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Although several Orthodox theologians have significantly influenced the development of Ecclesiology in the twentieth century, the contribution of (Archbishop) Stylianos Harkianakis remains, without doubt, a landmark in the history of that theological field today. Essentially, the author’s consideration of the Church is that it is the most intimate and graced communion not only of human persons but of the entire created cosmos bonded together in a wondrous relationship with the uncreated God. Unconfused and indivisibly united with God, the Church therefore enjoys and rightly proclaims the truth – ie is infallible – for the world’s salvation and the glorification of God. Ultimately, Harkianakis’ theology of the Church’s infallibility, ie its truthfulness, is simply a doxological affirmation of the genuine presence of God among His people and the world at large.

About the Author: Stylianos Harkianakis (†), Archbishop and Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia, is founding Dean and Professor of Systematic Theology at Saint Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Sydney. He has also been a major Orthodox contributor to modern ecumenical discussions, especially in his capacity as Co-Chair of the Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Churches (1980-2003). The author is also a recognised poet with over 37 collections published. Among other distinctions, he has gained the Gottfried von Herder award for his outstanding contribution to European theological and cultural achievements.

This book innovatively explores the notion of koinonia for understanding the nature and function of the Church. Since the Scriptures assert that the Church is the Church of God, God’s communal mode of existence is looked at namely, God who is a communion of three hypostases relating to one another in an interpenetrating koinonia of infinite love as a way of understanding the very being of the church as communion. Such a notion of koinonia, far from having anything to do with socio-political understandings, suggests that it is a foundational gift bestowed from above to the world as the solution par excellence to the impasse of isolationism. More often than not, however, such an ecclesiology of communion has not taken seriously the historical reality of the Church living within the fallen world along with its ceaseless temptations, divisions and even sins in history. In this way, it becomes apparent that a dialectic needs to be acknowledged in the notion of communion as both foundational gift from God, and yet one still to be fully realised. Accordingly, this work shows that the Church is not only as the gift of God’s miraculous presence here on earth. The Church is also constantly striving to exist epicletically until such time as it will fully experience the final consummation in God’s eschatological kingdom. An examination of this double dimensionality of the Church is undertaken in order to assess if this is in line with the Scriptural witness of the ekklesia. Having established the gift-goal dialectic in the notion of koinonia in the New Testament Church, the study then traces the trajectory of this dynamic approach to koinonia in the Churchs worship and authoritative structures. This promises to cast both a deeper light on, and a more realistic solution to ecclesiological problems within the life of the Church today, allowing for the Churchs constant renewal.

About the Author: Philip Kariatlis is Senior Lecturer of Theology at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Sydney, Australia. In 2010 he received his doctorate in Ecclesiology from the Sydney College of Divinity (SCD). His research interests lie in Church doctrine, specifically its existential and salvific significance. He translated the doctoral dissertaton of Archbishop Stylianos (Harkianakis) entitled The Infallibility of the Church in Orthodox Theology (2008). He is a member of the Faith and Unity Commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

While several early writers may have written about education of the young, there are not too many one could quote, other than St Basil the Great, who addressed their message unequivocally to children, or young adults at least. With this new edition of the Address to Youth, it is hoped that today’s reader – whether young or old – will value anew the past and pedagogy, the classics and continuity and the author’s fervour for the salvation of all.

Cappadocian Legacy: A Critical Appraisal reunites twenty-two articles from fourteen scholars, Australian and international. Most of these contributions resulted from papers presented for the annual St Andrew’s Patristic Symposia 2009-2011, on the Cappadocian fathers. The articles, published after peer review, refer to a wide range of topics pertaining to the Cappadocian saints – from their contributions to theology and spirituality, Christian education and exegesis, to their views on the cosmos and history. These contributions are considered through the lens of their respective works, their place within the broader patristic tradition, and in the light of contemporary scholarship.

About the Editors: Doru Costache is Senior Lecturer in Patristics at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Sydney, and protopresbyter under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. He holds a ThD from the University of Bucharest. Philip Kariatlis is Senior Lecturer in Theology at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College. He received his Doctor of Theology degree having examined the notion of koinonia in Orthodox ecclesiology as both gift and goal.

Why do Orthodox Christians speak about ‘heaven on earth’? How does the Orthodox Church interpret the Bible? What is a Byzantine floor mosaic doing in Canberra? And why would a church contain a labyrinth? Windows to Orthodoxy offers answers to these and other fascinating questions, but in a most distinctive way. Rarely are spiritual topics approached in a matter that is edifying yet, at the same time, easy to follow and entertaining. The breadth of topics covered in this impressive collection of essays is astounding. The content not only reflects the author’s devotion to Orthodoxy as a Faculty member of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College in Sydney, but also his academic background as a university lecturer in the History and Philosophy of Science. He bridges both worlds superbly well.

