Dr Mario Baghos

Senior Lecturer in Theology
BTh(Hons), SCD – PhD Studies in Religion, USyd – GradDipEd, UNE

Email: mario.baghos@nd.edu.au

  • Biography

    Dr Mario Baghos is Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia, where he also teaches Religious Studies. He has lectured and coordinated courses in the disciplines of theology, history, research methodology and studies of religion at Charles Sturt University, the University of Sydney, the Sydney College of Divinity (now the Australian University College of Divinity), and Campion College Australia. He has published extensively on patristic and medieval eschatology and Byzantine art and architecture, as well as religious symbolism in popular culture. He is owner of TERRA SYMBOLICA© on YouTube.

  • Teaching area

    • Christology
    • Religious Studies
    • Catholic Social Thought
    • Sacred Art and Architecture
    • Medieval History

  • Research expertise and supervision

    • Patristics
    • Church History
    • Eschatology
    • Byzantium

  • Books

    • Baghos, Mario. From the Ancient Near East to Christian Byzantium: Kings, Symbols, and Cities. Newcastle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2021.
    • Adrahtas, Vassilis, Mario Baghos and Philip Kariatlis (eds). Archbishop Stylianos - Pastor, Theologian, Poet. Sydney: St Andrew's Orthodox Press, 2020. I
    • Costache, Doru, Philip Kariatlis and Mario Baghos (eds).  Alexandrian Legacy: A Critical Appraisal. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015.

  • Book chapters

    • Baghos, Mario. "The End-Times Throughout History: The Problem of the Year 1000." In Eschatology at the Beginning of the Third Millennium. Edited by Kevin Wagner, Peter John McGregor, and Danijel Uremović, 91-106. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2025.
    • Baghos, Mario. “God’s Presence in History: The Work of Christ and the Spirit in St Gregory of Nazianzus’ Fifth Theological Oration and Oration 38 On the Nativity.” In Pneumatology at the Beginning of the Third Millennium, edited by Kevin Wagner, Peter J. McGregor, and M. Isabell Naumann. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, forthcoming 2024.
    • Baghos, Mario (together with Anastasios Bozikis and Chris Baghos). “The Greek Orthodox Church in Australia.” In The Greek Orthodox Church in Australia, edited by Christine Chaillot, 23-69. Zürich: Lit Verlag, 2021.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Ecosystemic Agency: Christ, His Saints, and John Chrysostom.” In John Chrysostom: Past, Present, Future, edited by Doru Costache and Mario Baghos, 15-51. Sydney: AIOCS Press, 2017.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Theotokoupoleis: The Mother of God as Protectress of the Two Romes.” In Mariology at the Beginning of the Third Millennium, edited by Kevin Wagner, M. Isabell Naumann, Peter John McGregor, and Paul Morrissey, 51-77.Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2017.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Religious Symbolism and Well-being in Christian Constantinople and the Crisis of the Modern City.” InWell-being, Personal Wholeness and the Social Fabric, edited by Doru Costache, Darren Cronshaw, and James R. Harrison, 324-354.Newcastle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Ecclesial Memory and Secular History in the Conflicting Representations of St Cyril of Alexandria.” In Alexandrian Legacy: A Critical Appraisal, edited by Doru Costache, Philip Kariatlis, and Mario Baghos, 246-280. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Traditional Portrayal of St Athanasius according to Rufinus, Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret.” In Alexandrian Legacy: A Critical Appraisal, edited Doru Costache, Philip Kariatlis, and Mario Baghos, 139-171. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Reconsidering Apokatastasis in St Gregory of Nyssa’s On the Soul and Resurrection and The Catechetical Oration.” In Cappadocian Legacy: A Critical Appraisal, edited by Doru Costache and Philip Kariatlis, 387-415.Sydney, NSW: St Andrew's Orthodox Press, 2013.
    • Baghos, Mario. “St Gregory the Theologian’s Existential Metanarrative of History.” In Cappadocian Legacy: A Critical Appraisal, edited by Doru Costache and Philip Kariatlis, 275-298. Sydney, NSW: St Andrew's Orthodox Press, 2013.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Recapitulation of History and the ‘Eighth Day’: Aspects of St Basil the Great’s Eschatological Vision.” In Cappadocian Legacy: A Critical Appraisal, edited by Doru Costache and Philip Kariatlis, 151-168. Sydney, NSW: St Andrew's Orthodox Press, 2013.

