More Christ Episode Eighty One: Andrew Youssef: Oriental Orthodoxy, Deification, Liturgies, Church Unity, Paulos Gregorios, and More

Welcome to More Christ. We seek to bring some of the world's most interesting and insightful guests to discuss life's central and abiding questions.  In this eighty first episode in a series of discussions, I'm joined by Andrew Youssef.  Andrew Youssef was born in Egypt where he grew up. After high school, Andrew attended McMaster University where he received his Bachelor degree in Religious Studies. He then continued his education at the Orthodox School of Theology, in Trinity College, Toronto, where he received his Masters of Theological Studies. His thesis was titled, “Humanity of Christ in Oriental Orthodox Christology.”  

Please see his website here:  https://www.andrewyoussef.ca/ Andrew is currently working on his PhD at Trinity College focusing on the Christology of Severus of Antioch, a saint of the Oriental Orthodox Church, and Maximus the Confessor, a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church.  In addition to theological education, Andrew is working on finishing his training to become a hospital chaplain/Spiritual Care provider. Currently, Andrew serves as a Spiritual Care Practitioner at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center.   

Andrew currently serves in the following capacities:  Lecturer of Church History – Patriarchal Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy Course Instructor at the Orthodox School of Theology President of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter of Toronto Board Member of the North American Academy of Ecumenists Member of the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care  Publications:  Andrew co-translated Norman Russell’s Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition from English to Arabic. Furthermore, Andrew translated articles by Fr. Matthew the Poor on ecumenism which are to be published by the Monastery of St. Macarius. In 2019, Andrew published a book review with the American Academy of Religion on Andre Stephanous’ Arabic Christian Theology and Gregg Blanton’s Contemplation and Counselling. In 2020, Andrew published his first book titled Father God or Mother Nature? From the Great Flood to COVID-19 where he explored themes such as divine wrath, natural disasters, suffering through Biblical and patristic lenses.  

Lectures: To watch Andrew’s lectures, feel free to visit his YouTube channel.