Open Day 2021

With the goal of promoting St Andrew’s to prospective students as well as informing the broader public abouts its latest initiatives, the College held its Open Day on 10 December at its premises in Redfern. His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, College Dean and Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, was represented by His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis who attended in person together with Their Graces Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis and Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia. The event was simultaneously live-streamed to different locations throughout Australia, where Their Graces Bishop Eplidios of Kyaneon (Perth), Bishop Silouan of Sinopie (Adelaide) and Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta (Northcote, Melbourne) had organised for groups of people to be gathered so that we could all participate—virtually and in the flesh—in this important event as one (His Grace Bishop Bartholomew also organised a group in Hobart).

Bishop Bartholomew began and closed the event with prayer, whereas Dn Dr Mario Baghos, Lecturer in Patristics and Church History at St Andrew’s (and Chief Publishing Officer of St Andrew’s Orthodox Press), MC’d the event that began with Bishop Bartholomew delivering the Dean’s Welcome on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios. In His speech, our Archbishop greeted participants with a theological exhortation that highlighted his delight in seeing:

“…so many young men and woman interested in the work of our Theological College; attracted to the prospect of enrolling and studying with us; aspiring and setting their heart on placing our Saviour, Jesus Christ, front and centre in their lives.”

His Eminence’s address then delineated the main ways in which the faculty of St Andrew’s has worked to enrich the College’s life, honing in especially on: the curriculum, especially the inclusion of Modern Greek taught by Dr Elizabeth Kefallinos but also including other new programs (Masters of Divinity and the Diploma of Christian Arts); the growth of student enrolment numbers; the building of connections between the College and other Orthodox tertiary institutions on an international level (St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and Holy Cross School of Theology, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, to name a few); and the capital works for new, up-to-date College premises and facilities in Lakemba.

After the Dean’s welcome, Associate Professor Philip Kariatlis, Sub-Dean and Professor of Theology and Ecclesiology, took us on a journey into the ‘The Transformative Power of Theology’ wherein he spoke about the exciting and spiritually rewarding motivations for choosing to study this sacred discipline, or series of disciplines that include Dogmatics, the Scriptures, the Fathers of the Church, Church History, Liturgics, Byzantine Chant and Practical or Pastoral Theology. In his address, our Sub-Dean noted the spiritually formative or excellent dimension to this study:

“…theology requires that we embark upon our own spiritual journey to stir up and rekindle our relationship with Christ our God. It is for this reason, that we say, ultimately theology is an encounter with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour."

After Prof. Kariatlis, edifying talk, Mr Anastasios Kalogerakis, Registrar and Lecturer in New Testament Greek, took us through the College’s Study Options and Course Information and introduced us to some of our faculty along the way who briefly spoke about their respective

teaching areas, including: His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope (Patristics), Very Revd Father Anastasios Bozikis (Church History), Mr Basilios Psilacos (Liturgics and Byzantine Chant), and Ms Sophia Theodoratos (Biblical Studies). After a brief video of some of our current students recounting their study experience (by our IT officer Dn Irenaeus Triantis), the evening concluded with a brief book launch for St Andrew’s Orthodox Press, where videos of the authors of the following recent titles were played: Dr Guy Freeland’s Further Windows to Orthodoxy; Dean Kalimniou’s Soumela and the Magic Kemenche (illustrated by Stephanos Eleftheriades), and Maria Passaris’ Our Panagia’s Yes. Dn Baghos also advertised the upcoming titles of the Press, including:Archbishop Makarios’ The Priestly Ethos, Dn Baghos’ Remnants of New Rome: Reflections on the Sacred Topography of Constantinople, Maria Passaris’ Our Brother, the Monk, and Assoc. Prof. Philip Kariatlis’ The Nicene Creed: Summary, Statement, and Standard of our Faith. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the organisation of and participated in this very meaningful event, and especially to His Eminence for his blessing and encouragement.