BIO / Bibliography
BIOGRAPHY
Rev. Dr. Theodore G. Stylianopoulos,
Professor of New Testament, Emeritus
Archbishop Iakovos Professor of Orthodox Theology, Emeritus
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
Brookline, MA 02445
1937 Born in Mouzakion, Trifylias, Messinias, Greece
1941-44 German and Italian occupation of Greece
1945-51 Off and on Greek Civil War
1951 Immigrated with family as refugees to the United States
1951 Six months with relatives in San Francisco
1951-56 Junior High and High School years, Seattle
1956-62 Hellenic College and Holy Cross, Brookline, MA
1963 Married to Faye Fotini Nicon
1963-67 Graduate studies in Boston and Cambridge, MA
1965 Ordained to the Diaconate and the Priesthood
1971-77 Lexington, MA
1977-2000 Needham, MA
2000- Jamaica Plain, Boston
EDUCATION:
Harvard Divinity School, Th D, New Testament and Christian Origins, June 1974.
Boston University School of Theology, STM, New Testament, May 1964.
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Theological School, BA, Theology, June 1962.
FELLOWSHIPS, HONORS AND AWARDS:
Archbishop Iakovos Professor of Orthodox Theology, 2001—2009
Dedication of Student Yearbook, 1994.
Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, 1987.
Archbishop Iakovos Faculty Prize, 1983.
Lilly Foundation Faculty Fellowship for Studies in Greece, 1974-1975.
Taylor Foundation Scholarship for Graduate Studies, 1963-1965.
AREAS OF COMPETENCE:
Primary: New Testament and Early Christian Literature. Eastern Orthodox Theology and Spirituality.
Secondary: Old Testament and Early Judaism. Eastern Orthodox History and Culture. Ecumenical Theology.
Other Areas of Interest: Historiography. Comparative Religion. Contemporary Theology. Philosophy.
PROFESSIONAL POSTS:
Archbishop Iakovos Professor of Orthodox Theology and Professor of New Testament, Emeritus,
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, appointed 1967; tenured full professor 1979-2009.
Visiting Professor of New Testament, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Spring 1997.
Visiting Professor of New Testament, St. John of Damascus School of Theology, Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon, Summers 1990 and 1991.
Visiting Professor of Eastern Christianity, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Ma. 1981-1982.
Lecturer, Tuohy Chair of Interreligious Studies, John Carroll University, Cleveland, Ohio, Summer 1978.
Visiting Professor of Eastern Christianity, Emmanuel College, Boston, Ma. 1969-1972.
SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY:
Lecturer at conferences and parish retreats.
Pastor, St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Keene, N.H., 1978-2012.
Pastor, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Lexington, Ma., 1971-1977.
Assistant Pastor, Annunciation Cathedral, Boston, Ma., 1965-67 and 1977-78.
Substitute Pastor, Boston area, for the Metropolis of Boston, 2012-2021.
Delegate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the 6th WCC Assembly, Vancouver, B.C. (1983).
Member, Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, representing the Ecumencial Patriarchate, 1983-90.
Member, Orthodox-Roman Catholic Consultation in the United States, 1974-1987.
Theological Consultant to the Religious Education Department, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, 1976-1997.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
BOOKS:
Justin Martyr and the Mosaic Law. Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series, Number 20. Scholars Press. Missoula, Montana. 1975.
Come, Receive the Light, Volumes 1 and 2. Religious Education Department of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Brookline, Ma. 1978-79.
Bread for Life: Reading the Bible. Religious Education Department of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Brookline, Ma. 1980.
Christ in Our Midst: Spiritual Renewal in the Orthodox Church. Religious Education Department of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Brookline, Ma. 1981.
A Year of the Lord: Liturgical Bible Studies, Volumes 1-5. Religious Education Department of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Brookline, Ma. 1981-88.
God’s Living Word: Orthodox and Evangelical Essays on Preaching. Edited by Theodore Stylianopoulos. Holy Cross Press. Brookline, Ma. 1983.
My Orthodox Prayerbook. Religious Education Department of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Brookline, Ma. 1985.
Spirit of Truth: Ecumenical Perspectives on the Holy Spirit. Edited by Theodore Stylianopoulos and S. Mark Heim. Holy Cross Orthodox Press. Brookline, Ma. 1986.
The Eternal Liturgy. Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Brookline, Ma. 1987.
Orthodox Perspectives on Pastoral Praxis. Edited by Theodore Stylianopoulos. Holy Cross Orthodox Press. Brookline, Ma. 1988.
