Welcome!

I grew up and lived in Romania before my family and I moved to the United States. I studied early Judaism and ancient Christianity at Marquette University with Deirdre Dempsey (my Doktormutter), Archbishop Alexander (Golitzin), Sharon Pace, and Michel Barnes (among others). Between 2007 and 2022 I taught as full-time Bible faculty at the University of Dayton. I was ordained to the diaconate and the priesthood in 2012 and I serve under the omophorion of Archbishop Alexander (Golitzin) in the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).

In December 2022—mostly for health reasons—I retired from my tenured position at the University of Dayton (just upon my promotion to full Professor) and relocated to southern Texas, where I am currently serving the community of St. George Orthodox Church in Pharr (name which, I am convinced, is a misspelling, given the town’s seclusion from the rest of the state and the country). I still supervise doctoral work and—on occasion—teach graduate courses for the university as a “senior scholar,” but only online.

The rest of my time is dedicated almost entirely to my research projects, to translations (mostly for Cherubim Press), and to coordinating and teaching in the diaconal programs of the Diocese of the South and the Bulgarian Diocese of the OCA. I also teach a couple of online courses through this website. For more information on these courses, including on schedule and registration, please visit their individual pages in the main menu.

Educational background

• Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Marquette University 1999-2005
• M.A. in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, University of Oradea, Romania 1997-1998
• Undergraduate studies in Classics, University of Cluj, Romania 1996-1998
• B.Div. in Orthodox Theology, University of Sibiu, Romania 1993-1997

Academic positions

• Senior scholar of Early Judaism and Old Testament, University of Dayton 2023–present
• Associate Professor of Early Judaism and Old Testament, University of Dayton 2015-2022
• Visiting Associate Professor of Old Testament, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary 2020-2022
• Assistant Professor of Early Judaism and Old Testament, University of Dayton 2007- 2015
• Visiting Assistant Professor of Biblical Theology, Marquette University 2006-2007
• Lecturer in Biblical Theology, Marquette University 2005-2006

Research and teaching interests

Early Judaism (scriptural hermeneutics, ascetical and mystical traditions), Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Jewish pseudepigrapha, the Old Testament in early Christianity, the Old Testament in the Orthodox Church, Scripture and liturgy, scriptural and liturgical translations.

Current projects

I am working on a critical edition, translation, and close study of the Romanian recension of the Life of Adam and Eve. As soon as this project is finished, I will continue to translate, with Archbishop Alexander (Golitzin), the works of St. Dionysius the Areopagite, of which half will be published with St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, and the other half with Cherubim Press. He and I are also translating the first collection of the Macarian Homilies, that is, the parts of the first collection which are not also present in the second collection, popularly known as the Fifty Spiritual Homilies.

Publications

Books—original work

The Lord God of Gods. Divinity and Deification in Early Judaism. Perspectives on Hebrew Scripture and Its Contexts 35. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2021. On sale here: https://www.gorgiaspress.com/silviubunta

Greek Grammar: Biblical and Patristic. Vol. 1: Morphology. Dayton: Cherubim Press, 2021. On sale here: https://cherubimpress.com/shop/ols/products/silviu-n-bunta-greek-grammar-i-biblical-and-patristic

‘Your Life Will Be Hung Before Your Eyes’: Meanings of Our Life in Orthodox Liturgy. Foreword by Archbp. Alexander (Golitzin). Dayton: Cherubim Press, 2022. On sale here.

‘The Life of Our Fathers’: An Introduction to the Bible in the Orthodox Church. FORTHCOMING with St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press.

Books—translations (with or without commentary)

Ieratikon according to the Simonopetra Tradition. Introduction, translation, and notes. Dayton: Cherubim Press, 2019. Second edition in 3 volumes, 2021. [with Rev. Matthew-Peter Butrie]. The second edition is on sale here: https://cherubimpress.com/shop/ols/products/ieratikon-according-to-the-simonopetra-tradition-second-edition-3-volume-set. The fourth volume of the first edition, with comments and studies, is available for sale separately, here: https://cherubimpress.com/shop/ols/products/ieratikon4-notes.

Diakonikon according to the Simonopetra Tradition. Introduction, translation, and notes. Dayton: Cherubim Press, 2021. [with Rev. Matthew-Peter Butrie]. On sale here: https://cherubimpress.com/shop/ols/products/diakonikon-according-to-the-simonopetra-tradition.