  • Journal articles and proceedings

    • Baghos, Mario.“Elder and New Romes: Constantinople and its Predecessor in Late Antique Historiography.” Ancient West and East (2025): 69-100.
    • Baghos, Mario. Twin Peaks and the Descents into Hades Motif.' Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review. Online First: 18 June 2025. https://doi.org/10.5840/asrr2025617129
    • Baghos, Mario. Eusebius of Caesarea's Representations of Christ, Constantine, and Rome: An Eschatology of Replacement.' Rligions 16(6) 2025: 744. https:doi.org/10.3390/rl16060744
    • Baghos, Mario. 'Until it Sleeps: Interpreting Metallica's Use of Paintings of Hieronymus Bosch.' Literature and Aesthetics 35:1 (2025): 142-161.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Eusebius of Caesarea’s ‘Eschatology of Replacement’ in Relation to Constantine the Great.” Religions (MDPI), forthcoming.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Nuancing the ‘Millennium’ in the Writings of Norman Cohn.” Literature & Aesthetics: The Journal of the Sydney Society of Literature and Aesthetics (SSLA) 33:1 (2023): 37-54.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Founding of Constantinople: An Interdisciplinary Approach.” Ancient West and East 20 (2021): 121-161.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Christ Pantokrator in the Byzantine Art of Italy.” Phronema 34:1 (2019) 55-84.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Christ the ‘Sun’ and ‘Hearth’ of our Salvation.” International Journal of Orthodox Theology 9:3 (2018): 75-92.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Enlightenment Legacy, Turbulence in Alexandria, and the Conflicting Representations of Athanasius and Cyril.” St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly 62:3 (2018): 201-238.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Christ, Paradise, Trees, and the Cross in the Byzantine Art of Italy.” International Journal of Orthodox Theology 9:2 (2018): 112-155.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Apocalypticism, the Year 1000, and the Medieval Roots of the Ecological Crisis.” Literature & Aesthetics: The Journal of the Sydney Society of Literature and Aesthetics (SSLA) 26 (2016): 83-102.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Conflicting Portrayals of Origen in the Byzantine Tradition.” Phronema 30:2 (2015): 69-104.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Ecclesial Memory and Secular History in the Conflicting Portrayals of Cyril of Alexandria: An Apology for the Saint.” Phronema 29:2 (2014): 87-125.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Apology for Athanasius: The Traditional Portrait of the Saint according to Rufinus and the Byzantine Historians.” Phronema 28:2 (2013): 55-88.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Impact of Martyrdom on Eusebius of Caesarea’s Commentary on Luke: Anticipating the Imminent Eschaton.” Phronema 28:1 (2013): 73-100.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Hellenistic Globalisation and the Metanarrative of the Logos.” In Thinking Diversely: Hellenism and the Challenge of Globalisation, A Special Edition of Modern Greek Studies, Australia and New Zealand: A Journal for Greek Letters, edited by Elizabeth Kefallinos (Dec. 2012): 23-37.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Reconsidering Apokatastasis in St Gregory of Nyssa’s On the Soul and Resurrection and the Catechetical Oration.” Phronema 27:2 (2012): 125-162.
    • Baghos, Mario. “St Gregory the Theologian’s Metanarrative of History.” Phronema 26:2 (2011): 63-79.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Meaning of History: Insights from St Gregory the Theologian’s Existential Metanarrative.” Colloquium 43:1 (2011): 17-38.
    • Baghos, Mario. “St Basil’s Eschatological Vision: Aspects of the Recapitulation of History and the Eighth Day.” Phronema 25(2010): 85-103.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Taboric Light, Uncreated Energies and Participation in the Divine Life: Insights from the Triads of St Gregory Palamas.” E-Oikonomia 02 (2008)

