Sydney University Orthodox Society’s remarkable 2025 revival reached its grand finale on Thursday, November 6, with a vibrant pan-Orthodox panel that brought together five priests of different nationalities.
It was a striking image of Orthodox Christian harmony and solidarity on a campus that is growing ever more uneasy with traditional faith and values. The event, which drew over 250 attendees, marked a fitting conclusion to a year of thriving activity and renewal for the society.
Founded in the 1980s, the Sydney University Orthodox Society (SOFIA USYD) has long been a pillar of support for Orthodox Christians on campus, providing a space for students to deepen their faith and build lasting friendships through weekly meetings and community engagement.
Over the course of 2025, SOFIA USYD has hosted more than 20 events, including Welcome Weeks, guest speaker talks, sports games, monastery trips, and combined gatherings with fellow SOFIA groups at UNSW, UTS, and Macquarie University.
This year’s end of year talk, titled Preserving Orthodox Identity Amidst Modern Challenges, was delivered by five esteemed priests of our Orthodox Church: Fr. Gerasimos Koutsouras, Fr. Miodrag Peric, Fr. Vlado Nedeski, Fr. Paul Elhlou and Fr. Andrew Morgan.
The talk was led by SOFIA USYD’s chaplain, Fr. Gerasimos, who reflected on how Orthodox identity is both a divine gift and a lifelong commitment, with the other priests offering insightful reflections and responses during the discussion and Q&A session that followed.
Christine Karabalis, the Associate Vice President of SOFIA USYD, played a key role in organising the event, coordinating the involvement of priests from different parishes and extending the invitation to the wider Eastern Orthodox community.
Reflecting on the night, Christine shared, “this event showed that our youth are ready to embrace their faith courageously, understanding that Orthodox identity is something we actively acquire and protect from the pressures of the world.”
Christos Missiris, President of SOFIA USYD, added: “It was moving to witness the unity of the Orthodox churches and to see so many young people engage thoughtfully with the discussion, reflecting on what it truly means to acquire and live out their faith.”
Moreover, Nektarios Karpouzis, the Vice President, observed that “this event sent a stark and resounding message to all: the Orthodox youth of Australia stand unshaken and united. Their presence is felt in every corner, they are unyielding in their faith, and they have firmly secured their presence with the Orthodox youth fighting in a society that is constantly growing more hostile to traditional values.”
A central theme that emerged throughout the panel discussion was that of love and unity. The Fathers emphasised that the second greatest commandment is to “love your neighbour as yourself,” reminding everyone that Orthodoxy transcends ethnic boundaries and political orientations and disputes. Above all, we are – firstly and exclusively – Orthodox Christians.
This love, they reminded us, must also extend to the heterodox; yet when our faith is ridiculed or insulted, we must speak with courage, for silence in the face of this is not love, but complicity.
To learn more about the society and stay updated on upcoming events, follow on Instagram at @sofiausyd.
SOFIA USYD extended thanks to other SOFIA executive members – Dimitrios Yalizis, Angelique Malakonakis, and Raphael Dokos for their dedication and support, and to David Karpouzis from @sofiamacquarie for capturing the evening through his photography.
