NEWS
[19/02/2012] Very Rev. Archimandrite Sophronios Konidaris will initiate a series of talks at the fellowship of his parish, The Resurrection of Christ Greek Orthodox Church, Kogarah. The series, which will include presentations from some of the college faculty, is entitled Back to Basics. Fr Sophronios' presentation is called "The Journey from Birth to Baptism". Details can be found here.
[13/02/2012] Dr Philip Kariatlis is delivering a series of ongoing podcasts for Ancient Faith Radio entitled Theology: The Deeper Breath of the Entire Body of the Church.
[01/02/2012] The Daily Scripture Reading Guide for 2012 is now available as a free PDF download. Please note that this lectionary is intended as a general guide for personal use for those who wish to follow the pattern of daily readings prescribed by the Orthodox Church through the year. It is not intended for liturgical use except for Sundays as well as major feast days of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the Mother of God. Orthodox Church calendars are readily available online. You may also consult your parish priest for the readings used in your parish or contact the Theological College. Each year a limited print run is produced by the Theological College and distributed to parishes across Australia. Information is taken from the Kanonion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the lectionary found on pages 1767-1774 in The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008).
[11/12/2011] Deacon Leonidas Ioannou (BTH '11) was ordained to the priesthood by His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis at the Greek Orthodox Church of Our Lord's Presentation, Coburg (VIC) where he also serves.
22/11/2011] The College's new website was launched today after several weeks of preparatory work. It contains information about the College's activities and offerings and it is hoped that the site will prove useful for prospective students and visitors. Acknowledgement and deep appreciation are owed to those volunteers who assisted the College with previous versions of the website during the past ten years: Paul Karantonis, Michael Ibrahim and Vasily Makeev.
[13/11/2011] Deacon John Athanasiou (MA '08) was ordained to the priesthood by His Grace Bishop Nikandros of Dorylaion at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Nektarios, Dianella (WA). Deacon Nectarios Joannou (current BTh student) was ordained to the priesthood by His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Apollonias at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangel Michael, Crows Nest (NSW).
[09/10/2011] Deacon Peter Mavrommatis (BTh '98) was ordained to the priesthood by His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Stylianos, Gymea (NSW).
[20/09/2011] The latest publication from St Andrew's Orthodox Press is titled St Basil the Great: Address to Youth and is now available for order. Please follow the link to the Press' website for more details.
[19/09/2011] Father Eusebios (BTh ’07) was enthroned by His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos as the new Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Pantanassa, Mangrove Mountain (NSW), during Vespers on 17 September. Also present were His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Reverend Clergy, and many attendees from numerous parishes around Sydney and interstate. Prior to this, Father Eusebios had been conferred the title of 'Archimandrite' by Bishop Iakovos during Great Vespers for the Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Holy Cross on 14 September.
[31/08/2011] The Opening Night of this year's Patristic Symposium, dedicated to St Gregory of Nyssa, was enjoyed by more than eighty attendees from theological colleges, universities, parishes, and the general public. The Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, opened the proceedings with prayer and his welcoming address which introduced the figure of St Gregory. This was followed by the first of the Symposium's two keynote presentations, that by Dr Anna Silvas (UNE, Armidale NSW). The evening's proceedings concluded with the book launch of Church as Communion: The Gift and Goal of Koinonia, written by Dr Philip Kariatlis, Lecturer in Systematic Theology. The book - originally a doctoral dissertation and now published by ATF Press and St Andrew's Orthodox Press - was warmly commended by Assoc. Prof. Rev. Gerard Kelly, Principal of the Catholic Institute of Sydney, who had served as the doctoral supervisor of this work.
[07/08/2011] Deacon George Liangas (part time postgraduate student) was ordained to the priesthood by His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Apollonias at the Greek Orthodox Church of All Saints, Belmore (NSW).
[04/07/2011] The Committee on the Translation of Liturgical Texts (CTLT) of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia recently published its latest work through St Andrew's Orthodox Press, a bilingual edition of the Orthodox Funeral Service.
[27/06/2011] Peter Mavrommatis (BTh '98) was ordained to the diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos on 26 June at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Spyridon, Kingsford (NSW).
[28/05/2011] John Athanasiou (MA '08) was ordained to the diaconate by His Grace Bishop Nikandros of Dorylaion at the Greek Orthodox Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, Northbridge (WA).
[24/05/2011] The Thanksgiving Service for College graduates was celebrated on 23 May. The evening's proceedings began with a Doxological Service chanted by students, past and present. His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, as Dean, conferred the graduates with the College's Ecclesiastical Degree and read a benediction over them. In his address to the congregation of faculty, distinguished guests and members of the general public, His Eminence emphasised the responsibility that comes with the task of theological education, stating “our graduates are called to work and follow in the footsteps of the Apostles.” His Eminence acknowledged the ongoing efforts of staff and colleagues in accomplishing the difficult task of providing theological education, citing especially the long-standing collaboration and affiliation with the Sydney College of Divinity. The Dean concluded by wishing that the graduates show themselves worthy of the trust of the Church and society as a whole.