  • Conference papers

    • ‘Returning to the “Jesus of History” and the “Christ of Faith”: A Scriptural and Patristic Analysis.’ Asia-Pacific Early Christian Studies Society (APECSS) 14th Annual Conference. The University of Notre Dame Australia (Sydney campus) in conjunction with Australian University of Theology; 27 September 2025.
    • Might Unassailable? Walls, Gates, and the Marble King of Byzantine Constantinople.’ Shepherd at the Crossroads: Converging Traditions in Early Christianity. Campion College’s Centre for the Study of the Western Tradition; 27-28 September 2024.
    • Constantine, Athanasius, and the Politics and Nicaea.’ Nicaea, Then and Now: History, Theology and Ecumenical Significance.’ The University of Notre Dame Australia (Sydney campus); 15 May 2025.
    • ‘The Symbolic World of Göbekli Tepe and the First Cities: An Eliadean Approach.’ St Mark’s National Theological Centre (Charles Sturt University), Research Seminars; 4 September, 2024.
    • ‘Walls, Gates, and the Marble King of Byzantine Constantinople.’ The University of Notre Dame Australia’s School of Philosophy and Theology Research Seminars; 30 August 2024.
    • The End Times Throughout History and the Problem of the Year 1000: A Brief Overview.’ Eschatology at the Beginning of the Third Millennium Conference; 9-10 February, 2024 (paper delivered 9 Feb).
    • Baghos, Mario. “Aquatic Symbolism in Late Antique Constantinople.” Byzantium: Empire of the Sea, the 21st Australasian Association for Byzantine Studies (AABS) Conference, 5 June 2023.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The ‘Eusebian’ Constantine: Continuities and Discontinuities in Representations of the First Christian Emperor.’ Meet the Old Gods, Same as the New Gods? Workshop at The University of Newcastle, 29 April 2023.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Religious Symbolism and the Modern City.” St Mark’s National Theological Centre (CSU), Research Seminars, 5 April 2023.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Seeking out the Holy Spirit’s Presence in History: Insights from St Gregory of Nazianzus’ Fifth Theological Oration (Oration 31).” University of Notre Dame, Sydney (Broadway), 22 July 2022.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Conflict or Continuity? Pagan and Christian Symbolism in Five Middle Byzantine Churches in Athens, Greece.’ St Mark’s National Theological Centre (CSU), Research Seminars, 4 May 2022.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Tradition Contra Positivism in Representations of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” St Andrew’s Third Theology Symposium: The Importance of Christology for the 21st Century. St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Redfern NSW, 20 September 2019.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Constantinople as an Image and Centre of the World drawing on Greek and Roman Motifs.” Modern Greek Studies Association of Australia’s Conference: Connecting and Interconnecting Communities and Landscapes. Macquarie University, 7 December 2018.
    • Baghos, Mario. “An Interdisciplinary Approach Toward the Founding of Constantinople.” Late Roman and Early Byzantine Politics Day. Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University, 28 November 2018.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Christ the Pantokrator in the Byzantine Art of Italy.” CIS/SCD Conference, The Impact of Jesus of Nazareth: Historical, Theological and Pastoral Perspectives. Catholic Institute of Sydney, Strathfield, NSW, 28 September 2017.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Turbulence in Alexandria and the Conflicting Representations of Athanasius and Cyril.” Asia-Pacific Early Christian Studies Society, Eleventh Annual Conference: Early Christian Responses to Conflict. Australian Catholic University. Melbourne, VIC, 24 September 2017.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Enigma of Constantine: Navigating the Sources on the First Christian Emperor.” Exploring New Horizons in History Extension. The Association of Independent Schools (AIS). AIS Conference Centre, York Street, Sydney, 1 June 2017.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Christ and His Saints as Ecosystemic Agents: The Case of St John Chrysostom.” St Andrew’s Patristic Symposium: St John Chrysostom. St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Redfern NSW, 23 September 2016.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Christ and His Kingdom or the Emperor and his Romes? The Gospel and the City in the Constantinian Period.” Justice, Mercy and Wellbeing: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Sydney College of Divinity, Macquarie Park NSW, 22 July 2016.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Theotokoupoleis: The Mother of God as Protectress of the Two Romes.” My Soul Magnifies the Lord: Mary at the Beginning of the Third Millennium: An academic conference to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the University of Notre Dame, Sydney Campus. University of Notre Dame, Sydney, 4 March 2016.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Sacred Space and ‘Kairotic’ Time in Medieval Constantinople.” Space and Time in the Early Medieval World: The eleventh conference of the Australian Early Medieval Association. University of Sydney, 12 February 2016.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Medieval Roots of the Ecological Crisis.” St Andrew’s Theology Symposium: The Earth is the Lord’s: Environmental Theology and Ethics, St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Redfern NSW, 10 October 2015.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Wellbeing in Ancient and Medieval Cities (especially Constantinople) and the Modern Crisis.” Wellbeing, Personal Wholeness, and the Social Fabric: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Sydney College of Divinity, Macquarie Park NSW, 28 September 2015.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Constantinople as an Imago et Axis Mundi: Approaching the New Rome through the Lens of the History of Religions.” Byzantine Culture in Translation: The 18th Biennial Conference of Australian Association for Byzantine Studies, University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD, 29 November 2014.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Gospel and the City in the Constantinian Period: Insights from the History of Religions.” Tenth Biennial Conference in Philosophy, Religion and Culture: Faith and the Political, Catholic Institute of Sydney for Theology and Ministry, Strathfield, NSW, 4 October 2014.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Conflicting Portrayals of Origen in the Byzantine Tradition.” St Andrew’s Patristic Symposium: From Alexandria to Cappadocia and Back Again, St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Redfern NSW, 26 September 2014.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Imagines et Axes Mundi: A Diachronic and Cross-Cultural Analysis from the Ancient Near East to the Early Christian Church.” Studies in Religion Research Seminars, University of Sydney, 27 May 2014.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Christocentricity of Ecclesial Art in Byzantium: Diachronic Highlights.” Studies in Religion Research Seminars. The University of Sydney, 15 October 2013.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Christocentricity of Ecclesial Art in Early Byzantium.” Early Christian Centuries Conference: Men and Women in Early Christianity, Centre for Early Christian Studies in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Early Christian Studies Society, Australian Catholic University. Melbourne, VIC, 3 October 2013.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Ecclesial Memory and Secular History in the Conflicting Representations of Cyril of Alexandria - An Apology for the Saint.” St Andrew's Patristic Symposium: St Cyril of Alexandria, St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Redfern, NSW, 21 September 2013.
    • Baghos, Mario. “The Christocentricity of Ecclesial Art within the Byzantine Imperial Context.” The North American Patristics Society (NAPS) Annual Meeting. The Chicago Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL, 24 May 2013.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Mundus Contra Athanasium: Portrait of a Saint.” St Andrew’s Patristic Symposium: St Athanasius the Great, St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Redfern, NSW, 29 September, 2012.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Anthropocentrism and the Dissociation between Cosmos and History: its Impact on our Study of the Past.” Studies in Religion Research Seminars. The University of Sydney; 4 April 2012.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Apokatastasis in the Catechetical Oration of St Gregory of Nyssa: From Incarnation to Baptism and Beyond.” St Andrew’s Patristic Symposium: St Gregory of Nyssa, St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Redfern, NSW, 21 September 2011.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Against Idealism: The Impact of Eschatology upon the Historiography of Fr Georges Florovsky.” The Modern Fathers: Key Figures in Early Christian Historiography series for the Society for the Study of Early Christianity (SSEC), Macquarie University, 21 July 2011.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Eusebius’ Eschatology of Replacement in Relation to his View of the Christian Emperor.” Center for the History of Christian Thought and Experience (CTE) Seminar Series. Macquarie University, 28 April 2011.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Hellenistic Globalisation and the Universal Logos: Perspectives from Philo of Alexandria to the Early Christian Apologists.” Hellenism in a Globalised World, the 10th Biennial Conference of the Modern Greek Studies Association, Australia and New Zealand (MGSAANZ), Macquarie University, 9-12 December 2010.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Working towards an Existential Metanarrative of History in the Writings of St Gregory the Theologian.” St Andrew’s Patristic Symposium: St Gregory the Theologian, St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Redfern, NSW, 15 September 2010.
    • Baghos, Mario. “St Basil’s View of the End Times.” St Andrew’s Patristic Symposium: St Basil the Great, St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Redfern, NSW, 16 September 2009.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Eusebius’ Eschatology of Replacement in Relation to his View of the Christian Emperor.” Sydney College of Divinity Research Seminars, Catholic Institute of Sydney, 5 November 2009.

