Public Lecture

On Sunday evening 6 November, St Andrew's hosted a guest lecture by Father Damaskinos (Olkinuoura) of Xenophontos Monastery, Mount Athos. Fr Damaskinos is an Athonite hieromonk and an international scholar who lectures at the University of Eastern Finland. The topic of Fr Damaskinos’ lecture was “The Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple.” Fr Damaskinos explored the rich theological content of the Feast, recalling the words of Metropolitan Kallistos Ware of blessed memory who called The Entrance, “the feast of Mary’s silence”. He also analysed the richness of typologies associated with the Feast of the Entrance and how the patristic tradition celebrated the mysticism of the Feast. The lecture by Fr Damaskinos was, in the words of Archbishop Makarios “a wonderful tour of the history, typology, hymnography and theology of the Feast.” Indeed, the thought-provoking lecture was followed by a lively ‘Q&A’ session with the audience. The College Dean His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia personally attended the event and opened it with prayer. Also in attendance were His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, and the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, the Very Revd Fr Christophoros Krikelis.