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# First Orthodox Theologian Named to 1643 Chair at St. Andrews
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/86419-first-orthodox-theologian-named-to-1643-chair-at-st-andrews/
- Published: 2026-02-12T05:15:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-25T16:14:45.000Z
- Description: St. Andrews appoints its first Orthodox theologian to the historic 1643 Chair of Divinity.
- Author: Tobias Straney
- Tags: #Category: News, University of St. Andrews, Chair appointment

**ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND —** The University of St. Andrews [has appointed](https://news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/university-of-st-andrews-appoints-first-orthodox-theologian-to-historic-chair-of-divinity) Professor Marcus Plested as the new 1643 Chair of Divinity, marking what is believed to be the first time an Orthodox theologian has held a senior Divinity post in the university’s 613-year history.

A specialist in patristic, Byzantine, and modern Orthodox theology, Plested’s work centers on the Christian East and its dialogue with Western Christian thought. He has served on the St. Irenaeus Orthodox–Catholic Working Group and acted as the Orthodox consultant for the Vatican’s recent document on the Bishop of Rome.

[![](https://uoj.news/content/images/2025/10/86419-first-orthodox-theologian-named-to-1643-chair-at-st-andrews-image-6c6b6e7301fb.png)On this topicSarah Mullally Appointed First Female Abp. of Canterbury](https://uoj.news/news/85324-sarah-mullally-appointed-first-female-abp-of-canterbury/)

Educated at Merton College, Oxford, he previously taught in Cambridge before moving to the United States in 2013, later affiliating with institutions in Princeton.

“As an Orthodox theologian, and the first non-Protestant to occupy this distinguished chair in all its long history,” Plested said, “this position offers the perfect platform . . . to continue pushing forward the conversation between Orthodox and Western theologies.”

The Chair of Divinity was established in 1643.

Previously, the [UOJ reported](https://uoj.news/news/85937-ahos-launches-american-branch-of-international-bioethics-chair/) that AHOS launched the American of international bioethics chair.