This fund has been established to support doctoral research projects on a wide range of theological inquiries, ranging from patristic studies to contemporary theological issues or interdisciplinary projects (which can be related to but not limited to the writings of Saint Sophrony of Essex).
Currently, the Institute offers three bursaries of £7,500 each. These may cover the full tuition for the first year of part-time research or half of the tuition for the first year of full-time doctoral study. The recipients of the St Sophrony Bursaries will be selected at the discretion of the IOCS academic staff. Selection will be based either on the application materials submitted for admission to the doctoral programme (in the case of new applicants), or on academic progress to date (in the case of current researchers).
At present, IOCS is able to offer these bursaries for the 2025–2026 academic year only. While every effort will be made to secure funding for subsequent years, we cannot guarantee the continuation of the St Sophrony Bursaries beyond that point. Likewise, renewal of the bursary for current recipients – should the bursaries be available in the year(s) to come – is not guaranteed, though previous recipients are, of course, welcome to reapply.
If you are interested in applying for one of the Saint Sophrony Bursaries, please write to grp29@iocs.cam.ac.uk
The practical and theological aspects of this project:
The practical impetus is connected to the fact that in recent years there have been several students at the Institute researching the legacy and theology of Father Sophrony – some of whom visited and spent some time at the Monastery in Essex. The Saint’s work and teachings, although well known by some, warrant more research and to be known in depth – so that they can be disseminated even further. The Institute intends to provide the academic, study context for this kind of research. However, this is not seen just as an academic exercise. Such a project will end up as an aid to people’s coming closer to God and making known the work of the Holy Spirit in our times, through people and saints like Saint Sophrony.
The theological impetus rests in the hope that the existence and work of the Institute in the UK as a place of Orthodox life, learning, and witness is aligned with that of the Monastery which – through Saint Sophrony – has opened up Orthodoxy to the West, and the West to Orthodoxy, in a way that is both faithful to the Patristic legacy and the faith of our Fathers and contextually adapted to the Western context where we live.
Many of the Institute’s students and followers have long benefited (and continue to do so) from lectures and visits from the community of the Essex Monastery, like Father Nikolai, Father Zacharias, Father Kyrill, or Sister Magdalen (to name but a few) or by visits to the Monastery during our summer schools, over the course of many years.