The Good New of Christ: Essays on the Gospel, Sacraments and Spirit. Holy Cross Orthodox Press. Brookline, Ma. 1991.
The New Testament: An Orthodox Perspective, Volume 1. Holy Cross Orthodox Press.
Brookline, Ma. 1997. Translated into Arabic and Ukrainian (2005), and Russian (2009).
The Way of Christ: Gospel, Spiritual Life, and Renewal. Holy Cross Orthodox Press: Brookline, Ma. 2002. Translated into Bulgarian (2010).
Sacred Text and Interpretation: Essays in Orthodox Biblical Studies in Honor of Savas Agourides. Greek Orthodox Theological Review (2003) and separately as a book with the same title edited by Theodore Stylianopoulos. Holy Cross Orthodox Press. Brookline, Ma. (2006).
Encouraged by the Scriptures: Essays on Scripture, Interpretation, and Life. Holy Cross Orthodox Press. Brookline, Ma. (2011).
The Making of the New Testament: Church, Gospel, and Canon. Holy Cross Orthodox Press:
Brookline, Ma. (2014).
The Apostolic Gospel. Holy Cross Orthodox Press: Brookline, MA. (2015).
ARTICLES:
"Historical Studies and Orthodox Theology," Greek Orthodox Theological Review 12 (1967) 394-419.
"The Orthodox Church in America," The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences 387 (1970) 41-48.
"Tradition in the New Testament," Greek Orthodox Theological Review 15 (1970) 7-21.
"New Theology and the Orthodox Tradition," St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly 14 (1970) 136-54.
"Shadow and Reality: Reflections on Hebrews 10:1-18," Greek Orthodox Theological Review 17 (1972) 205-30.
"Biblical Studies in Orthodox Theology: A Response," in Papers Presented at the First International Theological Conference of Orthodox Theologians in America, Greek Orthodox Theological Review 17 (1972) 69-85.
"Justin Martyr's Contribution to the Exegetical Tradition of the Church," Eisegeseis A’ Orthodoxou Hermeneutikou Synedriou(Athens, 1973) 175-91.
“Reflections on the Second Conference of Orthodox Theological Schools," Greek Orthodox Theological Review 21 (1976) 298-304.
"New Testament Issues in Jewish-Christian Relations,” Journal of Ecumenical Studies 13 (1976) 586-94. (Also in Greek Orthodox Theological Review 22 (1977) 70-78.
“Aspects historiques et eschatologiques de la vie de l' Eglise d' apres le Nouveau Testament," Proces-Verbaux du deuxieme congres de theologie orthodoxe, edited by Savas Agourides (Athens, 1978) 176-207. [Also in English in Greek Orthodox Theological Review 22 (1977) 181-213].
"Toward a Theology of Marriage in the Orthodox Church," Greek Orthodox Theological Review 22 (1977) 249-83.
"Holy Eucharist and Priesthood in the New Testament," Greek Orthodox Theological Review 23 (1978) 113-30.
"Staretz Silouan: A Modern Orthodox Saint," in God and Charity: Images of Eastern Orthodox Theology, Spirituality, and Practice, edited by Francis D. Costa (Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1979) 33-54.
"The Orthodox Position," Conflicts About the Holy Spirit, Concilium, Volume 128, edited by H. Kueng and J. Moltmann (Seabury Press, 1979) 23-33.
"Orthodoxy and Catholicism: A New Attempt at Dialogue," Greek Orthodox Theological Review 26 (1981) 157-69. (Also in Diakonia 17 (1982) 4-20.
"The Philokalia: A Review Article," Greek Orthodox Theological Review26 (1981) 252-63.
"The Gospel of Christ," Orthodox Theology and Diakonia, edited by Demetrios J. Constantelos (Hellenic College Press, 1981) 53-77.
“Education of the Heart,” Greek Orthodox Theological Review 37 (1-2, 1992) 79-92.
"The Biblical Background of the Article on the Holy Spirit in the Constantinopolitan Creed," Etudes Theologiques 2: Le Iie Concile Oecumenique (Chambesy: Les Editions du Centre Orthodoxe, 1982) 155-73.
"A Christological Reflection," Jesus Christ--The Life of the World, ed. Ion Bria (Geneva: WCC, 1982) 29-55.