  • In the media

    • TERRA SYMBOLICA© on YouTube.
    • Baghos, Mario. ‘Notre Dame Conference brings the Nicaean story home.’ Published in The Catholic Weekly, 22 May 2025.
    • Baghos, Mario. “This Advent, it’s time to start thinking about the end of the world.” 30 November 2023.
    • Baghos, Mario. “Tolkien’s Vision was richer and nobler than The Rings of Power.” 17 October 2022.

  • Professional affiliations

    • Catholic Scholars Guild
    • Australian Association for Byzantine Studies (AABS)
    • International Association for Patristic Studies (IAPS)

  • Community engagement

    • Participation in Didaskō adult education series organised by the Parish Renewal Team of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney in collaboration with the The University of Notre Dame Sydney's School of Philosophy and Theology.

  • Awards

    • Excellence in Subject Experience Survey (CSU) for THL211 Creation and Ecology (2019)
    • School Letter of Merit (UNDA) for Teaching THEO3010 Scripture and Church (2018)
    • School Letter of Merit (UNDA) for Teaching TH301 Scripture and Church (2017)
    • Student Commendation (USyd) for Teaching RLST3602 Global Christianity (2015)
    • The University of Sydney John Cooper Memorial Prize for best doctoral thesis (2014)
    • Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) Scholarship (2010-2014)
    • The Dr Beth Blackall Prize for highest grade in a graduate level thesis (2010)
    • The Rev Dr Brian Murray Prize for Bachelor of Theology for highest grades in Theology (2009)
    • The Dianne Feeney Memorial Prize for highest grades in the Bachelor of Theology (2009)

  • Other

    • Convened 'Nicaea, Then and Now: History, Theology and Ecumenical Significance,' hosted by the School of Philosophy and Theology at The University of Notre Dame Australia together with the Catholic Institute of Sydney (at 10 Grafton Street, Chippendale); 15 May 2025.