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About Andrew Youssef

Teacher, Author, Chaplain, and Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Andrew Youssef was born in Egypt where he grew up until he immigrated to Canada in 2010. After high school, Andrew attended McMaster University where he received his Bachelor degree in Religious Studies. He then continued his education at the Orthodox Christian Studies Program with the Faculty of Divinity at Trinity College – Toronto, where he received his Masters of Theological Studies. His thesis was titled, “Humanity of Christ in Oriental Orthodox Christology.”

Andrew finished his PhD at Trinity College where he focused 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 has finished four units of Clinical Pastoral Education and is a member of the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care as well as the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Currently, Andrew serves as a Spiritual Care Practitioner at multiple health care institutions. If you wish to book a psychotherapy session with Andrew, please click here.

Andrew serves in the following capacities:

  • Lecturer at Trinity College
  • Member of the Canadian Council of Churches
  • Former Lecturer of Church History – Patriarchal Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy
  • Former President of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter of Toronto
  • Former President of the Christian Orthodox Campus-Ministry Association chapter of McMaster University 
  • Former Board Member of the North American Academy of Ecumenists 

Publications: 

Books:

• Russel, Norman. Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition, Egypt: Epiphania Publishing Press, 2019. (Translation from
English to Arabic)
• Youssef, Andrew. Father God or Mother Nature? From the Great Flood to COVID19: Amazon Publishing, 2020.
(Independently Published)
• Youssef, Andrew. Oriental Orthodoxy Unveiled: Agora University Press, 2022.

Book Reviews:

• American Academy of Religion. Stephanous, Andrea. Arabic Christian Theology, Egypt: Zondervan Academic, 2019.
• American Academy of Religion. Blanton, P. Gregg. Contemplation and Counseling: An Integrative Model for Practitioners,
United States: IVP Academic, 2019.
• American Academy of Religion. Binns, John. The T&T Clark History of Monasticism: The Eastern Tradition, London:
Bloomsbury Academic, 2019.

Journal Articles:

• Youssef, Andrew. “Severus of Antioch: an ascetic’s approach to ecumenism in the sixth century and its implications for contemporary ecumenism,” Logos, 2024. (Forthcoming).
 Youssef, Andrew. “Veneration des saints et unite des chretiens: un regard copte,” ISTNA. Revue Trimestrielle, Volume 67, No. 4, Octobre-Decembre 2022.
• Youssef, Andrew. “Veneration of saints and the quest for Christian unity: a Coptic Orthodox perspective,” One in Christ, 2024. (Forthcoming).


Lectures:

• Paper Presentation, “Severus of Antioch: Heresiarch or Hero?” Sheptytsky Institute – Toronto, November 20, 2018.
• Lecture, “Coptic Eucharistic Liturgy,” Trinity College, Toronto School of Theology – Toronto, March 18, 2019.
• Lecture, “Syriac Eucharistic Liturgy,” Trinity College, Toronto School of Theology – Toronto, March 25, 2019
• Lecture, “Oriental Orthodox Liturgy of the Hours” Trinity College, Toronto School of Theology – Toronto, October 7, 2019.
• Lecture Series, “Oriental Orthodox Fathers: From Chalcedon to Severus” Trinity College, Toronto School of Theology –
Toronto, October 5-9, 2020.
• Lecture, “Oriental Orthodox Ecumenism” St. Augustine Seminary – Toronto, October 17, 2020.
• Lecture, “Severus of Antioch: Terminological Developments” St. Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological College – Australia, March
27, 2021.
• Workshop, “One Incarnate Nature of God the Word: The (Un)intentionally Forgotten Christological Formula” Sheptytsky
Institute – Toronto, July 17, 2022.
• Paper Presentation, “Severus of Antioch: An Ascetic’s Approach to Ecumenism in the Sixth Century and its Implications for
Contemporary Ecumenical Relations” North American Academy for Ecumenists Annual Conference – New York, October 8,
2022.
• Paper Presentation, “Looking Toward the East: Making Orthodoxy Accessible to a Mulifaith World Thirsting for Spirituality”
International Orthodox Theological Association Annual Conference – Volos, Greece, January 11, 2023.
• Paper Presentation, “Shenouda of Atripe: A Coptic Ascetic’s Christology in the Dawn of the Chalcedonian Controversy” The
Canadian Society for Coptic Studies – Toronto, May 6, 2023.
• Paper Presentation, “Toward an Oriental Orthodox Understanding of the (Un)createdness of Grace: A Patristic Approach Informed by Biblical Exegesis and Liturgical Theology” Exploring Early Christianity Conference, McMaster Divinity College – Hamilton, February 1, 2024.
• Lecture, “Ecclesiology and Sacramentology in Orthodoxy” Tyndale University – Toronto, February 15, 2024.
• Paper Presentation, “Aspects of Gregory of Nazianzus’s Soteriology: Incarnation, Deification, Ransom, Baptism, and Acquisition of Virtue” Canadian Society of Patristic Studies Conference, St. Augustine’s Seminary – Toronto, May 27, 2024.


To watch some of Andrew’s lectures, feel free to visit his YouTube channel.