Theology Symposia

The Council of Nicaea, acknowledged by many Christian traditions as the first ecumenical synod of the Church, was summoned in the year 325 by Emperor Constantine the Great to resolve a subtle, yet essential, theological dispute that threatened to engulf both church and state and shatter the emerging unity of the nascent Christian Roman Empire. As the first council to aspire to universal status it became the paradigm, in both structure and aim, for all subsequent imperial synods of the first millennium.

At a conciliar gathering of all autocephalous Orthodox Churches from all around the world—namely, at the 2016 Holy and Great Council of Crete—a first ever document was formally approved titled, ‘The Mission of the Orthodox Church in Today’s World’. The specific contents of this document addressed the role of the Church in the public sphere arising from the Church’s apostolic character and in response to Christ’s great commission: “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19).

Throughout the centuries practically most if not all theological investigation centred on the person and work of Jesus Christ, mandated of course by the various challenges during the Christian Church’s early years. In the contemporary setting, ongoing interest in Christology can be seen from the many studies which continue to be published exploring afresh both the scriptural witness and tradition in order to equip the Church more effectively in its mission to witness Christ now and into the future.

From 1-2 September 2017, St Andrew's was pleased to host its Second Theology Symposium on the theme 'The Mystery of the Trinity: Implications for Everday Living', organised by Professor James R. Harrison (Director of Research, SCD) and Dr Philip Kariatlis (Academic Director and Senior Lecturer in Systematic Theology, St Andrew's).

From 9-10 October, 2015 St Andrew’s was pleased to host its inaugural Theology Symposium on the theme ‘The Earth is the Lord's: Environmental Theology and Ethics,’ convened by Professor Jim Harrison (Director of Research, SCD) and Dr Philip Kariatlis (Academic Director and Senior Lecturer in Systematic Theology, St Andrew’s).