The first attempt in modern times to establish a School that offered Greek, Theological and Musical education occurred as part of the reforming initiatives of Archbishop Philotheos (1734-1759). His enlightened efforts, (a bright passage in the history of the Church of Cyprus), met with obstacles in the form of unfair slander and envy, even from members of the clergy. Almost a hundred years later, the systematic growth in documentation and the attendant increased need for literacy within the church in the mid-nineteenth century and the demands of the times, intensified the need for the establishment and operation of such a school in Cyprus. Archbishop Cyrillus 1(1849-1854), at the suggestion of the then Russian consul in Beirut, decided to establish a Theological School, and in 1853 applied to the Director of the Theological School in Halki for assistance. However, another hundred years would pass before the establishment of a Theological School in 1949. It is recorded in Codex II of the Schools of Nicosia that the bishops of Paphos and Kyrenia, Neophytos (9 July 1869) and Meletios (20 January 1872), on being promoted to their respective seats, allocated significant funds for the schools of the capital with the request that a place for instruction of Theology and the education of the priesthood be provided for. The attention of the Church, however, focused on the more pressing need to promote primary education on an island-wide basis, and secondary education in Nicosia and the large urban centres.
In the period of British rule in Cyprus, difficult years for the Church during which the heroic Bishop of Paphos was persecuted, Archbishop Makarios II, with the support of Kykkos Monastery, founded the Theological School “Apostolos Varnavas”. During its first years of operation this historic school, in addition to serving the Church of Cyprus, was a breeding-ground for members of the Church who would subsequently play an important part in fulfilling the needs and desires of the Cypriot people. Furthermore, on a nearby site, Archbishop Makarios III envisioned a Theological school to be established in the area between the Kykkos Foundation and the Theological School “Apostolos Varnavas”. The catastrophic events of 1974 put an end to these plans.
The foundation of the Theological School of the Church of Cyprus in 2015 by His Beatitude Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II, (as representative of the Church in relation to the State of Cyprus), is indeed an important and historic undertaking which we pray will continue to grow, develop and bear fruit for the benefit of the Church and society in general.
Principles of Foundation
The basic principles and tenets pertaining to the foundation of the Theological School were and are that the School:
- be endowed with the status of a university.
- be characterised as possessing an ecclesiastical nature, that is, be founded upon ecclesiastical ethical standards.
The most certain course for the attainment of the aforementioned principles was for the establishment of the Theological School to occur subject to the legislation for Private Institutions of Higher Education. Within this framework the Church of Cyprus would be able to achieve not only the establishment of a balanced four-year undergraduate program in Theological Studies, but also maintain the ecclesiastical, ethical character of the school. In addition, the Theological School of the Church of Cyprus could develop on the basis of two principles derived from the above.
- to maintain academic autonomy
- to maintain a non-profit character
Establishment and operation:
The Theological School of the Church of Cyprus was founded as a Private School of Higher Education, according to existing legislation, with the approval of the Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs (under the authority granted to him by law) and was registered in the P.I.T.E records of the C.M.E.C of Cyprus, on the 19th of June 2015, with the registration number: M.E. & C. 7.14.10.37.
The Registration Certificate at the Registry of Private Institutions of Tertiary Education was issued on the 22nd of June 2015. The relevant disclosure was published in the Official gazette of the Republic on the 26th of June 2016 with the R.A.A 221/2015.
The Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2014-2020 was bestowed on the School on the 15th of February 2017. (See here for the relevant article). The Erasmus Charter of the T.S.C.C. (CY NICOSIA34) is valid from 1/11/2016 to 31/12/2023.
The Accreditation of the Study Program was approved at the 17th Conference of The Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education and certified on the 3rd and 4th of April 2017 with its “Final Report”, Folder No. 7.14.248.001/1 ( Article 400.2) dated 6th of April 2017, of which the School was duly notified.
The Disclosure, R.A.A 85/2018, in accordance with article 60 “ Concerning the Laws relating to Institutions of Tertiary Education 1996 to 2013” was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus G.G. Par. III (I), No. 5077, 23.3.2018, Number 85. The inception date for the Accreditation, according to the Disclosure, began with the Winter Semester 2015-2016 and is valid for five years.
