On Monday, 21 September 2026, Associate Professor Philip Kariatlis, Sub-Dean of St Andrew’s, was invited to deliver a guest lecture as part of a unit in Anthropology offered at St Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College. Entitled “The Mystery of the Holy Trinity: A Paradigm for Genuine Human Flourishing? Personhood and Community vs Individualism,” the lecture explored how the Christian understanding of the Triune God can illuminate what it means to be truly human.

Drawing particularly upon the Cappadocian Fathers, Assoc. Prof. Kariatlis highlighted the fundamentally relational character of human personhood. Rather than understanding the human being primarily as an isolated and autonomous individual, the lecture emphasised that authentic personhood is realised through communion, loving self-giving and openness to God and others. The lecture concluded by reflecting on the practical significance of Trinitarian theology for Christian living, especially its vision of unity in diversity, relationality and communion as essential dimensions of genuine human flourishing.