"Jesus Christ--the Life of the World," Gathered for Life: Official Report of the VI Assembly of the World Council of Churches, edited by David Gill (Geneva, 1983) 211-222. [Also in Greek Orthodox Theological Review 28 (1983) 135-44; Ecumenical Review 35 (1983) 364-70 and Stimme Orthodoxie 3 (1984) 20-24.
"Christ, Church and Eucharist," Diakonia 18 (1983) 100-24.
“Christ, Church and Preacher: The Living Sources for Preaching,” in God’s Living Word: Orthodox and Evangelical Essays on Preaching, ed. Theodore G. Stylianopoulos (Brookline: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1983) 75-92.
"The Question of the Reception of BEM in the Orthodox Church in the Light of its Ecumenical Commitment," Orthodox Perspectives on Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, Faith and Order Papers No. 128, edited by Gennadios Limouris and Nomikos M. Vaporis (Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1985) 105-28.
Articles on "Ephraem of Syria," "Isaac the Syrian," and "Seraphim of Sarov," The Encyclopedia of Religion, edited by Marcia Eliade (1986).
“The Filioque: Dogma, Theologoumenon or Error?" Spirit of Truth, edited by Theodore Stylianopoulos and S. Mark Heim (Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1986) 25-58.
"Scripture, Scholarship, and Faith," Theosis, May/June 1988.
"The Churches and the Jewish People: Towards a New Understanding--The Sigtuna Statement," Christian-Jewish Relations, Winter (1988) 43-48.
“The Church at Risk: Meeting the Challenging Needs of Teenagers Today,” A Report from the Archdiocese Teenage Taskforce on Religious Education (1988).
"Report to His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos of the Commission on the Archdiocesan Theological Agenda," Co-author, Greek Orthodox Theological Review 34 (1989) 283-306.
"The Indissolubility of Marriage in the New Testament: Principle and Practice," Greek Orthodox Theological Review 34 (1989) 335-45.
Articles on "Orthodox Piety" and "Orthodox Spirituality" in Dictionary of Christianity in America, edited by Daniel G. Reid and others (Intra Varsity Press, 1990).
“A Brief Statement on the Status of Jewish-Christian Relations in the Orthodox Church,” Report: Consultation on the Church and the Jewish People (Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1992) 36-37.
“Scriptural Authority in Eastern Orthodoxy,” The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Volume 5, edited by David Noel Freedman (New York: Doubleday, 1992) 1021-23.
“Faithfulness to the Roots and Commitment toward the Future: An Orthodox View,” in Orthodox Christians and Jews on Continuity and Renewal: The Third Academic Meeting between Orthodoxy and Judaism, edited by Malcolm Lowe and published in Emmanuel 26/27 (1994) 142-59.
“Faith and Culture in St. Paul: Continuity and Discontinuity,” in Rightly Teaching the Word of Your Truth: Studies in Honor of His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos, edited by Nomikos Michael Vaporis (Brookline: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1995) 39-52.
“Saint John Chrysostom’s Understanding of the Gospel,” in ibidem, 213-226.
“Discernment and Diagnosis In Human Development: An Orthodox Theological Perspective,” in Personhood: Orthodox Christianity and the Connection Between Body, Mind, and Soul,” edited by John T. Chirban (Westport: Bergin and Garvey, 1996)17-15, 32-33. Reprinted in Sickness or Sin? Spiritual Discernment and Differential Diagnosis, edited by John T. Chirban (Brookline: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 2001).
“Justin Martyr,” Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, Second Edition, Volume 1, edited by Everett Ferguson (New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1997) 647-750.
“Jerusalem to Galilee: A Travelog,” The Hellenic Chronicle, Easter Edition 1998, pp. 23 and 32.
“The Gospel in Orthodox Perspective,” in Agape and Diakonia: Essays in Memory of Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos, edited by Peter A. Chamberas (Brookline: Holy Cross Press, 1998) 73-95.
“Church Order in Orthodox Perspective,” in The American Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate: Annual Meeting Proceedings of the Orthodox Christian Laity, edited by Alice O. Kopan (Minneapolis: Light and Life, Inc., 1998) 26-35.
“A New Church Year: A Year of Grace,” Hellenic Chronicle, September 16, 1998, p. 4.
“On Christian Leadership,” The National Herald, November 7-8, 1998, p. 1.
“The Nature of Christian Leadership: Reflections from an Orthodox Perspective,” Hellenic Chronicle, November 18, 1998, p. 10; November 25, 1998, p. 5, and December 2, 1998, p. 3.
