It is with great joy and pride that St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College announces a landmark academic initiative: the introduction of a new postgraduate program, the Master of Greek Philosophy, commencing in the 2026 Academic Year.
This historic development marks a significant moment not only for the Theological College, but also for the broader academic landscape of Australia, underscoring the enduring contribution of Greek philosophical thought to theology, culture and the formation of the human person.
The official launch of the Master of Greek Philosophy will take place on Sunday, 18 January 2026, at 7.30 pm, in the Hall of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College (242 Cleveland Street, Redfern). The event will follow the Vespers Service in honour of St Makarios the Great — patron saint of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia — which will be celebrated earlier that evening at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Redfern. This occasion will mark an important milestone in both the academic and spiritual mission of the College.
For millennia, Greek philosophy has shaped the intellectual and spiritual foundations of Western civilisation, posing profound questions that continue to inform contemporary discussions on truth, ethics, metaphysics, human identity and the nature of reality. The Orthodox Christian tradition, as a genuine heir to the Greek intellectual heritage, has long recognised the essential role of philosophy in supporting the articulation and development of theological reflection.
Units Offered in Semester 1, 2026
1. The Philosophy of the Ancient Greek Tradition
This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to Ancient Greek philosophy, beginning with the Pre-Socratics and culminating in the Hellenistic schools. Students will explore the emergence of fundamental questions concerning being and becoming, knowledge, the soul, ethics and the cosmos — questions that continue to shape philosophical inquiry today.
2. Plotinus and the Legacy of Neoplatonism
This unit examines the thought of Plotinus and the Neoplatonic tradition, including figures such as Porphyry, Proclus and Iamblichus, and their profound influence on the early centuries of Christianity. Key themes include the nature of reality, the relationship between the material and immaterial, the soul and the body, the problem of evil, and the vision of the good life.
Through participation in this program, students will engage with enduring philosophical questions, including:
- What does it mean to live well?
- What is the nature and destiny of the human person?
- How do we discern and come to know truth?
- What lies at the foundation of reality and existence itself?
These introductory units will be taught by Professor Vrasidas Karalis, one of Australia’s most distinguished scholars of Greek thought and culture, and the Very Reverend Dr Antonios Kaldas. Both bring decades of academic expertise, deep insight and an engaging teaching approach that will guide students into the heart of ancient philosophical inquiry.
The Master of Greek Philosophy aspires to become a significant academic milestone, inviting students, scholars and lifelong learners to rediscover the vitality and contemporary relevance of the Greek philosophical tradition.
Individual units in Greek philosophy are also available for cross-institutional enrolment by students from other universities or tertiary institutions, as well as for audit enrolment, subject to applicable terms and conditions.
For a Course Prospectus, please contact the Registry Office on (02) 9549 3100 or via registrar@sagotc.edu.au.
