But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you… (1 Peter 3:15)
St Thomas Aquinas Institute of Religious Studies in Kyiv is a Roman Catholic theological institution of higher education that promotes deeper understanding between representatives of different Christian denominations and fosters dialogue between faith and reason, the Church and the modern world.
The Institute began its activities in 1992 as St Thomas Aquinas College of Catholic Theology, founded by the Order of Preachers.
In February 2000, the College was affiliated with the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, “Angelicum”, which guarantees the appropriate academic level of the Institute.
On May 5, 2000, according to the Congregation’s decree “On Catholic Education” (Latin: “De Educatione Catholica”), the college was named the Institute of Religious Studies and became an ecclesiastical institution of higher education authorised to grant a university Master’s degree in Religious Studies.
In December 2008, the Institute finally moved to its new premises at 13 Derevlianska Street. The current premises of the Institute were built in 1900 upon the project of Volodymyr Nikolaiev, who designed and participated in the creation of such famous buildings in Kyiv as the National Philharmonic Society, the National Opera House, St Volodymyr’s Cathedral and the buildings of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The old buildings of the University located at 11Б Borychiv Tik Street were sold to raise funds for the restoration of the building at 13 Derevlianska Street.
In the 2008-2009 academic year, the University switched to a credit-module system of education.
UNIVERSITY NOWADAYS
The five-year (Master’s) training programme (part-time form) includes subjects in Philosophy, Theology, Spirituality and Church history. The training takes place in two formats – classroom and online (online support even when classes are held at the Institute).
Our Institute is the only one in Kyiv where you can study Western theology. Graduates receive a European-standard diploma confirmed by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas “Angelicum” in Rome.
The Institute of Religious Studies does not have state accreditation in Ukraine.
Our values:
- openness to the Truth
- mutual respect and respect for the dignity of every person
- the pursuit of knowledge to be free and able to testify to others about our faith and hope.
Our goal:
to educate lay people and consecrated persons in the spirit of the teachings of the Catholic Church so that they can enrich their Christian lives and are able to reasonably justify their faith (cf. 1 P 3:15) as witnesses and spreaders of the Gospel message. The Institute also promotes philosophical and theological research to respond to the challenges and problems of the modern world in the light of the Catholic tradition as well as to work for mutual understanding and reconciliation between Christians of different churches.
We teach students to combine faith and reason, relentlessly search for the truth, ask important questions and try to find solutions to complex philosophical and theological challenges.