St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College Sydney, Australia

Recent News

[30 July 2008] Mr Philip Kariatlis (lecturer in Systematic Theology and Academic Secretary of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College) and Mr Anastasios Kalogerakis (College Registrar) undertook an outreach program to Perth during 26-29 July, the first of several such efforts across Australia. The purpose of this visit was essentially to meet with people from some of the various Greek Orthodox churches in Perth, and to promote the work of the Theological College and its enduring importance within the life of our Church.

On the Sunday morning of the Feast of St Panteleimon, Mr Kariatlis and Mr Kalogerakis each chanted and delivered bilingual sermons at two different locations: the Church of St Nectarios, Dianella, and the Church of the Annunciation of our Lady, West Perth, respectively.

On the evening of the same day, Mr Kariatlis presented a public lecture at the church hall of Sts Constantine and Helen in Northbridge entitled ‘The Church: God’s Miraculous Presence Here on Earth’. The lecture was delivered in English to an appreciative audience of forty people who were also given the opportunity to ask questions.

On Monday morning Mr Kariatlis and Mr Kalogerakis visited St Andrew’s Grammar in Dianella where they were warmly welcomed by the Assistant Principal Mr Rowan Evans and the Bursar Mr Jim Tsokos. Mr Kalogerakis addressed the Year 11 & 12 Orthodox Religious Education class and introduced the students to various online resources for Orthodox Christians of all age groups. At the conclusion of the lesson, the Yr 11 students were presented with a copy of the Book of Prayers: A Selection for Orthodox Christians, published by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, as a parting gift. The Yr 12 students received a copy of The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, together with the Book of Prayers.

On the evening of the same day, Mr Kalogerakis conducted an information session at the church hall of Sts Constantine and Helen specifically relating to theological studies at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College. A promotional DVD describing the history and work of the College was presented.

[3 June 2008] On Monday 2 June, St Andrew’s reinstated its traditional thanksgiving service for graduates after four years of technical restructuring to its programs of study. Eight graduates received their ecclesiastical awards from the hand of the College Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, who also presided at the special Doxology Service for the event. Another two graduates received their awards in absentia, being overseas and interstate respectively. The recipients were as follows:

Bachelor of Theology along with a Master of Arts (four year program of study)
Rev. Evmenios Vasilopoulos; Rev. Athanasios Giatsios; Andrew Boucas (in absentia); Demos Nicolaou; Dimitri Papaikonomou; Anthony Picardi.

Bachelor of Theology
Priest-Monk Eusebios of the Holy Monastery 'Panagia Pantanassa'.

Master of Arts (specialising in Theological Studies)
John Athanasiou (in absentia); Andrew Kapos; Peter Kariatlis.

In his address to the congregation in the Cathedral, His Eminence underlined the ongoing role of the College which, by its very existence, provides a witness to Orthodox scholarship and ethos amidst what he described as “an unhappy world”. There were, he added, too many people to thank for enabling the College to reap a new harvest of graduates each year, far from their families’ country of origin.

“Orthodoxy is not a denomination next to many others. It is the Church which continues the common heritage of the first Christian millennium and, precisely for this reason, its responsibility is greater”, the Archbishop concluded.

All graduates stood on the solea of the Cathedral while the College Dean read over them a Prayer of Dedication. This moving and deeply theological prayer is indicative of the fact that the College does not see itself purely as an academic institution, but also as an organic part of the Church from which its students are, in the sense of the Gospels, “sent out”.

Following this, and while still in the Cathedral, His Eminence decorated with the Gold Cross of St Andrew two remarkable members of the Academic Faculty who have served the College selflessly since its inception in 1986 – Dr Guy Freeland and Dr John Lee. This is the highest award of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, bestowed on the basis of outstanding service to the Church and community. Understandably, therefore, both recipients were visibly moved as they each received the Cross. Having offered their knowledge and dedication over the past two decades with unfeigned modesty, neither had ever expected such a distinction. Furthermore, as Orthodox Christians of non-Greek background, their recognition on behalf of the Church had an added significance.

Both recipients had the opportunity to address the gathering in the Main Hall while refreshments were being served. Apart from other staff members including His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Apollonias, also in cheerful attendance were Mr Michael Diamond and Mr Kon Kontis, Co-Vice Chairmen of the Archdiocesan Council, Dr Diane Speed, Interim Dean of the Sydney College of Divinity, Major Dr Terry Grey, Deputy Principal of the Salvation Army’s Booth College, Dr Margaret Beirne of the Sydney College of Divinity Council, Mr David and Mrs Chris Cheetham of the SCD Office, Rev. Dennis Nutt of the Catholic Institute of Sydney, and Dr Vivienne Keely of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Parramatta.

[28 April 2008] St Andrew's took part in the twenty-fourth award conferring ceremony of the Sydney College of Divinity in the Great Hall, University of Sydney, on Saturday 26 April. A huge attendance of over six hundred people gathered within the Great Hall to celebrate the academic achievement of one hundred and fifty graduates from across the eleven member institutions of the Sydney College of Divinity.

