Dean's Welcome

“Come O faithful, let us labour with zeal for Christ our God”

I take this opportunity to welcome all those who may be exploring possibilities for studying at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College.

Studying at the College will pave the way for many opportunities: whether you are considering ordination to the priesthood or various types of lay diakonia, within the Church, for the building up of Christ’s body, you are most warmly invited to “come and see.” 

St Andrew’s was founded in 1986, and from its very inception has provided accredited tertiary level awards, through the Sydney College of Divinity, in order to equip graduates with the necessary learning and formation for the uplifting and life-giving work of witnessing Christ in a rapidly changing and complex world. Most importantly, our Theological College has always been committed to undertaking this “labour in teaching and preaching” (1Tim 5:7) ‘in dialogue’ with the wider Australian Christian Churches, because the Orthodox Christian tradition belongs to all, and therefore constitutes a precious legacy for all of Christianity. Together, we have this common duty to communicate Christ’s saving message of hope, peace and reconciliation; indeed, doing so by being filled with the light of Christ and allowing this to shine out into the world from within.  

His All-Holiness, our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has always underlined the importance of dialogue; and indeed, not only with other Christian Churches but, more broadly, with the world at large. He has often said that “the future of humanity is closely related to a culture of solidarity.” Only in such a spirit of openness, will we be best resourced to provide more informed responses to issues that we all face in common, such as environmental degradation and bioethical questions, to name a few.

With these brief thoughts, I welcome you once again to our Theological College and look forward, together with our faculty and staff community, to meeting you in person.

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia