Brookline, Massachusetts, July 21, 2025
Photo: hchc.edu
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology announced last week the appointment of Rev. Dr. Demetrios Bathrellos as tenure-track Associate Professor of Theology. The distinguished Orthodox theologian will teach courses in dogmatics and Patristics.
Fr. Demetrios brings extensive international academic experience to his new role. Born and raised in Athens, Greece, he holds dual degrees in classical philology and theology from the University of Athens and completed his doctoral studies in systematic theology at King’s College London. His PhD research was conducted under the supervision of Professor Colin E. Gunton and Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) and was examined by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware and Fr. Andrew Louth.
The newly appointed professor has served in pastoral roles at the Greek Cathedral of Hagia Sophia in London and at the parish of Hagia Sophia in the Metropolis of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki in Athens. His academic career has spanned multiple continents, with teaching positions at King’s College London, Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge, UK, and St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College in Sydney, Australia. He has also taught at the Hellenic Open University, the Institute of Theology of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tallinn, and Neapolis University in Cyprus.
Fr. Demetrios has authored four books and more than fifty scholarly articles in the fields of Patristics and Systematic Theology. His monograph, The Byzantine Christ: Person, Nature, and Will in the Christology of St Maximus the Confessor, published by Oxford University Press in 2004, has garnered widespread scholarly recognition. He is currently completing a new monograph on the sinlessness of Christ, also to be published by Oxford University Press.
He serves on the Boards of Directors of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge, the Volos Academy of Theological Studies in Greece, and the Pappas Patristic Institute in Brookline, Massachusetts. He also sits on the Steering Committee of IOTA for dogmatic theology and the Bioethics Committee of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, and represents the Church of Greece in the official Lutheran–Orthodox Dialogue.
“Holy Cross offers a unique combination of academic excellence, spiritual formation, and preparation for service to the Orthodox Christian Church and the wider society,” Fr. Demetrios said of his appointment.
Holy Cross Dean Fr. Eugen J. Pentiuc welcomed the new faculty member, stating: “We are happy to welcome Fr. Demetrios as an esteemed member of our faculty. I am convinced that Fr. Bathrellos’ international reputation as scholar and academic will contribute to the high standards that Holy Cross upholds as a premier Greek Orthodox School of Theology nationally and internationally.”
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