Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia

His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia is the current archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. Along with this, he serves as inaugural and permanent Chairman of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Churches in Australia, and Dean of St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College. He is a world-renowned theologian, specialising in ecclesiology, and is also a well-regarded poet.

Early Life

Archbishop Stylianos was born in Rethymon, Crete, on the 29th of December, 1935.

Tertiary Education

He would go on to study theology at the Theological School of Halki, being ordained to the diaconate at 1957. In 1958 he graduated from Halki and was ordained to the priesthood. He immediately went on to complete postgraduate studies in systematic theology and philosophy of religion in Bonn, West Germany, during 1958 to 1966, numbering among his lecturers Pope Benedict XVI (formerly Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger).

At that time, the idea of Infallibility was thought to be an exclusively Roman Catholic idea, entirely alien to the Orthodox Church. However, Fr Stylianos wrote his thesis on the concept that the Orthodox Church did possess the concept of infallibility, when it acted together in conciliarity (eg the Ecumenical Councils); it is only recently that this work is being properly understood and appreciated.

Archbishop Stylianos of Australia

Educational Accolades

In 1965, whilst still completing his postgraduate studies, Fr Stylianos was declared professor of theology at Athens University; soon after, in 1966, he was appointed abbot of the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of Vlatodon, Thessaloniki. In this role, he was a founding member, then vice-president, and later president, of the Patriarchal Institute of Patristic Studies within the monastery. During 1969 to 1975, Abbot Stylianos lectured in Systematic Theology at the University of Thessaloniki.

Metropolitan of Militoupolis

Abbot Stylianos was elected the Titular Metropolitan of Militoupolis (within the Monastery of Vlatodon) and Exarch in matters concerning Northern Greece and Mt. Athos; he was consecrated on the 6th of December. Metropolitan Stylianos was, in 1973, awarded the International Award Gottfried von Herder.

Archbishop of Australia

In 1975, Metropolitan Stylianos was elected Archbishop of Australia, Exarch of Oceania. In this role, he engaged in many dialogues between Orthodoxy and other Christian groups, most prominently as co-chairman of the Theological Dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, but also as co-chairman of the dialogue with the Anglican Church. He also started teaching Orthodox Theology and Spirituality at Sydney University.

Also a renowned poet with an extensive bibliography, Archbishop Stylianos was given the Award for Poetry from the Academy of Athens in 1980, and in 1985 he received an Honourary Doctorate from Lublin University, Poland. In 1986 was, perhaps, the Archbishop's greatest achievement, when classes at St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College began. Archbishop Stylianos, given his background and extensive education, serves as the inaugral Dean, as well as Lecturer of Systematic Theology, to the present time.

Succession box: Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia
Preceded by: unknown	Abbot of Vlatadon Monastery 1966-1975	Succeeded by: Metr. Apostolos (Papaioannou)
Preceded by: unknown	Metropolitan of Miletoupolis 1970-1975	Succeeded by: Timotheos
Preceded by: Ezekiel (Tsoukalas)	Archbishop of Australia (Greek) 1975-present	Succeeded by: —
Preceded by: —	Dean of St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College 1986-present	Succeeded by: —

Help with box

External link

• Archbishop Stylianos Biography from Archdiocesan website
• Foundation, History and Name of the Vlatadon Monastery from Ecumenical Patriarchate website