This year’s Open Day, organised by St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College in Sydney, on Thursday afternoon, the 17th of December, received an overwhelming response.
Dozens of people had the opportunity to learn about the activities and curricula of the Theological College as well as to understand the importance of theology and religious studies and their impact on our daily lives. They attended the event in the school’s ceremonial hall, whereas over a hundred people attended it remotely through the Zoom application.
Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Dean of the Theological College, who, in his homily, spoke of the direct connection between theology and the love of Christ. “Theology is not only a subject to be learned, but also to experienced and, most importantly, to be loved,” he said. He also recalled that for St. John the Evangelist and Theologian, the close connection between “love” and “theology” is evident. That is why, as he pointed out, in one of the hymns sung during the Feast of the Saint – and, in particular, in the Doxastikon of Vespers Service – the following verse is heard: “be full of love and fulfilled through theology”.
Afterwards, Metropolitan Seraphim of Sevastia, the Protosyncellus of the Archdiocese of Australia, Bishop Aimilianos of Meloa and Bishop Iakovos of Miletopolis gave short speeches and shared their thoughts on the role and value of theology.
Then, Metropolitan Seraphim of Sevastia, the Protosyncellus of the Archdiocese of Australia, Bishop Emilianos of Meloa and Bishop Iakovos of Miletopolis gave short greetings and shared their thoughts on the role and value of theology.
The Professor and Associate Dean of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Filippos Karyatlis, delivered an inspiring speech on: “The transformative power of theology”, and the students, Eleni Mavrolefterou and Nikolaos Charidimos, shared their personal experiences from their study at the Greek Orthodox Theological College.
Also, the secretary of the College, Anastasios Kalogerakis, presented the curricula, while during the event videos were shown, edited by Fr. Irineos Triantis, Head of Informatics of the School, through which members of the teaching staff, such as Margaret Beirne, Sofia Theodoratou, Fr. Anastasios Bozikis and Marios Bagos, briefly described their subjects.
It is noted that the coordinator of the event was Fr. Anastasios Bozikis, Lecturer of Ecclesiastical History at the Theological School of Apostolos Andreas. The event was also attended, among others, (either live or via internet) by the Archiepiscopal Vicar of Perth, Bishop Elpidios of Kyanea, the Archiepiscopal Vicar of Adelaide, Bishop Siluan of Sinope, the Archiepiscopal Vicar of Canberra, Archimandrite Prochoros Anastasiadis, the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Pantanassa, Archimandrite Fr. Eusebios, as well as a multi-member delegation of the Christian Union of Greek Youth.
At the end of the event, Archbishop Makarios offered as a gift to all attendees a book about the Basil of Caesarea, entitled “Towards the Youth”, published by the publishing house “St Andrew’s Orthodox Press” of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College.
