The Patriarchal Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy is celebrating its 26th year of operation, with a total of sixty-three young men graduating from the program. Thirty-seven of these graduates have been ordained as priests and are currently serving in churches across Canada.
This year, four young men successfully completed their studies at the Theological Academy. Two of them have already been ordained as priests after getting married. The graduation ceremony was held at the Metropolitan Center of the Holy Archdiocese, with Theodore Papadatos, a senior official from CIBC, serving as the Master of Ceremonies. The event was attended by over five hundred guests.
The evening began with the chanting of “Christ is Risen” and a prayer led by Archbishop Sotirios, followed by the national anthems of Greece and Canada. Bishop Athenagoras of Patara, the Dean of the Theological Academy, welcomed the attendees, and a delicious dinner was served by the Metropolitan Center and the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas, under the supervision of Anastasia Sotiropoulos, the president of the Cathedral.
The graduates were honored with speeches and a musical performance directed by Bishop Athenagoras of Patara. Father Christian Vela and Djordje Gojkovic were recognized as the top graduates and valedictorians of the class. Archbishop Sotirios delivered a paternal message on the theme of “Calling and Mission” to the graduates and students.
Following the speeches, the degrees were awarded to the four graduates: Father Christian Vela, Father Evangelos Anastasiadis, Deacon Michael Ghebrehwet, and Djordje Gojkovic. Each graduate also received the icon of St. John the Theologian, the patron saint of the Theological Academy.
Archbishop Sotirios expressed his congratulations to the students and extended his thanks to Bishop Athenagoras of Patara, the faculty, and all the attendees. The evening concluded with a prayer led by Bishop Andriy of Toronto from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.