The Orthodox Psalter. Introduction, Translation, and Notes. McAllen: Cherubim Press, 2022. On sale here.

The Divine Liturgy of St. John the Golden-mouth and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. McAllen: Cherubim Press, forthcoming. 198 pages. [with Pr. Matthew-Peter Butrie]

The Making of a Catechumen. Introduction, translation, and notes. McAllen: Cherubim Press, forthcoming. 24 pages.

Articles in scholarly journals and in edited volumes (latest)

“Post-loguing the Prologue: The Johannine Gospel and the Priority of Christ.” Forthcoming in Knowing God in Light. Theophany and Language. Edited by Nichifor Tănase et al. Münster, Berlin: LIT Verlag, 2023.

“For a hermeneutics of referent: On the Sinai Tradition and a Reinterpretation of ‘Covenant’.” Pages 23-46 in Watering the Garden. Studies in Honor of Deirdre Dempsey. Edited by Andrei A. Orlov. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2023.

“Tradition: Generated by Scripture or Generating Scripture?” Pages 229-243 in The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in Orthodox Christianity. Edited by Eugen Pentiuc. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2022.

“For a Hermeneutics of Death. Dying and Exegeting in 2 Cor 3-6.” Pages 39-49 in Simpozionul de Educație și Spiritualitate Ortodoxă „Polis & Paideia”. Edited by Nichifor Tănase and Constantin Jinga. București: Editura Academiei Române, 2021. [in Romanian]

 “In Defense of Inheritance. Observations on a New, Non-traditional Orthodoxy.” Pages 167-179 in Simpozionul de Educație și Spiritualitate Ortodoxă „Polis & Paideia”. Edited by Nichifor Tănase and Constantin Jinga. București: Editura Academiei Române, 2021. [in Romanian] 

“The Voices of the ‘Triumphant Hymn’: The Orthodox Sanctus as a Christian Merkabah Text.” St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly 64/1-2 (2020): 93-127.

“Driven Away with a Stick: The Femininity of the Godhead in y. Ber. 12d, the Emergence of Rabbinic Modalist Orthodoxy, and the Christian Binitarian Complex.” Pages 66-84 in Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism. Studies in Honor of Alexander Golitzin. Edited by Andrei A. Orlov. Vigiliae Christianae Supplements. Leiden: Brill, 2020.

“Reversing Genesis 3,6-7: Adamic Traditions in the Cursing of the Fig Tree (Mk 11,12-14.20-25; Mt 21,18-22).” Pages 111-144 in Sfânta Scriptură în Istorie și Tradiție. Volum Omagial Păr. Prof. Vasile Mihoc (Sacred Scripture in History and Tradition. Festschrift Pr. Prof. Vasile Mihoc). Sibiu, Romania: Editura Andreiana, Colectia Theologia Universitaria, 2019.

Older articles in scholarly journals and in edited volumes (selection)

“The Convergence of Adamic and Merkabah Traditions in the Christology of Hebrews.” Pages 277-296 in Searching the Scriptures: Studies in Context and Intertextuality. Edited by in Craig A. Evans and J. J. Johnston. London: T & T Clark/Bloomsbury, 2015. 

“Dreamy Angels and Demonic Giants: Watcher Traditions and the Origin of Evil in Early Christian Demonology.” Pages 116-138 in The Fallen Angels Traditions: Second Temple Developments and Reception History. Edited by Angela Kim Harkins, Kelley Coblentz Bautch, and John C. Endres. Catholic Biblical Association Monograph Series 53. Washington, DC: The Catholic Biblical Association of America, 2014.

“In Heaven or on Earth: A Misplaced Temple Question about Ezekiel’s Visions.” Pages 28-44 in With Letters of Light: Studies in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Early Jewish Apocalypticism, Magic and Mysticism in Honor of Rachel Elior. Edited by Daphna Arbel. Berlin/New York: W. de Gruyter, 2011. 

“Metamorphosis and Role Reversal: Anthropomorphic Demons and Angelomorphic Humans in the Life of Adam and Eve and 2 Enoch.” Henoch 33/1 (2011): 47-60.

