The Patriarchal Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy is celebrating its 26th year of operation, with 63 young men having graduated so far. Out of these graduates, 37 have been ordained and are now serving in churches across Canada.
This year, four young men successfully graduated from our Theological Academy, two of whom are already ordained priests. The graduation ceremony was held at the Metropolitan Center of our Holy Archdiocese, with Mr. Theodore Papadatos from CIBC serving as the Master of Ceremonies and over 500 attendees present.
The event kicked off with the chanting of “Christ is Risen” and a prayer by Archbishop Sotirios, followed by the national anthems of Greece and Canada. The Dean of the Theological Academy, Bishop Athenagoras of Patara, welcomed everyone, and a delightful dinner was provided by the Metropolitan Center and Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas under the supervision of Mrs. Anastasia Sotiropoulos, the president of the Cathedral.
Speeches and a musical program by students and priests, directed by Bishop Athenagoras of Patara, followed the dinner. The top graduates and valedictorians were Father Christian Vela and Mr. Djordje Gojkovic.
Archbishop Sotirios shared words of wisdom on “Calling and Mission” with the graduates and students before awarding degrees to Father Christian Vela, Father Evangelos Anastasiadis, Deacon Michael Ghebrehwet, and Mr. Djordje Gojkovic.
As tradition dictates, all graduates received the icon of St. John the Theologian, the patron saint of the Theological Academy, from the Monastery of the Virgin Mary the Consolatory.
Archbishop Sotirios expressed his congratulations and gratitude to all involved, including Dean Bishop Athenagoras of Patara, professors, and attendees, and conveyed the blessings of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The evening concluded with a prayer by Bishop Andriy of Toronto from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.
Source: Goarch