Honouring this important occasion with their presence were His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Apollonias, Sub-Dean; His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis; Prof. Diane Speed, Dean of the Sydney College of Divinity (SCD); Reverend Associate Professor Gerard Kelly, Principal of the Catholic Institute of Sydney; Lieutenant-Colonel John Hodge, Principal of the Salvation Army Booth College; Rev. Dennis Nutt and other Colleagues from within the Sydney College of Divinity and its Member Institutions; Professor Raymond Nobbs, Former Dean of the SCD, and Professor Alanna Nobbs, Head of the Ancient History Department at Macquarie University; Dr Vivienne Keely, Roman Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, and Former Director of Research of the Sydney College of Divinity; Reverend Clergy and Archdiocesan Council Members. There were also College alumni and representatives from the various committees of the College and the Archdiocese.
Both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees were bestowed as noted below:
Bachelor of Theology with Honours (four year program of study): Mario Baghos (NSW) and Vasilios Gioutlou (VIC). Bachelor of Theology with Graduate Diploma of Arts (four year program of study): Daniel Bellis (VIC), Emilios Kaos (VIC) and Dimitrios Siriotis (NSW). Bachelor of Theology: Deacon Leonidas Ioannou (VIC) and Vasily Makeev (NSW). Master of Arts: Socrates Dokos (NSW), John Nikolas (NSW) and Presbytera Helen Vesic (NSW). Graduate Diploma of Arts: Rev. Fr Antonio Cagnoni (VIC) and Michael Ibrahim (NSW). Graduate Certificate in Arts: Michael Coursaris (NSW) and Alexandra Magnisallis (NSW) in absentia.
The latest group of graduates brought to 110 the total number of graduates – receiving 134 Sydney College of Divinity degrees and awards at various levels, but primarily the Bachelor of Theology – since St Andrew's opened in 1986.
Most of the aforementioned graduates were also present at the Sydney College of Divinity Graduation Ceremony on 21 May along with more than 100 graduates and 500 attendees from other member colleges of the SCD. Here they were presented their respective degrees in the Great Hall of Sydney University by the President of the SCD Council, Mr Peter King. A distinct honour for St Andrew’s Theological College in particular was the fact that the Occasional Address was delivered by one of its graduates of the recent past, Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, who reflected upon the reading from St Paul’s Letter to Timothy and the theme of Christian service.
[18/04/2011] The College hosted its first series of residential schools for undergraduate and postgraduate distance education students between 11 & 14 April. Students from Sydney and Melbourne were welcomed by the Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, during the first morning's program. Throughout their stay they participated in communal worship, communal eating, library sessions, lectures, peer interaction and discussion sessions as an important complement to their weekly online learning experience during the semester. The residential schools were part of the units Introduction to Orthodox Theology, delivered by Dr Philip Kariatlis, and Introduction to the New Testament, delivered by Dr Margaret Beirne.
[16/03/2011] The College was blessed to welcome His Grace Bishop Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Church along with the distinguished professor of the Theological Faculty of the University of Belgrade, His Grace Bishop Maxim (Vasiljevic) of Western America. The two were warmly greeted by the College Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, and introduced to staff and students, and afforded a tour of the premises.
[27/02/2011] Leonidas Ioannou (BTh '11) was ordained to the diaconate by His Grace Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis at the Greek Orthodox Church of Our Lord's Presentation, Coburg (VIC), where he serves. He also works as a trained iconographer.
[20/02/2011] Bishop-elect Iakovos of Miletoupolis was ordained to the episcopate by His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia and Their Graces Bishops Ezekiel of Dervis, Seraphim of Apollonias and Nikandros of Dorylaion. Concelebrating in the Cathedral of the Annunciation, Redfern (NSW), were Athonite Hieromonk Damaskinos and several Clergy from around Australia. Archimandrite Iakovos Tsigounis (BTh ’96) had been unanimously elected Bishop of Miletoupolis by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 11 January.
[19/02/2011] The College’s silver jubilee occasioned much joy and thanksgiving as it brought together many from around Australia for three special events, each of which in its own way bore testimony to the significance of St Andrew’s for the Church here in Australia.
The first of these events on 18 February, was the reunion of graduates with former classmates and lecturers coupled with the doxology for the official opening of the academic year at the College, a doxology which has taken place each year since 1986 and which has been vital to the College’s journey. As a centre of theological learning and student formation for a quarter of a century, the College’s progress from year to year has not only been built upon the tireless efforts of the lecturers and staff and the dedication of students to study ‘sacred letters’ and to open themselves to the Lord and His calling in whatever manner that may manifest itself. It has also been built upon the prayer and worship offered up to the Lord by so many who found themselves in the small College Chapel of St John the Evangelist and Theologian and throughout each parish and monastery of our Church across Australia, and in particular during each episcopal divine liturgy where our Lord God is asked by the presiding hierarch to remember “those who teach and those who are taught within our Theological College; along with those who support and show benefaction towards it”.
