A seminary is normally a secondary or post-secondary institution which teaches courses on Dogmatic Theology, Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, Prophets, Wisdom literature, Religious Doctrine, Church History, Ethics, Canon Law, Liturgical Theology, Pastoral Theology, Practical Theology, Iconology, Soteriology (the study of salvation), Petristics (the study of Early Christian writers), Religious Education, Homiletics, as well as various languages Greek, Hebrew, Russian, Church Slavonic, etc. Generally speaking, it is a place where one goes to prepare for the ministry of the Holy Priesthood.
The word itself derives from the Latin term seminarium, and translates as “seed-bed.” It was taken from a document from the Council of Trent which called for specific places of learning for those aspiring towards clerical orders. Prior to that, anyone who wished to serve God as a priest simply studied directly under bishops, monks, and other clergy who were renowned for their education and wisdom.