“Orthodox Biblical Interpretation,” Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation, K-Z, edited by John H. Hayes (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999) 227-230.
“Our Church at the Crossroads,” Hellenic Chronicle, January 20, 1999, p. 5.
“A Christian Approach to Conflict,” Hellenic Chronicle, April 21, 1999, p. 11.
“Orthodoxy: Triumph or Triumphalism?” Hellenic Chronicle, June 16, 1999, p. 6.
“Church Crisis Needs Action as well as Prayer,” Hellenic Chronicle, July 28, 1999, p. 5.
“The Gifts of Orthodoxy,” Hellenic Chronicle, September 12, 1999, pp. 4-5 and The National Herald,September 18-19, 1999, p. A14.
“Prayer in Scripture and Tradition,” Hellenic Chronicle, October 13, 1999, p. 7; October 20, 1999, p. 6; October 27, 199, p. 11, and November 3, 1999, p. 8.
“The Inspiration of Dionysius Exiguus and the New Millennium,” The National Herald, December 18-19, 1999, p. 11.
“Reflections on the Gift of Time,” The Hellenic Chronicle, January 19, 2000, p. 1 and 3.
“Gospel and Spirituality in the Life and Thought of St. Silouan” (in Greek), IHSOUS CHRISTOS H TOU KOSMOU ZWH, edited by Stavros Fotiou (Nicosia, Cyprus: Kykkos Monastery Center of Studies, 2000) 290-311.
“The New Testament: Verbal Icon of Christ,” Praxis 2 (2, 2000) 11-14.
“Ask Father,” Again 23 (1, January-March 2001) 19.
“Fasting and Prayer in the Summer?” The Hellenic Voice, August 15, 2001, p. 3.
“Circles and Progress: Priorities During the New Church Year,” The Hellenic Voice, August 29, 2001, pp. 10 and 12.
“Overcoming Evil with Good,” The Hellenic Voice, September 26, 200l, p. 10; also in The National Herald,September 22-23, 2001, p. 7;and in Praxis, 3 (1, 2002) 21-23.
“Christ as the Revealer of the Father and the Spirit,” The Annual Resource Companion, Vol. 4, edited by Frank Marangos (Brookline: Department of Religious Education, 2001-2002) 87-93.
“Holy Trinity, Holy Community and Evangelism,” Windows to the East, edited by J. Z. Skira and M. I. Tataryn (Ottawa: Novalis, 2001) 171-187.
“An Orthodox Vision and the Quest for Authenticity,” The National Herald, March 16-17, 2002, p. 9.
“Peace Through Justice: A Statement on the Palestinian Conflict,” Drafted on behalf of the Faculty and released for publications to the media.
“Holy Week in an Unholy World,” The National Harold, April 27-28, 2002, p. 11; also appearing as the main editorial in The Hellenic Voice, May 1, 2002, p. 6.
“Reflections on the Los Angeles Clergy-Laity Congress,” The Hellenic Voice, July 24, 2002, p. 6.
“The Gift of the Lord’s Day,” The Hellenic Voice, September 25, 2002, pp. 12 and 14.
“The Gospel in the Parish” in The Orthodox Parish in America: Faithfulness to the Past and Responsibility for the Future, ed., Anton C. Vrame (Brookline: Holy Cross Press, 2003), pp. 175-90; also published in GOTR 48 (1-4, 2003), PP. 175-190.
“St. Paul’s Message of Faith, Hope, Love,” The Hellenic Voice, February 4, 2004, p. 8.
“Holy Scripture, Interpretation and Spiritual Cognition,” Greek Orthodox Theological Review 46 (1, 2001), pp. 3-34. (This issue of GOTR came out in May 2004). Same article appeared in Orthodox and Wesleyean Scriptural Understanding and Practice, ed. S T Kimbrough, Jr (Crestwoord, N.Y.: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2005), pp. 55-72.
“Concerning the Biblical Foundation of Primacy,” Il ministero petrino: cattolici e ortodossi in dialogo, ed. Walter Kasper (Rome: Citta Nuova, 2004), pp. 43-71. Also published in The Petrine Ministry: Catholics and Orthodox in Dialogue, ed., Cardinal Walter Kasper (New York: Newman Press, 2006), pp. 37-64, and in GOTR 49 (1-2, 2004), PP. 1-31.
Extended Review of John Breck, Scripture in Tradition, St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly 48(1, 2004), pp. 159-154.
“Christ, the Bread of Life,” The Hellenic Voice, June 20, 2004, p. 8.
“Christmas, Credit Cards and Church,” The Hellenic Voice, Guest Editorial, December 7, 2005, p. 5.
“Seed and Soil,” The Hellenic Voice,December 7, p. 6.
“H Biblike Vasi tou Proteiou,” Deltio Biblikon Meleton, 23 (2005) 7-32.
“Church, Culture, Christian Stewardship,” The Hellenic Voice, January 10, 2007, p. 8.
“Perspectives in Orthodox Biblical Interpretation,” Sacred Text and Interpretation: Perspectives in Orthodox Biblical Studies in Honor of Savas Agourides, GOTR 47 (1-4, 2003), late issue published in 2005, pp. 327-38; and also as: “Orthodox Biblical Interpretation” in Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible, ed. Kevin J. Vanhoozer (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005), pp. 554-58; also in Sacred Text and Interpretation: Perspectives in Orthodox Biblical Studies, Papers in Honor of Professor Savas Agourides , edited by Theodore Stylianopoulos (Brookline, Holy Cross Press, 2006), pp. 325-326.
“Suffering in St. Paul,” Journal of Modern Hellenism 19-20 (Winter 2002-2003), late issue published in 2005, pp. 175-94; also published in John Papson, ed., Only the Light Remains: Papers in Honor of George C. Pilitsis (Brookline: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 2006), pp. 183-202.
“‘A Life Worthy of God:’ Vocation according to St. Paul,” Christ at Work: Orthodox Christian Perspectives on Vocation,” ed., Ann Mitsakos Bezzerides (Brookline: Holy Cross Press, 2006), pp. 71-106.
“A Gospel in the Gospel of Judas?” The Hellenic Voice, Extended Guest Editorial, April 19, 2006, p. 4; and appearing extensively on the Internet.
“The Da Vinci Code: Decoding the Agenda,” The Hellenic Voice, Extended Guest Editorial, May l7, 2006, p. 5.
“Letter to a Christian Nation,” The Hellenic Voice, Guest Editorial, November 29, 2006, p. 5.
“Sacred Scripture and Christian Unity: Reflections from an Orthodox Point of View,” Dei Verbum 81 (4 2006), pp. 8-15.
“What Do We Mean When We Say “Christ Is Risen?” The Hellenic Voice, April 4, 2007, p. 41.
“A Story About the Power of Faith,” The Hellenic Voice, September 19, 2007, p. 8.
“Comments on Biblical Translation,” Church and Society: Orthodox Christian Perspectives, Past Experiences, and Modern Challenges; Studies in Honor of Rev. Dr. Demetrios J. Constantelos, ed. George P. Liacopulos (Boston: Somerset Hall Press, 2007) pp. 193-212.
“A Christmas beyond Tinsel and Cheer,” Guest Editorial, The Hellenic Voice, December 26, 2007, p. 6.
“Faith and Politics: Give to Caesar what Is Caesar’s?” Guest Editorial, The Hellenic Voice, January 16, 2008, p. 5.
“Great Lent: Sorrow, joy, holy fire,” The Hellenic Voice, February 20, p. 8.
“Great and Holy Pascha: Christ Is Slain and Victor,” The Hellenic Voice, April 2008, pp. 35 and 45.
“Guidelines for Spiritual Growth,” The Hellenic Voice, June 18, 2008, p. 8.
“The Gift of Freedom,” The Hellenic Voice, July 2, 2008, p. 5.
“Scripture and Tradition in the Church,” The Cambridge Companion to Orthodox Christian Theology, eds. Mary B. Cunningham and Elizabeth Theokritoff (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009) pp. 21-34.
“‘I Know Your Works:’ Grace and Judgment in the Apocalypse,” Apocalyptic Thought in Early Christianity, ed. Robert J. Daly, SJ (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009) pp. 17-32.
“Holy Pentecost: The Gift of the Spirit,” Hellenic Voice,June 3, 2009, p.
“Bible,” The Encyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Vol. 1, ed. John Anthony McGuckin (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011) pp. 70-72.
“Gospel,” The Encyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Vol. 1, ed. John Anthony McGuckin (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011), pp. 278-280.
“Resurrection,” The Encyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Vol. 2, ed. John Anthonly McGuckin (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011) pp. 469-471.
“Orthodox Readings of Paul,” The Blackwell Companion to Paul, ed. Stephen Westerholm (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2011) pp. 472-87.