The Occasional Address was delivered by Prof. Ron McCallum AO, Professor of Industrial Law at Sydney University. In a memorable way he spoke passionately about his two heroes: the man born blind from the Gospel of John (chp.9), and Nicholas Saunderson (1682-1739), English scientist and Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University – both blind from or soon after birth, like Prof. McCallum himself. The first hero, “unnamed but not unknown” was a reminder to all that we are on this earth to be a manifestation of God’s work, irrespective of our health and physical condition. The second was an inspiration to all that a person can overcome physical disability and pursue high and “useful” aspirations.

St Andrew's was represented in the official academic procession by Dr Guy Freeland, Lecturer in Hermeneutics and Liturgical Studies; and Mr Tasos Kalogerakis, Registrar. Also in attendance were Mr Dimitri Kepreotes, College Lecturer and Director of St Andrew’s Orthodox Press, as well as family members of the graduates.

The following students from St Andrew’s were conferred with degrees by the Acting President of the Sydney College of Divinity, Assoc. Prof. Rev. Gerard Kelly:

Master of Arts (with Honours)
Anthony Papantoniou (NSW)

Master of Arts
Rev. Evmenios Vasilopoulos (Assistant Parish Priest at the Greek Orthodox Church of our Lord’s Transfiguration, Thomastown VIC – in absentia); John Athanasiou (WA); Andrew Kapos (NSW - in absentia); Demos Nicolaou (VIC – in absentia); Dimitri Papaikonomou (NSW – in absentia); and Anthony Picardi (NSW)

Bachelor of Theology
John Kirkis (NSW – in absentia)

Diploma of Theology
Peter Anastasiadis (NSW)

Since 1990, eighty-seven students of St Andrew's have graduated with awards (primarily the Bachelor of Theology) from the Sydney College of Divinity. To date, thirty-three serve as priests or deacons within the Orthodox Church and several are employed within positions of education, administration, chaplaincy and welfare.

[14 April 2008] The Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, presented a two-part public theology lecture entitled “Creation and Revelation” in Sydney (23 & 30 March 2008, Church of St Nicholas, Marrickville) and in Melbourne (12 April 2008, Church of St Basil, Brunswick, and 13 April 2008, Church of St Eustathios, South Melbourne).

[1 April 2008] The Book Launch of the ‘The Infallibility of the Church in Orthodox Theology’ written by His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos took place in the Main Hall of St Andrew’s Theological College.

A joint publication of St Andrew’s Orthodox Press and ATF Press, and translated from the original Greek by College Lecturer and Academic Secretary Mr Philip Kariatlis, the book was warmly received by a large number of people during the launch.

Among the dignitaries were, apart from the author himself, Bishop Seraphim of Apollonias, Bishop Irinej, Head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand, accompanied by clergy and lay people of the Serbian Church, the Hon. John Hatzistergos, Attorney General of NSW and Minister for Justice, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney Mr Vasilios Tolios, the Executive Officer of ATF Press Mr Hilary Regan, the Very Reverend Stephanos Pantanassiotis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Pantanassa, the heads of Orthodox Day Schools in Sydney Mrs E. Stefanou and Mr A. Tsoutsa, Professors Ray and Alanna Nobbs, the interim Dean and CEO of the Sydney College of Divinity Dr Diane Speed, Professors Steven Krilis and Emmanuel Aroney, Reverend James Murray, who was for decades the Religious Affairs writer for THE AUSTRALIAN newspaper, clergy of Sydney, the staff and students of St Andrew’s Theological College.

In his role as MC for the evening, the Publishing Director of St Andrew’s Orthodox Press Mr Dimitri Kepreotes spoke appreciatively about the collaboration with ATF Press, before introducing Mr Regan to the gathering. Having come especially from Adelaide, Mr Regan referred to the already strong bonds between his organisation and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, of which St Andrew’s Orthodox Press is a part, and congratulated Mr Kariatlis on his translation work for this latest publication.

Mr Kariatlis then addressed the audience extensively about the significance of the book’s theology for contemporary Church life. He gave the background to the work as well: it was written some forty years ago as the doctoral thesis submitted to the University of Athens when the author was only about 30 years of age, after completing postgraduate studies in Systematic Theology and Philosophy of Religion in Bonn, Germany. The doctoral thesis was unanimously accepted by the Theological Faculty of the University of Athens “on account of its erudite spiritual proficiency and originality.” Mr Kariatlis added: “The fact that this doctoral thesis is published in English for the first time gives everybody the opportunity to appreciate more fully the contribution of our Archbishop to ecclesiology. Even though there were many theologians who influenced ecclesiology during the 20th century, the scholarship of His Eminence remains distinctive in the history of ecclesiology… This is an exceptional book… It is a voice which must be heard.”

His Eminence was invited to make some closing remarks, during which he thanked all who were present, while also recalling the memory of his late spiritual father and Dean of the Theological School of Halki, Metropolitan Iakovos of Ikonium.

The book is available through the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Bookcentre by contacting (02) 9698 5066 or bookcentre@greekorthodox.org.au. Bulk order, student, and senior citizen discounts are available.