Michael Durant
Graduate Student in History of the Christian Tradition
Michael is a Ph.D. student in History of Christian Traditions. His interests focus on early Christianity, especially Greek and Syriac texts leading up to and following the Council of Chalcedon. His favorite figures are the Cappadocian fathers and mothers, and the reception of their writings and biographies has occupied much of his research up to now. Additionally, he is interested in a whole range of topics relating to early Christian morality, including theological anthropology, asceticism, moral perfection, and social ethics, and in how these concerns developed alongside conceptions of doctrinal orthodoxy as litmus tests for the authentic reception of Christian tradition. He also maintains interests in later church history and theology, especially late medieval mysticism, contemporary Orthodox-Catholic-Protestant dialogue, and Søren Kierkegaard. Michael has obtained a Master of Theological Studies degree from Boston College (2020), and a Research Master: Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium (2023). In his spare time Michael enjoys winter backpacking, classical music, poetry, and the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Course Advisor: Dr. James K. Lee
Presentations:
“Soteriology of the Lord’s Prayer in Gregory of Nyssa.” Paper presented at Ad Fontes Academic Week, Newman University, Wichita, KS, May 30-June 4, 2022.
“United Bishops and the Boundaries of Communion: The Mediating Role of the Bishop-Priest in Cyprian of Carthage.” Paper presented at the Graduate Conference in Early Christian Studies, University of Notre Dame, May 23-25, 2022.
“Kierkegaard, Kenotic Love, and Preservation of the Self.” Paper presented at the AAR/SBL Conference, Kierkegaard, Religion, and Culture Unit, San Diego, November 23-26, 2019.
“The Charity of Co-Perception: Hermeneutics and Absolute Prohibitions Against Lying, With Attention to Augustine, Aquinas, and Gadamer.” Paper presented at the Psychology and the Other Conference, Boston College, Newton, MA, October 4-6, 2019.
“Athanasius, Monergism, and Synergism: Resources for the Mediation of Two ‘Mutually Exclusive’ Positions.” Paper presented at the Pappas Patristics Conference, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA, February 28-March 2, 2019.
Fellowships and Awards:
Peter Kindekens Scholarship, Peter Kindekens Fund, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023)
