Meet agora

EST. 2012

At the heart of the great city of Alexandria in Egypt and at the intersection of Canopic Street and Pharos Street stood one of the most well-known public squares in the World. The Agora of Alexandria, which was only a few steps west of the Great Library of Alexandria, witnessed some of humanity’s most astute thinkers, teachers and philosophers, the formation of profound teachings and free speech. Carefully situated between the Roman quarters (west), the Hellenic quarters (east) and the Coptic quarters (north), the Agora of Alexandria has been regarded as the intellectual meeting place of the ancient world.

Today, Agora University is a continuation of this Alexandrian educational heritage.

Agora University is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit pioneering private global Orthodox Christian University dedicated to the Humanities

milestones

2012

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church and His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II Karim of the Syriac Orthodox Church granted their blessings for the Vision, Mission and activities of the University.

2014

His Grace Bishop Epiphanius (of blessed memory) of the Monastery of St. Macarius in Scetis, Egypt became the President of the Advisory Board

2016

Agora University’s degree programs were fully accredited in the European Union.

2023

 

Agora University was co-founded by Dr. Emmanuel Gergis and Rev. Fr. Michael Sorial in 2012 as a venue for engaging the Oriental Orthodox Christian tradition and the Humanities.

2013

Agora began cooperation with the Alexandria School Journal publishing its first academic journal in English and helped establish the Alexandria School Foundation in Egypt

2015

Mr. Naguib Sawiris became the Chairman of the Boards of Agora University. 

2019

Agora University was fully accredited in the United States of America by DEAC.

Agora University is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit pioneering global Orthodox Christian University dedicated to the Humanities

milestones

2012

Agora University was co-founded by Dr. Emmanuel Gergis and Rev. Fr. Michael Sorial in 2012 as a venue for engaging the Oriental Orthodox Christian tradition and the Humanities.
2013

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church and His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II Karim of the Syriac Orthodox Church granted their blessings for the Vision, Mission and activities of the University.

2014

Agora began cooperation with the Alexandria School Journal publishing its first academic journal in English and helped establish the Alexandria School Foundation in Egypt

2015

His Grace Bishop Epiphanius (of blessed memory) of the Monastery of St. Macarius in Scetis, Egypt became the President of the Advisory Board

2016

Mr. Naguib Sawiris became the Chairman of the Boards of Agora University. 2019 – Agora University’s degree programs were fully accredited in the European Union.

2019

Agora University’s degree programs were fully accredited in the European Union.

2023

Agora University was fully accredited in the United States of America by DEAC.

Our Mission

Agora University is a pioneering global Orthodox Christian University dedicated to building bridges between Orthodox Christianity and the Humanities to address the challenges of the contemporary world via distance learning. Agora University is committed to building a community of inspired students through innovative learning, open discussion, and research to become whole persons, and creative leaders to advance their communities. We welcome students from all faiths and backgrounds and provide them the intellectual freedom to express their diverse voices in open dialogue while preserving and upholding the particularity of our Orthodox Christian identity.

 

Statement of Faith

As an indigenous Orthodox Christian organization, our Statement of Faith is the Scripture-based Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of 325 and 381 A.D. as follows:

We believe in one God, God the Father the Pantocrator who created heaven and earth, and all things seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary and became Man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And on the third day He rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures, ascended to the heavens; He sits at the right hand of his Father, and He is coming again in His glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end. Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giver, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the coming age. Amen.

Exemptions & Licensure

State of Virginia

Agora University is a religious institution exempt from state regulation and oversight in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

State of California

Agora University (formerly St. Cyril Society) is exempt as a religious institution in the State of California, and operates under the Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009, California Education Code (CEC) Section 94874 (e) of the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).

State of Arizona

Agora University is not required to obtain state authorization in Arizona since the university has no physical presence in Arizona as defined by A.R.S. § 32-3001(5).

State of Connecticut

Agora University is not required to be licensed by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education since the institution does not have a physical presence in Connecticut.

State of Illinois

Agora University is not required to be licensed by the Illinois Department of Higher Education since the institution does not have a physical presence in Illinois.

State of Kansas

Agora University is not required to be licensed by the Kansas Board of Regents since the institution does not have a physical presence in Kansas.

State of Louisiana

Agora University is not regulated by the Louisiana Board of Regents since it offers courses and programs fully online and does not maintain physical facilities in the State of Louisiana.

State of Massachusetts

Agora University is not required to seek licensure with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education to enroll residents of Massachusetts into online courses and programs.

State of New Jersey

Agora University is not required to seek licensure with the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education to enroll residents of New Jersey into online courses and programs.

State of North Carolina

Agora University is not required to seek licensure with the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina to enroll residents of North Carolina into online programs.

State of South Carolina

Agora University is exempt as a religious institution by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

State of Montana

Agora University is exempt from authorization as it meets the requirements set forth in 34 CFR § 600.9 b. 2 by the State of Montana University System.

Other States

Agora University is not currently pursuing state authorization in other States and has no students who reside in those states.

Additionally, Agora in unable to accept applications for admissions from the states where it is not licensed or exempt.