In May 2014, Deacon Sebastian Carnazzo, PhD, started the St. John Chrysostom Academy, a scholarly online series of courses that is helping priests, deacons, and seminarians from several eparchies to deepen their Catholic faith through a more profound understanding of scripture.
In a Biblical Apologetics course, he teaches practical methods of evangelizing Protestants in a respectful manner. He shows how Catholics can defend the authority of the Church over the "Bible alone" (Sola Scriptura) argument, and how to address objections to doctrines such as Sacramental Confession, the Real Presence in the Eucharist, and reverence for the Theotokos.
Deacon Sebastian Carnazzo, of the Melkite Catholic Church, lives in San Luis Obispo and attends St Anne's parish. He has a doctorate in Biblical Studies from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and is an adjunct lecturer on Sacred Scripture at Christendom College.
Since founding St. John Chrysostom Academy, Deacon Sebastian has taught several popular courses, including Biblical Apologetics, an introduction to the Old Testament, and the Byzantine lectionary. In addition, Rev. Timothy Cremeens, PhD, teaches an early Church history course and Presbytera Irene Galadza teaches a course on the clergy wife's vocation and ministry.
Father Diodoro Mendoza, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle in Gilbert, Arizona, was an evangelical Protestant before finding the fullness of truth in the Catholic Church and later entering the Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh to prepare for priesthood. He says of this program: "There are so many heresies today based on misunderstandings of biblical passages. As clergy, we have an obligation to correct these heresies and proclaim the Apostolic Faith. The Academy's Biblical Apologetics course provided me with the necessary skills to do just that."
Deacon Sebastian is convinced that modern technology enhances the continuing education opportunities for clergy, who can then engage more effectively in spreading the Gospel message.
For more information, visit the Academy website (www.chrysostomacademy.org) and while there please consider becoming a donor. As a benefactor of the Academy, you not only invest in the education of clergy but also in your own education through special classes provided for the benefactors.