On this day, the small Chapel of no more than fifty square metres, canvassed with iconography and resonating with familiar chant, embraced within its sandstone walls five hierarchs, an abbot of a monastery, and numerous staff, students and graduates, both clergy and lay. The Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, warmly welcomed all those present including Their Graces Bishops Ezekiel of Dervis, Seraphim of Apollonias (College Sub-Dean), Nikandros of Dorylaion, along with Bishop-elect Iakovos of Miletoupolis who began his student years at the College with the same doxology back in February 1992. He further welcomed the newly appointed Abbot of the Holy Monastery of ‘Panagia Pantanassa’ in Mangrove Mountain, Father Eusebios, another of the College’s graduates born and raised in Melbourne, and acknowledged the tireless contribution to the Church of the retired abbot, Father Stephanos, His Eminence’s first Vicar-General upon his arrival in Australia in the mid-1970s.
Moved by the reunion gathering of so many graduates with their families and friends, His Eminence thanked our Lord for the many blessings he has bestowed upon the Church here in Australia and upon the College, the mere existence and continuing operation of which is a tangible miracle of God in a country such as Australia which too often seems to underestimate the need for the promotion and support of theological education in contrast to Europe and North America.
Not least, His Eminence wholeheartedly welcomed the two first-year seminarian students: Stefan Mastilovic (New Zealand – Serbian Orthodox Church, with referral from His Grace Bishop Irinej) and George Vrionis (Melbourne). He presented both with a critical edition of the Greek New Testament, the traditional gift bestowed upon each new seminarian.
The luncheon which followed the doxology was hosted and served by the volunteers of the NSW Ladies Auxiliary, all of whom rejoiced at re-kindling past acquaintances, and who were warmly thanked by His Eminence.
The evening’s Anniversary Dinner, hosted by St Andrew’s Brotherhood, was the second special event. It attracted around 520 people from parishes, schools, and organisations within NSW as well as guests from interstate to the scenic Nick’s Bar & Grill Restaurant along King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour. Official guests included the Hon. John Hatzistergos, NSW Attorney General, who conveyed the greetings of the Premier; Mr Peter King, President of the Sydney College of Divinity which accredits and cooperates with St Andrew’s for the purposes of tertiary theological education; Profs Diane Speed and Raymond Nobbs, current and former Deans of the Sydney College of Divinity respectively; and the Rev. Associate Prof. Gerard Kelly, Principal of the Catholic Institute and long-time friend and supporter of the College. Dr Theo Penklis, President of the Brotherhood, and Mrs Marianne Penklis were warmly thanked for assisting His Grace Bishop Seraphim with the tremendous organisation of the event.
Bishop-elect Iakovos captured the theme of the evening, the truth that life within the Church is an expression of life within a family where all members are related to one another personally; and on a larger Church level, where all parishes, schools, organisations, and the Theological College, are all intimately related to one another and vital to one another. Though a gifted preacher, he preferred only a few words of thanks to all, especially to His Eminence, but most importantly to God, and expressed his feeling of awe before his forthcoming consecration and publicly asked forgiveness from all present. His Eminence followed with words of thanks of his own, remembering in particular the many non-Orthodox Christians who supported the founding of the College and contributed to its progress over the years. He further added that as an institution established primarily for the preparation of clergy, it was a sign of the College’s maturity that one of its own was soon to be consecrated a bishop, a landmark for the local Church.
During the evening special acknowledgements were made of Sir Arthur George, major benefactor of the College with his late wife Lady Renee George; the late Chrissie Paspalis, major benefactor of the College, represented that evening by her children Peter and Helene Coombes; as well as Dr John Lee, Dr Guy Freeland, and Dr James Athanasou, long-serving members of the College Faculty.
The function brought to a close a wonderful day of thanksgiving and celebration which would lead to the third special event two days later, namely the consecration of His Grace Bishop-elect Iakovos of Miletoupolis, the first College graduate and Australian-born to be elevated to the rank of the episcopate by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
May the years of the Theological College be many and blessed as those who labour therein strive to serve the Church and to meet its pastoral needs, with the prayers and support of all the faithful.
[19/02/2011] Manuel Aroney, retired professor of chemistry at the University of Sydney, and long-time member of the College's admissions committee, passed away in the early hours of 15 February, aged 78. His Grace Bishop Seraphim celebrated his funeral today at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Spyridon, Kingsford, conveying also the condolences of His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos. May his memory be eternal.
[01/02/2011] Archimandrite Evmenios Vasilopoulos (BTh ’07, MA ’08) was given the blessing to hear confessions by His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos during Great Vespers for the Feast of Our Lord’s Presentation at the celebrating parish in Coburg (VIC).
[18/01/2011] Menelaos Hatzoglou (part time undergraduate student) was ordained to the diaconate by His Grace Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis, at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Athanasios, Springvale (VIC), where he also serves.