“‘Your Own of Your Own’: Jewish Adam Speculations and Orthodox Liturgy in the Slavonic and Romanian Life of Adam and Eve.” Scrinium 5 (2009): 112-128.

“The Mesu-Tree and the Animal Inside: Theomorphism and Theriomorphism in Daniel 4.” Scrinium 3 (2007): 364-384.

“YHWH’s Cultic Statue after 597/586 B.C.E.: A Linguistic and Theological Reinterpretation of Ezekiel 28:12.” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 69/2 (2007): 212-232.

“The Likeness of the Image: Adamic Motifs and tselem Anthropology in Rabbinic Traditions About Jacob’s Image Enthroned in Heaven.” Journal for the Study of Judaism 37 (2006): 55-84.

“Too Vast to Fit in the World: Moses, Adam, and צלם אלהים in Testament of Moses 11:8.” Henoch 26/2 (2004): 188–204.

Encyclopedia/dictionary entries

Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception. Berlin: de Gruyter, 2012-: “Adam and Eve, Life of (Book),” “Adam and Eve, Story of, in Judaism,” “Adam in Judaism, in Medieval Jewish Literature,” “Adam in Judaism, in Rabbinic Literature,” “Adam in Judaism, in the Hellenistic Period,” “Cain (Person) in Judaism,” “Cain and Abel, Story of, in Rabbinic Judaism,” “Cain, Mark of, in Judaism,” “Mysticism in the Second Temple Period.”

Invited lectures (latest)

“‘It is time for the Lord to make’: Thoughts on translating the liturgy with an ‘I’ toward being made,” keynote talk at the International workshop “The Lived Byzantine Liturgy between Local Context and Standardized Tradition” at the University of Vienna, Austria (January 25, 2024). Here is the link to its recording.

“Referent Reading: Translating the Psalms with an ‘I’ toward Tradition,” 3rd International Symposium on Biblical Exegesis, Faculty of Letters, History and Theology, West University of Timișoara, Romania (November 12, 2022, online)

“For a Hermeneutics of Death: Death and Exegesis in 2 Cor 3-6,” The Day of the Bible, The Romanian Academy—West University of Timișoara. Timișoara, Romania (November 13, 2019).

“In Defense of Inheritance: Thoughts on a New Orthodoxy, Non-traditional,” Symposium Polis & Paideia, West University of Timișoara. Timișoara, Romania (November 9, 2019).

“For a Hermeneutics of Death: An Essay on the Reading to which Tradition Writes,” Bridging Voices: Orthodoxy and Modernity, Fordham University-University of Exeter-University of Oxford. Oxford, England (August 17, 2019).

“The Voices of the ‘Triumphant Hymn’: The Orthodox Sanctus as a Christian Merkabah Text,” International Conference “Dumitru Stăniloae,” West University of Timișoara. Timișoara, Romania (October 1, 2018).

Conference papers and chairs (latest)

“All the Bodies of God: Divinity and Divinization in Early Judaism,” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, the group Mysticism, Esotericism, and Gnosticism in Antiquity. San Antonio, Texas (Nov 19, 2023).

“In the Words of Scripture: An Ascetical-Mystical Reading of Rom 2:8–9 and 2 Cor 4:8; 6:11–13,” Society of Biblical Literature International Meeting, Biblical Interpretation in Early Christianity section, Pontifical Biblical Institute. Rome, Italy (July 3, 2019).

Session chair, Society of Biblical Literature International Meeting, Hellenistic Judaism section, Pontifical Biblical Institute. Rome, Italy (July 2, 2019).

“Hebrews 9 and the Temple-Sinai Tradition: A Reinterpretation of “Covenant,” Society of Biblical Literature International Meeting, Epistle to the Hebrews section, Pontifical Biblical Institute. Rome, Italy (July 2, 2019).

“Theophaneia: A Theological Vision,” International Orthodox Theological Association. Iași, Romania (January 10, 2019).

“Response to Benjamin Sommer, ‘The Bodies of God,’” Ryterband Symposium, United Theological Seminary, University of Dayton, Wright State University. Dayton, Ohio (November 8, 2018).

Service to the Church

Consultant for the Committee for Theological Education of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (September 2023 – present).

Representative of the Orthodox Church in America on the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland (July 2023 – present).

Priest-in-charge, St. George Orthodox Church, Pharr, Texas, Diocese of the South of the Orthodox Church in America (January 2023 – present).

