.  Essays may be re-submitted (with support) if not to the required standard; so, provided students persevere, the outlook is good!

RREGISTRATION for local STUDENTS takes place at any time before the start of the first term. Those wishing to join as STUDENTS part way through the year MAY be able to do so but in this case they should apply to the Course Director.  STUDENTS living too far from the nearest Centre  and taking the Diploma as a Distance Learning Project may start at any time during the year and proceed at their own pace.

LIBRARY FACILITIES may be available at your local Lecture Delivery Centre.  Please check.

DIPLOMAS are only awarded to those who successfully complete the 3 year course as STUDENTS.  and they will be able to begin their Diploma studies immediately, free in the UK and Ireland. International students, please consult your LDC.

VISITORS are those not taking the Diploma but who wish to attend the lectures locally delivered.  Local library access and online / email support will be given to aid the learning process.  VISITORS may receive an appropriate Certificate of Attendance according to locally set standards. 

SUBSCRIBERS are those who simply want access to the lectures and occasional email support.  Registration is not required.

A VISITOR or a SUBSCRIBER may become a Diploma STUDENT at any time provided that they register and complete the assignments to the required standard.

SITE CONTENT AND USE is controlled by copyright terms contained in the Copyright Licence Agreement . No one may edit or in any way publish / reproduce these lectures for anything other than their own private use. The Copyright Licence for local delivery of the content of this E-Quip site applies also and at all times to individuals who seek to make any kind of use of this site content. Signatures to the Licence are additiionally required by Licensors being the Local Delivery Centres. The Copyright Licence Agreement may be found at the foot of this page.

The use of ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE in the writing of assignments is strictly forbidden.  Any student caught using AI will be banned from the Course.  Scripts are routinely checked by dedicated software that can identify the use of AI in composition.

Updated: 15th March 2024