The four-year Undergraduate Study Program “Theology (4 years/ 240 ECTS, Degree)” has been entered in the Register of Educationally Validated and Certified Study Programs P.I.T.E, with effect from the Winter Semester of the Academic year 2015-2016, for five years. The relevant Disclosure with the number 000060 and dated 29th of June 2018 is viewable here:
Accreditation of the Undergraduate Program of T.S.C.C. “Theology (4 years/240 ECTS, BA)” by the Cyrpus Council of Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications (KY.S.A.T.S.)
The Accreditation of the undergraduate program of studies in Theology was approved at the 17th Assembly of the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA), which took place on the 3rd and 4th of April 2017. The accreditation was certified with the «Final Report» of CYQAA with File Number 7.14.248.001/Ι (Document 400.2) issued on the 6th of April 2017, which was provided to T.S.C.C.
Link to the Accredited Higher Education Programs assessed/accredited by the CYQAA
The Notification, Κ.Δ.Π. 85/2018, in accordance to Article 60 of the «Laws Regarding Higher Education Institutes 1996 to 2013», was published in the Official Newspaper of the Democracy of Cyprus Ε.Ε. Par. ΙΙΙ(Ι), Art. 5077, 23.3.2018, Number 85. The starting date of the Accreditation, according to the Notification, starts on the Fall Semester of the academic year 2015-2016 and is valid for five years.
The four-year Undergraduate Program of Studies «Theology (4 Years/240 ECTS, BA)» has been registered in the Registry of the Academically Evaluated – Accredited Programs of Study of Private Schools of Higher Education (P.S.H.E.), with the accreditation being valid for five years, starting from the Fall Semester of the Academic Year 2015-2016. The relevant Certificate with number 000060 and date 29th of June 2018 is available here:
Ranking of BA Theology Graduates of T.S.C.C. in the Tables of Appointees of the Educational Service Committee (E.S.C.)
On the 27th of February 2020, the revised tables of appointee teachers, as well as the special catalogue for appointees with disabilities, for each specialization have been published at the headquarters of E.S.C and at the official webpage of the committee, in accordance with Article 28B(10) of the Law Regarding the Public Educational Service of 1969 to 2019 (Art. 2). These tables and catalogues include applicants who submitted their application by 31.12.2019 and whose application has been approved. Among those, graduates of T.S.C.C., who graduated on June, 2019, are included for the first time.
On the 31st of March 2020, the revised tables of appointee teachers, as well as the special catalogue for appointees with disabilities, for each specialization have been published at the headquarters of E.S.C and at the official webpage of the committee, in accordance with Article 28B(10) of the Law Regarding the Public Educational Service of 1969 to 2019 (Art. 2). These tables and catalogues include applicants who submitted their application or declared to the committee their interest to apply by Friday, 30.8.2019, whose application has been approved and who have successfully passed written exam coordinated by the Exams Service of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth. Among those, graduates of T.S.C.C. , who graduated on June, 2019, are included for the first time.
The ranking of the graduates of T.S.C.C. at the Tables of Appointee Teachers of the Educational Service Committee (E.S.C.) successfully concludes the “first chapter” of the Foundation and Operation of T.S.C.C.
Accreditation of the First Postgraduate Program of T.S.C.C.: «Applications of Psychology and Counselling in the Community (2 years/120 ECTS, Masters)»
The accreditation of the first postgraduate program of studies of T.S.C.C. with the title: «Applications of Psychology and Counselling in the Community (2 Years/ 120 ECTS, MA)»] was officially approved at the 42nd Assembly of the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA), which took place on the 13th and 14th of May 2019. The accreditation was certified with the «Final Report» of CYQAA with File Number 07.14.248.002 (Document 400.2.1) issued on the 20th of May 2019, which was provided to T.S.C.C.
The new postgraduate program of studies is an academic Masters program of traditional (in person) mode of teaching offered since September 2019 at the premises of T.S.C.C. in Nicosia.