St Andrew's Theological College, founded in Sydney in 1986, is the
only civilly accredited Orthodox tertiary institution of its kind in
the Southern Hemisphere.
During the Fourth Clergy-Laity Congress (1981), the
first during the term of Archbishop Stylianos, the delegates adopted,
among other resolutions, his urgent proposal for the establishment of
a Theological College as soon as possible. To this end, the Legal Adviser
of the Archdiocesan Council, Sir Arthur George, pledged a contribution
In May 1984, Archbishop Stylianos appointed an Interim
Committee (consisting of the Very Rev. Fr Miltiades Chryssavgis who
was Vicar General at that time, Rev. Dr John Chryssavgis as Secretary,
Mr Michael Diamond, Assoc. Prof. Emmanuel Aroney, and Dr Harry Simmons)
in order to consider and suggest ways of facilitating the operation
of the Theological College and to prepare a suggested curriculum of
studies. After a comparative study and research, the Interim Committee
presented its report, which was received and approved by the Archbishop.
Consequently, at the meeting of the Archdiocesan Property
Trust held in Sydney, 13th December 1984, three committees were appointed:
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a. A Building Committee, consisting of Sir Arthur George, Mr Niketas
Katris and Mr Peter Confos.
b. An Administrative Council, consisting of His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, Sir Arthur George, Mr Michael Barbouttis, Mr Michael Diamond, and Mr George Pappas.
c. An Academic Committee, consisting of His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, Very Rev. Miltiades Chryssavgis, Rev. Dr John Chryssavgis, Prof. Alexander Cambitoglou, Assoc. Prof. Emmanuel Aroney and Dr Harry Simmons.
As a result of these coordinated efforts, the College was finally opened on the 23rd February, 1986. The Dean of the Patriarchal Theological School of Halki, Metropolitan Maximos of Stavroupolis, was present, having been invited especially for the occasion. He brought with him a congratulatory message from Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios I. The Premier of New South Wales, Hon. Neville Wran, was also present.
The aims of the College were briefly yet succinctly outlined by the Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, during his address at the Official Opening:
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The establishment of the first Orthodox Theological
College in the Southern Hemisphere is not and could not be simply an
achievement of an ethnic group or of a denomination. Orthodoxy does
not represent a certain number of Christians, a mere part of historical
Christendom or an ideology dictated by geographical, racial or political
conditions.
Orthodoxy
is the faithful continuation of the undivided Christian Church of the
first millennium, as decisively expressed in the Ecumenical Councils.
Orthodoxy is a precious legacy for all of us. As such it belongs to
all Christians and, through them, to the whole of mankind. This is why
the importance of the College is expressed not so much through the term
"Theological" as through the qualification "Orthodox". The Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of Australia had many years ago felt that its faithful would
not be properly served and would not be creatively integrated in this
multicultural and polyethnic society unless a Theological College were
to be established. Yet the realisation of such a sacred ambition was
far beyond our actual resources.... Theology in Christianity cannot
be a subject of individual thought and activities. Theology is the deeper
breathing of the whole Church body as enlightened by the Holy Spirit
who is promised only in the plurality of Church communion, and not in
the isolation of the individual scholar. Our theology is accordingly
traditional, biblical, liturgical, and in one word, ecclesiastical,
otherwise it cannot be regarded as the fruit of the Holy Spirit ...
We hope to be enabled to serve in a creative way not only our Church
but also Australia and the universal society of peace, reconciliation,
justice and sanctification which is God's ultimate will for His entire
world (Voice of Orthodoxy, March 1986, pp. 22-23).
