In the words of the Apostle Philip: “Come and see,” His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, welcomed the participants of the Open Day of Saint Andrew’s Theological College in Sydney, which took place online, via the Zoom platform, on Wednesday, 4 December 2024.
The Archbishop, and Dean of the Theological College, extended a warm greeting to the prospective students for the new academic year. His central message was the invitation “Come and see,” like that extended by Philip to his friend Nathanael, to meet Christ. “We are with you tonight, inviting you to ‘come and see,’” His Eminence noted, “with the desire to share with you the joy that the study of theology offers, with the longing to take you by the hand and be led before the very presence of Jesus Christ, to the extent that this is the ultimate goal regarding the study of theology. That is, to encounter Christ and, as we read in the Gospel, to ‘enter into the joy of our Lord.’”
Then, analysing the important role of Orthodox Theology, he first emphasised that its study aims “to help reorient our souls towards Christ, so that we may experience the warmth of His love, the greatness of His mercy and the spaciousness of His freedom.” His Eminence pointed out, citing the Apostles and Fathers of the Church, that the ultimate goal, after the success of our effort to encounter Christ, is to dedicate our lives to “sharing this gift of eternal Love ‘from a pure heart’ with those around us.”
In conclusion, Archbishop Makarios emphasised that at the heart of the vision of Saint Andrew’s Theological College is the desire to inspire its students to cultivate, on a daily basis, love for Christ. “And being filled with love in Christ,” he pointed out, “we hope that they are able to allow this light from within themselves to shine into the world. This is true theology – that is, a joyful lesson that is not only learned, but also experienced and, even more, loved!”
In his address, His Eminence also brought good news regarding the future of the Theological College of Sydney. With great joy and emotion, he announced that next year, when the School will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its founding, it will move to its own state-of-the-art facilities. He assured that the Holy Archdiocese of Australia is fully committed to the task of providing the students of the Theological College with both specially designed spaces and facilities that will allow the integration of modern tools into traditional theological study, such as digital libraries, virtual learning platforms and advanced communication technologies.
The Open Day of Saint Andrew’s Theological College, in addition to prospective new students, also included His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide, the Sub-Dean, Associate Professor Mr. Philip Kariatlis, members of the Teaching Staff and current students and graduates of the School. After the Archbishop, the Sub-Dean Mr. Kariatlis delivered an address, followed by the screening of a short video with testimonies of students who shared their personal experiences. Then, the Registrar of the Theological College, Father Anastasios Kalogerakis, presented the curriculum and provided detailed information regarding the options and content of the courses. The event concluded with a constructive discussion, where prospective students had the opportunity to ask questions.