About the Author: Guy Freeland was born and educated in England, obtaining his PhD from the University of Bristol. Having arrived in Australia with his wife in 1964, he taught at the University of New South Wales for over thirty-four years. He has been an Honourary Lecturer at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College since its foundation in 1986, teaching and writing particularly in the areas of biblical hermeneutics and liturgical studies.

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia in his illuminating and spiritually edifying book prudently offers “Reflections on Spiritual Alertness.” Just as monks are summoned to prayer by the sound of the talanton, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios prayerfully calls upon the faithful to repentance through his explanation of this truly Orthodox prayer, “the Prayer of Great Lent.”

– From the ‘Foreword’ by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope

About the Author: His Eminence Archbishop Makarios (Griniezakis) of Australia was elected as the sixth primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, an eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne, on May 9, 2019, by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. On June 29, 2019, he was enthroned as Archbishop of Australia at the Greek Orthodox cathedral of the Annunciation, Sydney. Among his many Archiepiscopal responsibilities, he is also Dean of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College.

“Stylianos of Australia was a genuine pastor, who affectionally cared for his flock, for the building up of Christ, for the youth and their education, for the elderly and their support. His distinctive characteristic as bishop and shepherd was the source of inspiration for his theology … [and he] was a talented poet, sensitive, with acute intuition for what is beautiful and for the depth and meaning of reality.”

• From the Message of His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch.

“With this publication, which constitutes a tangible manifestation of our love and gratitude … we honour a pastor of discernment, who led souls to Christ with wisdom … we commemorate a mighty theologian, who left his indelible mark upon theological literature and ecumenical dialogue. We acknowledge a sensitive poet who demonstrated that it is only tolerance, compassion, and love towards fellow human beings that constitutes the fullness of crucified love, professed by the Orthodox tradition, and yields spiritual fruits when conceived ecclesially and eschatologically. Lastly, we call to mind the outcome of the way of life of a Cretan bishop, who honoured his origins, put forward the greatness of his homeland, where he was born and raised, and preserved our cultural identity in the blessed land of Australia.”

• From the Preface by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia

About the Editors

Dr Vassilis Adrahtas lectures on Islamic Studies at Western Sydney University and Ancient Greek Religion and Myth at the University of NSW

Dr Mario Baghos is Lecturer in Theology (Patristics) and Church History at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College

Dr Philip Kariatlis is Sub-Dean and Associate Professor in Theology at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College

Mr Basilios Psilacos is Lecturer in Worship and Liturgy at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College. He is Principal of the NSW Branch of the Byzantine Music School of Australia, and Protopsaltis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady, Redfern.

“…it is an essential textbook for English speaking students of Byzantine chant or Byzantine music enthusiasts. It is hoped that this book will become the prescribed text for students and teachers at our national chanting school; and that Orthodox Christians everywhere can benefit from its learned and God-inspired insights.”  His Eminence Archbishop Makarios

“Music is a powerful tool for expressing oneself, and becomes majestically beautiful when used as a prayerful expression to the Creator. Byzantine Ecclesiastical music is just that. When people chant together in prayer before God, they are expressing a divine unity not only with those around them, but also with those of previous generations who partook in the handing down of this tradition.” Basilios Psilacos

Further Windows to Orthodoxy: Faith, Worship, Science and Pilgrimageis the sequel to Guy Freeland’s acclaimed Windows to Orthodoxy, which in 2013 introduced us to this polymath’s engaging and entertaining approach to Orthodox Christian faith, life and culture. The present volume’s broad sweep of topics, ranging from scriptural interpretation, the unravelling of the deeper meaning of feast days and the veneration of saints, the theology of the Orthodox icon, to gardens as spaces of sacred revelation, the psychology of religious experience and forms of historical methodology, not to mention pilgrimages to Cyprus, Northumbria and Iceland, will intrigue the reader and inspire them on the Christian journey.

Guy Freeland was born and educated in England, obtaining his PhD from the University of Bristol. Having arrived in Australia with his wife, Jill, in 1964, he taught the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of New South Wales for thirty-four years. He has been an Honorary Lecturer at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College since its foundation in 1986, teaching and writing particularly in the areas of biblical and liturgical studies.

In a land where fable meets fairy tale, myths and legends combine to ensure that a young girl triumphs over adversity and is reunited safely with her mother. A sensitive rendering of historical traumatic events taking place in Asia Minor in the aftermath of the First World War, the heroine, Soumela, drawing on her faith, traditions and her mother’s love, is given the strength to brave the obstacles in her way, and ultimately, through the choices she makes, to live happily ever after.

Biography of Author:

Dean Kalimniou is a Melbourne writer, journalist and solicitor. He has published seven poetry collections in the Greek language and his short stories have appeared in various publications. This is his first children’s book.