HOLY SILENCE
Rev. Dr. Thomas Colyandro
Fr. Thomas is an Orthodox priest and spiritual counselor, the president of the Holy Silence Foundation, and a Fellow at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. He is on the steering committee of the International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA) Asceticism and Spirituality Group, a member of the board of directors of the Orientale Lumen Foundation, and an editor at Eastern Christian Publications.
Fr. Thomas was a senior lecturer at the University of St. Thomas Graduate School of Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary, the former assistant director of the Center for Faith & Culture at the University of St. Thomas (Houston), and the former director of theological and spiritual studies at St. Athanasius College.
He has led a multitude of in-person retreats, guided numerous online master classes, written and/or edited ten books, and published myriad articles on spirituality and theology. Today, Fr. Thomas continues to concentrate on his original work regarding the uncreated silence of the Holy Spirit.
(The image to the left is an icon of the Prophet Elisha.)
Fr. Thomas has spent time at St. John the Baptist Monastery in Essex, UK, St. Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mt. Sinai, St. Anthony's Monastery in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, St Macarius Monastery in the Nitrian Desert of the northwestern Nile Delta, Transfiguration Monastery on Mt. Tabor, the Passionist Monastery of St. John and St. Paul on the Caelian Hill, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in Rome, and the Augustinians of the Assumption in Rome and Worcester, MA.
Fr. Thomas holds a PhD in theology, a master's degree in divinity, a master's degree in theology, and a bachelor's degree in journalism. He also has certificates for specialized studies from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, ACPE, and the MIT-Harvard Public Disputes Program.
His doctoral thesis at the University of Winchester, Uncreated Silence and Orthodox Christian Eldership, takes up the uncreated silence of the Holy Spirit, the foundation of his teaching at Holy Silence.
He is the author of The Judas Syndrome: Ancient Heresies Return to Betray Christ Anew (St. Benedict Press, 2010) and has helped edit several titles for Eastern Christian Publications. He has spoken at international conferences in Rome, and at the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week gatherings in Galveston, on prayer, forgiveness, mercy, and peace.
At Holy Silence he offers retreats, online contemplative conversations, and pastoral listening for anyone who wants to draw closer to God, whether Orthodox, Catholic, or a seeker.