Published by Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, April 7, 2005

Fr. Thomas FitzGerald to Speak at Athens Assembly

Brookline, MA--- Fr. Thomas FitzGerald, the Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA, has been invited to speak to the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy in Athens on April 17-19, 2005.

He will speak on the topic “The Healing and Reconciling Vocation of Orthodox Christianity in Society Today.”

Established by the Greek Parliament in 1993, the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy brings together representatives to parliaments from 21 countries, especially from the European Union and the Russian Federation. The Assembly is closely associated with the European Union.

At this meeting, the participants will examine the topic: “Nation, Religion-Orthodoxy and the New European Reality.” The theme reflects the concern of the Assembly to emphasize the significant role of the Orthodox Church within the new political realities of Europe and the Russian Federation.

A priest and theologian of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, Fr. FitzGerald is recognized for his contributions to Orthodox theological discussions and dialogues with other churches and religious traditions. Between 1994 and 1999, he represented the Ecumenical Patriarchate and served as the senior Orthodox theologian on the staff of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. During this period, he visited Orthodox churches and theological schools in over thirty countries.

Presently the Chairman of the Ecumenical Commission of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops (SCOBA), he represents the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese at meetings of the National Council of Churches and the Massachusetts Council of Churches. He also serves as the executive secretary of the Orthodox-Catholic Bilateral Theological Commission in North America.

In addition to his teaching at Holy Cross, he has also been a visiting professor at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological School, Boston College, and the Ecumenical Institute in Geneva. He has lectured at the University of Thessaloniki, at St. John of Damascus School of Theology in Beirut, at the School of Theology in Bucharest, at the Catholic University in Washington, and at the University of Uppsala, Sweden.

Fr. FitzGerald received his doctorate degree in Theology from the School of Theology of the University of Thessaloniki in Greece. He is also received advanced degrees from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and Boston University School of Theology. He received the Alumni Citation from Holy Cross School of Theology in 1994 and the Award for Excellence in Education in the year 2000 by the students of Holy Cross.

A past president of the Orthodox Theological Society in America, he is the author of the critically acclaimed book The Ecumenical Movement: An Introductory History published by Greenwood Press. He is also the author of The Orthodox Church, The Ecumenical Patriarchate and Christian Unity and Turn to God: Rejoice in Hope. With his wife, Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald, he has coauthored the book Happy in the Lord: The Beatitudes for Everyday. Published by Holy Cross Orthodox Press, this book has become a popular introduction to Orthodox spirituality and theology.

His scholarly articles dealing with Orthodox theology and history have appeared in St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly, Sobornost, Ecumenical Trends, Theological Education, Mid-Stream, and The Greek Orthodox Theological Review.



Volume 7 Number 15 - Tuesday, April 12th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY