650 Participants at the Graduation Ceremony of the Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy

Six hundred and fifty (650) people participated in the 15th graduation ceremony of our Theological Academy, held on Sunday, April 26, 2015, at the Metropolitan Centre.

This year’s valedictorian was Mr. Simeon Pardalis, a young man with strong Christian principles and ethics. We warmly congratulate him and we hope that God directs his steps going forward.

The program began with the chanting of “Χριστός Ἀνέστη” and the singing of the national anthems of Greece and Canada, led by Metropolitan Sotirios, who was joined by all of the guests.

The opening prayer was said by His Grace Bishop Andriy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who was assisted by Rev. Fr. Triantafillos Porfiris.

The dinner service was organized with great care by Rev. Fr. Fanourios Pappas and Mrs. A. Sotiropoulos, President of the Greek Community of St. Nicholas in Scarborough; together they help to manage the Metropolitan Centre of our Holy Metropolis. Following dinner, clergy and laity joined together to chant hymns and sing traditional Greek songs in a warm and family atmosphere under the direction of Metropolitan Sotirios.

The evening’s keynote address was delivered by the Consul General of Greece in Toronto, Mr. Alexandros Ioannidis; he spoke about the economic crisis which is a result of the moral crisis and the role of the Church and Theological Academy in helping to find solutions.

With his traditional fatherly approach, Metropolitan Sotirios spoke to the graduates and current students on the theme, What does the Yes of the Academy’s Graduates Mean, stressing the importance of the promise and the word they give to God and the ongoing respect for it.

Remarks were also made by the V. Rev. Fr. Ignatios Delis, Dean of the Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy; the Hon. Jim Karygiannis, Toronto City Councillor; and, Mr. Constantinos Christofides, the Consul General of Cyprus in Toronto.

Among the dignitaries was Fr. Yvan Mathieu, Associate Professor at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, which our Theological Academy has an affiliation and close partnership with.

The 2015 Graduation Ceremony was another great success. We thank the Risen Lord for His blessings and for the continued progress of the Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy. There are now 44 Academy graduates; 26 of them have been ordained and currently serve our parish communities across Canada.

From the Office of our Holy Metropolis
April 28, 2015