Faculty and advisor, Diaconal and catechetical program, Orthodox Church in America, Diocese of the South (2021 – present).

Faculty and advisor, Diaconal and catechetical program, Orthodox Church in America, Bulgarian Diocese (2020 – present).

Member of the Spiritual Council, Orthodox Church in America, Bulgarian Diocese (2017 – present).

Service to the profession

Chair, Hellenistic Judaism section, Society of Biblical Literature International Meeting (2018 – 2020).

Chair, Early Jewish and Christian Mysticism section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting (2007 – 2010).

Member of steering committee, Hellenistic Judaism section, Society of Biblical Literature International Meeting (2018 – 2020).

Member of steering committee, Early Jewish and Christian Mysticism section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting (2007 – 2014).

Member of steering committee, Romanian Orthodoxy section, International Orthodox Theological Association (January 2017 – present).

Member of steering committee, Theophaneia section, International Orthodox Theological Association (January 2017 – 2018).

Member, New Testament Mysticism Project, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting (2007 – 2010).

Member of steering committee, Ryterband Symposium. Ryterband Symposium—dedicated to the study of Judaism—is a collaboration between Wright State University, United Theological Seminary, and University of Dayton. (2010 – 2019)

Founding member of the Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism seminar, Marquette University (2002 – present).

Church and public talks (latest)

“‘This holy altar, upon which rests our God’: Thoughts on the Presactified Liturgy,” and “‘I complete in me the things lacking in Christ’s shatteredness’ (Col 1:24), or on the cruciform nature of life,” Lenten talks at Holy Nativity Orthodox Church in Shreveport, Louisiana (April 5-6, 2024).

“Elder Aimilianos’ view of Scripture,” “Scripture and Liturgy,” “Scripture and spirituality,” three talks given for the Rocky Mountains Deanery Retreat at the Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado (May 15-17, 2023).

“The story of our death: The interpretation of Scripture on Holy Saturday.” three talks given for Lenten retreat at St. Michael Orthodox Church, Louisville, Kentucky (March 17-18, 2023).

“Liturgy and the Life in the Spirit,” four talks given to the Mississippi River Deanery Retreat—OCA, at the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Clinton, Mississippi (Nov 2-3, 2022), available here.

“Scriptural interpretation as the encounter of Christ,” three talks given at the annual Emmaus retreat, in Monrovia, Indiana (Oct 29, 2022). Audio recordings of the talks are available here.

1. “The Scripture is our life: the healing of our mindset;” 2. “The Scripture is our life: the healing of our pain;” 3. “The Scripture is our life: the healing of our thoughts,” talks at the 2022 meeting of Orthodox Women in the Healing Ministries, at Holy Dormition Monastery, Michigan (Sep 30-Oct 1, 2022). Talks will not be posted online.

“How do the Scriptures interpret themselves within me?,” talk at Restoration Park Church, Medway, Ohio (May 3, 2022). Talk is here: https://youtu.be/ez9sCqBPcD4.

“Scripture in our Lives” Lenten retreat at St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church, Palos Heights, Illinois (April 1-3, 2022).

“Discovering the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts,” “Discovering the Liturgy of St. Basil,” talks at St. Athanasius Orthodox Church, Nicholasville, Kentucky (March 11-12, 2022). Links here and here.

“Spiritual study according to Elder Aimilianos,” talk given at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, New York (Dec 1, 2021). Link here.

“Tradition and Scripture.” Series of talks given for the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Cincinnati, Ohio (Oct 21-32, 2021). Links to the individual talks are here, here, and here.

“Tradition and New Forms of Orthodoxy.” Bulgarian Diocese of the OCA. Cleveland, Ohio (Sep 26, 2021).

Invited Address, St. John’s Summer Camp, Mitchell, Indiana (July 14, 2021).

“Of what Tradition do we speak? A brief look at a new, evangelical Orthodoxy,” “Ethics or immorality? A false dilemma,” Diocese of the Midwest, Annual clergy conference, Orthodox Church in America (May 12, 2021) [online]

“An Orthodox Response to Tragedies and Acts of Evil,” Orthodox Christian Fellowship—University of Michigan Ann Arbor (September 22, 2020). [online]

“A new Orthodoxy in the making,” “Translation Matters: Insights from Translating the Liturgy,” St. Athanasius Orthodox Church, Lexington, Kentucky (December 14, 2019).

