Archbishop Makarios of Australia has set out an ambitious new chapter for St Andrew’s Theological College, including purpose-built facilities from 2027 and an expanded range of courses, at an Open Day in Melbourne.
The Open Day was held on Monday, 9 November, at the Parish of the Presentation of Our Lady in North Balwyn. It was organised by St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, which is based in Sydney, and drew a large audience.
Archbishop Makarios, who also serves as Dean of the College, delivered the keynote address, titled “The Joy of Learning: Exploring Faith, Wisdom and the Richness of Hellenism.”
He opened with the invitation “Come and see!” — the words, he noted, with which the Apostle Philip invited Nathanael to come to know Christ.
New facilities planned for 2027
From the beginning of his ministry in Australia, the Archbishop said, one of his deepest aims had been to give students a setting that meets the standards of twenty-first-century higher education.
The Holy Archdiocese of Australia has committed substantial resources to new, purpose-designed facilities for St Andrew’s Theological College, with infrastructure intended to support both academic excellence and spiritual formation.
“God willing, we will move into these new premises in 2027, ushering in a new and particularly significant chapter in the history of the College,” he said.
New programmes in philosophy, canon law and Greek
The Archbishop also described a widening of the College’s academic offering. New fields of study have been introduced alongside Theology, including Canon Law. A Postgraduate Programme in Greek Philosophy was launched this year, and a new Diploma in Greek Language is due to begin in 2027.
That diploma, he said, will also be available to interested students in Melbourne, with dedicated classes conducted in the city.
These steps, he explained, rest on a core conviction: that Orthodox theology, the pursuit of wisdom and the cultural heritage of Hellenism can contribute meaningfully to the spiritual cultivation and fulfilment of the human person.
He said he was particularly proud of the newly established postgraduate programme in Greek philosophy at the Sydney college, remarking that he has “always believed that the relationship between Theology and Philosophy can prove extraordinarily fruitful.” He went on to describe the long and fruitful encounter between ancient Greek philosophical thought and Christian teaching.
The accredited Diploma in Greek Language, due next year, was “yet another initiative that fills my heart with particular joy,” he said.
“As the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, we have a sacred responsibility to cultivate and pass on this precious legacy of Hellenism to future generations,” Archbishop Makarios stressed.
Theology as a path to knowing God
Turning to the deeper purpose of theological education, the Archbishop said its ultimate aim “is not simply to acquire knowledge about God, but to come to know God Himself personally.”
He brought theology, philosophy and the Greek language together in the College’s broader educational vision, which he said seeks “to form not merely graduates who have acquired knowledge and academic qualifications, but individuals with cultivated minds, open hearts and lives that have been transformed.”
He thanked the College’s academic and administrative staff for their dedication and service, and encouraged anyone present who was interested in studying at St Andrew’s Theological College to take the first step towards enrolment.
Staff, students and guests in Melbourne
The Deputy Dean of the College, Associate Professor Philip Kariatlis, also addressed the Open Day, speaking on “The Transformative Power of Theology.”
Several students gave short presentations, sharing their own experience of studying at the College. The College Secretary, Deacon Panayiotis Konstantis, briefed those attending on its academic programmes.
The event was honoured by the presence of Bishop Evmenios of Chora, as well as the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Marios Kalogiannis and Antonios Tsourdalakis.
Source: Orthodox Times – https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-of-australia-unveils-new-horizons-for-st-andrews-greek-orthodox-theological-college/