The Department of Orthodox Theology was founded in 1988 when the Finnish Orthodox Priest Seminary in Kuopio was closed, and the responsibility for Orthodox theological education was transferred to the Department of Orthodox Theology of the University of Joensuu. Along with the Department of Western Theology, it makes up the Faculty of Theology of the University. The Department of Orthodox Theology of the University of Joensuu is the only entity in Finland and the Nordic countries offering academic Orthodox theological education.

The Basic Study Unit of Orthodox Theology (Approbatur) consists of 25 credits. A student will study five credits for each theological subject: biblical studies, church history, systematic theology and patristics, practical theology and Orthodox church music. A student will complete all credit units by accomplishing assignments and corresponding with the instructors and the tutor via e-mail, fax, letter or phone. Please see the contact information in the following section! For each assignment which a student sends to the open university of Joensuu he/she must fill in the title page of the assignment. The instructor will evaluate the assignment, give the grade and send the title page of the assignment with this information to the student at his/her home address.

The Basic Study Unit of Orthodox Theology (Approbatur) is one part of the degree program. After completing the course a student will get a diploma from the Faculty of Theology of the University of Joensuu.

The multi-modal studies allow the student three semesters for completing the basic studies and four semesters for completing the intermediate studies.  If the student cannot complete the study module within the above periods of time, he or she can continue the studies by registering for an extra semester.  The fee for an extra semester is €40 / semester. (Please notice, that it is possible to sign in to an extra semester only during the fall 2009)