The idea of an Orthodox institute was conceived after Metropolitan
Anthony of Sourozh was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1996 by the University of Cambridge. The institute was established and received the first admission of students in 1999. The declared aims of the institute, as expressed in its memorandum and articles of association, are "to advance religious and theological education, particularly of members of the Orthodox Church." Following that event, at the initiative of Father John Jillions who was at the time working on his doctoral project at Tyndale House in Cambridge, and with the support of Metropolitan Anthony, an Orthodox Working Group started meeting between 1998 and 1999 with the express purpose of researching the possibility of establishing an Orthodox Institute in Cambridge. The Working Group included – besides Father John Jillions –
Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, representatives from the Faculty of Divinity in Cambridge and the Cambridge Theological Federation and other influential scholars and figures. The institute was eventually established and received the first admission of students in 1999, with Revd Dr John Jillions as its first Principal. The declared aims of the Institute, as expressed in its memorandum and articles of association, are "to advance religious and theological education, particularly of members of the Orthodox Church." IOCS was founded 2 March 1999 as a registered charity and limited company in England and Wales. It became a member of the Cambridge Theological Federation in the same year. In 2012 the Orthodox Episcopal Assembly for Great Britain and Ireland recognized, approved and blessed IOCS as an educational centre and appointed one of its bishops, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, to be the institute's first president. Concordant with the teaching at IOCS, he was also an advocate for teaching the Orthodox faith in English. The Institute was initially based within Wesley House (1999-2013), the Methodist college in Cambridge on
Jesus Lane who at the time also hosted the offices of the Cambridge Theological Federation and of other theological houses in Cambridge. In 2013, following the downscaling of Wesley House’s operations, the institute moved briefly to a building at 25-27 Chesterton High Street, Cambridge. Since 2018 the Institute has returned to the newly reconfigured Wesley House on Jesus Lane, being now based at 31 Jesus Lane CB5 8BJ. In 2013 the institute acquired its own premises in Palamas House on Chesterton High Street, Cambridge. == Organisation and administration ==