“The Incarnation and Human Brokenness,” Orthodox Christian Fellowship—University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky (December 13, 2019). Link here.

“Can we Orthodox speak of ‘Scripture and Tradition’?,” “In defense of freedom: thoughts on Orthodox evangelicalism,” “Notes on ancient Christian hermeneutics,” Carolinas Deanery, Clergy conference, Orthodox Church in America, Charlotte, North Carolina (September 7-8, 2019).

“Translation matters: Things that struck me in Translating the Ieratikon,” “The Father takes us into His house’: Insights into the Liturgy from Fr. Aimilianos of Simonopetra,” Diocese of the South Annual Conference, Orthodox Church in America, Jupiter, Florida (July 24-25, 2019).

Invited Address, St. John’s Summer Camp, Mitchell, Indiana (July 18, 2019).

“Seeking my Beloved: Dating, Discernment, and Finding ‘the One’,” Orthodox Christian Fellowship—Great Lakes, Annual Retreat, Camp Kern, Oregonia, Ohio (March 29, 2019).

“‘Who Do You Say that I Am?’ The Way Christ Sees Us,” Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Annual College Conference, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Antiochian Village, Pennsylvania (December 27, 2018).

“How does our Orthodox Tradition read the Scripture differently?,” Association of the Orthodox Churches of Edmonton, Annual Advent Talk, Edmonton, Canada (November 17, 2018).

“In defense of freedom: an ancient Stoic value central to Orthodox spirituality,” The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, Annual Gala, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Dayton, Ohio (November 12, 2017).

Interviews and public media appearances (latest)

Restoration Park Church, Medway, Ohio: “How do the Scriptures interpret themselves within me?” (May 3, 2022). Talk is here: https://youtu.be/ez9sCqBPcD4.

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary: “Spiritual study according to Elder Aimilianos,” talk (Dec 1, 2021). Talk is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8GYJPtaSD4.

Romanian Orthodox Youth Association: “What does God want from us? Intellect, feelings, and the heart in the time of Corona,” Facebook interview (April 5, 2020). Interview is here:  https://www.facebook.com/ROrthodoxYouth/videos/roya-live-ep-10-pr-silviu-bunta/667499837408801/

Romanian National TV Timisoara (TVR), channel 3: “Orthodoxy and political correctness” (November 12, 2019). The interview is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-o-bQVa42g  

Holistic Christian Life: “The significance of the Incarnation” (October 9, 2019). The interview is here: https://mybeautifuladvent.com/father-silviu-bunta/

Ancient Faith Radio: “Translation Matters: Things That Struck me in Translating the Ieratikon” (August 12, 2019);   “The Father Takes Us into His House: Insights into the Liturgy from Fr. Aimilianos of Simonopetra” (August 12, 2019);   “The Bible: An Orthodox Perspective” (October 13, 2015);   “Tending on God: A spiritual perspective on healing” (October 5, 2015);   “Toward a spirituality of care” (October 5, 2015);   “Understanding and Encountering the Holy in Ancient Israel” (August 12, 2013). The podcasts are on the website of the Ancient Faith Radio: https://www.ancientfaith.com .

The Mysterion Theology podcast: “What is Lent?” (Jan 20, 2020). Interview is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q9xc-w4Q-0 .   

“What do we Do? Mass Shootings and spiritual sickness” (August 5, 2019). Interview is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyHPlRT6xr0&t=10s.   

“Vampires and Crosses: A Holy Week Special,” (April 15, 2019). Interview is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A54IFiDnh6g&t=9s. 

International Orthodox Theological Association podcast: “ Theophaneia: A Theological Vision” (February 2, 2019). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf5UVFXzTuU

The Deep Voice Show: “How Does Our Orthodox Tradition Read The Scriptures Differently?” (November 23, 2018). In four parts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndqrfT6i4LA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gRf1wIhZjg, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co0Ljr4w5e8&list=RDLV8gRf1wIhZjg&index=7, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMuBi1QR3K8&list=RDLV8gRf1wIhZjg&index=2.

Restoration Park Church: “Religiously Divided. Interview on religious diversity” (July 2, 2018). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7g70lCdeaY.