Michael Motia

Michael Motia is a Lecturer in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. His research and teaching focus on Late Antiquity, Christian Mysticism, Religion and Politics, Gender and Sexuality, and Religion and Film. He holds a PhD from Harvard University and an MDiv from Harvard Divinity School, with a BA from UC Santa Barbara.

Research Interests: Motia explores intersections of language, aesthetics, and theology in Late Antiquity. His work examines how early Christians theorized imitation, desire, and chromatic symbolism (e.g., God in the color blue) to articulate mysticism and ethical relationships. Current projects include analyzing scenes of instruction in Gregory of Nyssa’s writings and the role of ekphrasis and ekstasis in Christian growth.

Recent Articles: His publications span Gregory of Nyssa’s theology, the polychromatic aesthetics of mysticism, and imitation of Paul through ekstasis, ekphrasis, and epektasis. Trends include syncretism between classical philosophy and Christian thought, with subfields like doctrinal controversies, virtue ethics, and textual mapping.

Courses Taught: Motia instructs courses such as Symbol, Myth, Ritual, Religion and Film, Christian Origins, and Mysticism, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to Religious Studies and Classics.