Receives

Published by The National Herald, August 15, 2005

Holy Cross Theologian Receives Honorary Degree in Thessaloniki

Rev. Dr. George D. Dragas, Professor of Patrology at Hellenic College/Holy Cross – Holy Cross in Brookline Massachusetts, was the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Theology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Pastoral & Social Theology.

Father Dragas is the first professor at Holy Cross to be honored with such a degree from one of the most reputable institutions of higher learning in Greece, and is the second honorary doctorate conferred upon him from respected Orthodox theological institutions (he was honored with a similar degree from the Theological School of St. Clement at the National University of Bulgaria in Sofia in 2000).

The award ceremony took place on June 3 at the old precincts of the Aristotle University’s School of Philosophy in the presence of the vice rector of the University, the dean of the Faculty of Theology, the chair and professors of the Department of Pastoral & Social Theology, the chair and several professors of the University’s Theology Department, and a multitude of priests, students and other distinguished guests from The Greek academic community.

The ceremony was attended by Metropolitan Panteleimon of Tyroloe & