About Us

During the first Congress held under Archbishop Stylianos, the delegates adopted his urgent proposal for the establishment of a Theological College. At the same time, Sir Arthur George, Legal Adviser of the Archdiocesan Council, pledged a financial contribution to support the project.

Archbishop Stylianos appointed an Interim Committee to consider ways of facilitating the operation of the Theological College and to prepare a suggested curriculum of studies. The committee consisted of the Very Rev. Fr Miltiades Chryssavgis (Vicar General), Rev. Dr John Chryssavgis (Secretary), Mr Michael Diamond, Assoc. Prof. Emmanuel Aroney, and Dr Harry Simmons. After a comparative study and research, the committee presented its report, which was subsequently approved by the Archbishop.

At this meeting, three committees were formally established to guide the project. A Building Committee was formed with Sir Arthur George, Mr Niketas Katris, and Mr Peter Confos. An Administrative Council was appointed, consisting of Archbishop Stylianos, Sir Arthur George, Mr Michael Barbouttis, Mr Michael Diamond, and Mr George Pappas. Finally, an Academic Committee was created, comprising Archbishop Stylianos, the Very Rev. Miltiades Chryssavgis, Rev. Dr John Chryssavgis, Prof. Alexander Cambitoglou, Assoc. Prof. Emmanuel Aroney, and Dr Harry Simmons.

The establishment of the College became essential to the mission of the Orthodox Church in Australia. There was a clear need for a theological school primarily dedicated to Orthodox theological study, working in cooperation with other theological colleges.

Heads of theological colleges from other Christian traditions looked forward to the contribution of St Andrew’s. They anticipated access to the great scriptural commentaries, the writings of the Greek Fathers, as well as the richness of Orthodox liturgy, iconography, and spirituality. It was hoped that the College would serve as a centre for theological reflection and ecumenical dialogue, offering the Orthodox perspective to the wider academic and ecclesial world.

The College was officially opened on this date in Sydney. Metropolitan Maximos of Stavroupolis, Dean of the Patriarchal Theological School of Halki, attended as a special guest and conveyed a congratulatory message from Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios I. The Premier of New South Wales, Hon. Neville Wran, was also present at the ceremony. From its very beginning, St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College enabled the Church to meet its pastoral needs within the Australian context, while at the same time preserving a balanced expression of Orthodox tradition and life.