• The Oriental Christianity Research Laboratory (OCREL) of the Department of Theology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens serves the teaching and research needs of the Department in the field of Church History, life, and culture of the Ancient Eastern Churches.

The purpose of the laboratory is to study the history and life of the communities of the Oriental Orthodox Churches (Coptic, Ethiopic, Syrian, Armenian, which gradually separated from the Orthodox Church after 451) in their historical cradles (Asia, Africa) and in the diaspora, with an emphasis on their historical and modern interaction with Orthodox Christianity, the Greco-Roman culture, and the broader religious movements of the Eastern Mediterranean during and after Late Antiquity.

Within the framework of this general purpose, the following are included:

• The study and teaching of the languages of the Oriental Christians (Coptic, Syriac, Arabic, etc).
• The study of the historical presence of Oriental Christians in Greece (cataloging and studying manuscripts, relics, etc.).
• At the same time, the study focuses on the contemporary presence of Oriental Christians in Greece by organizing contacts, events, and other forms of communication with the relevant communities in modern Greece.
• The study of the influence of Greek culture on the cradle countries of the Oriental Orthodox Churches (e.g., Syria, Egypt) in areas such as theology, ecclesiastical literature, law, and art. Particular emphasis will be placed on the comparative study of Christian worship across manuscripts and monuments in various traditions.
• The study of church relations among Christians of various confessions and communities in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the role of the Greek/Byzantine presence in shaping the broader religious landscape (e.g., dualistic religious movements in Persia, Christian heresies, Gnosticism, Judaism, and the emergence of Islam). This study also extends to inter-Christian relations to the present day (inter-Christian Dialogues and the Ecumenical Movement).
• The research on the modern religious history of Oriental Orthodox Churches, in relation to political and social developments within their own countries and in the rest of the world, with the aim to contribute to an understanding of contemporary political reality.
• Organize and facilitate academic exchanges with seminarians, theology students, and others interested in the fields of university and research to foster meaningful communication and mutual understanding.
• The Laboratory can take the initiative to assist communities, rescue historical relics, and support the academic and ecclesiastical structures of Oriental Christians facing religious and political persecution in their historical homelands.