Demetrios, Archbishop of America
Encyclopedia
Archbishop Demetrios of America (born Demetrios Trakatellis; ) is the current archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
and Exarch
of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Upon graduation from high school in 1946, he pursued continuous research in the field of Biblical Studies
, enrolling at the University of Athens School of Theology. In 1950, he graduated from the University of Athens School of Theology with distinction.
The Archbishop was ordained a deacon
in 1960 and a priest in 1964. Prior to moving to the United States
in 1965, Demetrios spent time as a monastic. He was elected titular Bishop
of Vresthena in 1967, as an auxiliary bishop
to the Archbishop of Athens
with the primary responsibility for the theological
education of the clergy.
From 1965 to 1971, on scholarship
from Harvard Graduate School
of Arts and Sciences, Archbishop Demetrios studied New Testament
and Christian Origins
and was awarded a Ph.D. "with distinction," in 1972. Later in 1977, he earned a Th.D. in Theology
from the University of Athens.
In 1968, he was elected Metropolitan of Attika and Megaris, but refused the post for reasons related to the canonical order of the Church and to the political conditions in Greece at that time.
From 1983 to 1993, he served as the Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Christian Origins at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts
. Serving as a faculty member for more than a decade, Demetrios taught many of America's Orthodox clergy. He also taught at Harvard Divinity School
as a Visiting Professor of New Testament during the academic years of 1984-85 and 1988-89.
After several years in the United States, he returned to Greece in 1993 to pursue full-time scholarly writing and research. At the same time, he assumed responsibilities at the Archdiocese of Athens.
A prolific writer, he is the author of six major books:
He is also the author of hundreds of articles and essays published in various periodicals.
as an abroad-residing member in the Discipline of Theology in the areas of Ethics and Political Sciences. He was officially inducted into the Academy on November 14, 2003.
As Archbishop of America and Exarch of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Demitrios was elected on February 19, 2004, as a member of the Holy Synod
of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This election was part of a modification in the Synod to include six hierarchs from eparchies of the Ecumenical Throne outside of Turkey. The Archbishop attended his first meeting of the Synod which met in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 9-11, 2004.
Archbishop Demetrios delivered invocations at the Democratic National Convention on August 27, 2008 and the Republican National Convention on September 4, 2008.
, is a New Democracy
MEP
for Greece
.
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, headquartered in New York City, is an eparchy of the Church of Constantinople. Its current primate is Archbishop Demetrios of America.-About the Archdiocese:...
and Exarch
Exarch
In the Byzantine Empire, an exarch was governor with extended authority of a province at some remove from the capital Constantinople. The prevailing situation frequently involved him in military operations....
of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Overview
Archbishop Demetrios is the son of the late Georgia and Christos Trakatellis and was born in Thessaloniki, Greece on February 1, 1928.Upon graduation from high school in 1946, he pursued continuous research in the field of Biblical Studies
Biblical studies
Biblical studies is the academic study of the Judeo-Christian Bible and related texts. For Christianity, the Bible traditionally comprises the New Testament and Old Testament, which together are sometimes called the "Scriptures." Judaism recognizes as scripture only the Hebrew Bible, also known as...
, enrolling at the University of Athens School of Theology. In 1950, he graduated from the University of Athens School of Theology with distinction.
The Archbishop was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1960 and a priest in 1964. Prior to moving to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1965, Demetrios spent time as a monastic. He was elected titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Vresthena in 1967, as an auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
to the Archbishop of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
with the primary responsibility for the theological
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
education of the clergy.
From 1965 to 1971, on scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
from Harvard Graduate School
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
of Arts and Sciences, Archbishop Demetrios studied New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
and Christian Origins
History of Christianity
The history of Christianity concerns the Christian religion, its followers and the Church with its various denominations, from the first century to the present. Christianity was founded in the 1st century by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth who they believed to be the Christ or chosen one of God...
and was awarded a Ph.D. "with distinction," in 1972. Later in 1977, he earned a Th.D. in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
from the University of Athens.
In 1968, he was elected Metropolitan of Attika and Megaris, but refused the post for reasons related to the canonical order of the Church and to the political conditions in Greece at that time.
From 1983 to 1993, he served as the Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Christian Origins at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
. Serving as a faculty member for more than a decade, Demetrios taught many of America's Orthodox clergy. He also taught at Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
as a Visiting Professor of New Testament during the academic years of 1984-85 and 1988-89.
After several years in the United States, he returned to Greece in 1993 to pursue full-time scholarly writing and research. At the same time, he assumed responsibilities at the Archdiocese of Athens.
Writings
- Presence of the Holy Spirit (1984)
- Authority and Passion (1987)
- The Transcendent God of Eugnostos (1991)
- Christ, the Pre-existing God (1992)
- The Fathers Interpret (1996)
- A Call to Faith (2004)
He is also the author of hundreds of articles and essays published in various periodicals.
Academy and Holy Synod
In November 2002, the Archbishop was unanimously elected by the prestigious Academy of AthensAcademy of Athens
Academy of Athens may refer to:* Platonic Academy* Academy of Athens...
as an abroad-residing member in the Discipline of Theology in the areas of Ethics and Political Sciences. He was officially inducted into the Academy on November 14, 2003.
As Archbishop of America and Exarch of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Demitrios was elected on February 19, 2004, as a member of the Holy Synod
Holy Synod
In several of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches and Eastern Catholic Churches, the patriarch or head bishop is elected by a group of bishops called the Holy Synod...
of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This election was part of a modification in the Synod to include six hierarchs from eparchies of the Ecumenical Throne outside of Turkey. The Archbishop attended his first meeting of the Synod which met in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 9-11, 2004.
Archbishop Demetrios delivered invocations at the Democratic National Convention on August 27, 2008 and the Republican National Convention on September 4, 2008.
Family
His brother, Antonios TrakatellisAntonios Trakatellis
Antonios Trakatellis is a Greek Member of the European Parliament, and an academic biochemist. He was elected on the New Democracy ticket and sits with the European People's Party group...
, is a New Democracy
New Democracy
New Democracy or the New Democratic Revolution is a Maoist concept based on Mao Zedong's "Bloc of Four Social Classes" theory during post-revolutionary China which argues that democracy in China will take a decisively distinct path from either the liberal capitalist and/or parliamentary democratic...
MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
External links
- Official Biography (GOARCH)
- Portrait
- Retrieved from "http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrios_%28Trakatellis%29_of_America"