Overview
The Greek Orthodox Theological Academy of Toronto is a baccalaureate professional school that operates under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada) headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Canada.
The Academy is located at the Canadian Archdiocesan headquarters at 1 Patriarch Bartholomew Way in Toronto, and houses not only the beautiful chapel of St John the Theologian but also several faculty offices, the classrooms, dormitory rooms and refectory, a spacious library with over 10,000 volumes.
The Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy is affiliated with St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, Ontario, and offers a four-year course in Theological Studies. A Bachelor of Theology Degree is awarded from St. Paul’s University upon completion of course requirements.
Mission Statement
The Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy exists to serve the Church in Canada in her sacred mission and witness to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through the advancement of Orthodox thought and life. Since the priestly ministry is essential to the life of the Orthodox Church, the education of men who are called to be Priests is one of the primary objectives of the Academy. In the future, an equally important objective will be to provide specialized training for men or women who wish to serve the Church through the important lay ministries such as teachers, secretaries, youth directors and chanters or choir directors. In all areas of study, the Academy seeks to provide sound theological reflection on the vital issues facing the Church.
Theological education involves much more than purely academic endeavours. In the true spirit of Orthodox Christianity, formal educational development, academic excellence and personal growth are inseparably bound to the values, spirit and experience of the Orthodox faith. Life and study at the Academy, in all its diverse aspects, is a dynamic process which takes place at the level of shared values and concerns. The students experience the ethos and spirit, the thought and tradition, the life and practice of the catholic and apostolic faith in a holistic manner while studying and living at the Academy.
Prayer and the sacramental life are indispensable spiritual instruments that fire the soul with zeal, and brings one into union with God through His Divine Grace. It is this emphasis on the liturgical life of the Church that fosters, above all, the unique spiritual environment which is found at the Academy.
This is why the Academy is equally concerned, not only with the academic, but also with the spiritual and moral development of the students. It is hoped that each student will gain the tools needed to struggle not only to gain a deeper understanding of his or her Orthodox faith, but also to live out this faith with all its power and practical applications in the ordinary circumstances and complexities of daily life. Thus, education and preparation of students is viewed as an integration of faith and learning. This takes place within an Orthodox Christian environment, with special emphasis on personal growth, both intellectual and spiritual.
Other objectives of the Academy include: to achieve an institutional environment of faith and learning, which conveys a greater sense of the values and spirit of Orthodox Christianity; and, to provide the proper training and specialized education for those planning to assume leadership roles in society as Orthodox Christian clergy and laity.
