Fabian Völzing

Fabian Völzing is a Researcher at the Institute of Ancient History within the Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen. Since October 2024, he serves as scientific assistant (Wissenschaftliche Assistenz) at the Chair of Ancient History, temporarily representing the institute. His research focuses on procedural legitimacy in late antique church politics, particularly analyzing ecumenical councils like Ephesus (431 CE) through Niklas Luhmann's theoretical framework.

• PhD in Ancient History (defended 23.10.2025, magna cum laude) with dissertation on 'The Council of Ephesus, 431 CE: Conciliar Negotiation Processes in the Light of Fluid Structures'
• M.A. in Historical Sciences from Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (2015-2017)
• B.A. in History and Political Science from Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (2011-2015)

His work investigates the tension between formal canons and strategic flexibility in late antique ecclesiastical decision-making. He examines how church councils (including Serdika 342, Aquileia 381, Constantinople 381) functioned as political instruments while claiming theological authority. Current research includes patterns of legitimacy construction through procedural formalism versus situational adaptation in early Christian power dynamics.

Scientific contributions include presentations at international conferences such as the St. Andrews-Tübingen Graduate Conference (2022) and LMU Munich colloquium (2025). Awards include funding from the German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes) and DFG-Kollegforschungsgruppe fellowships. Active in teaching through tutoring roles at Tübingen and administrative coordination work for research groups.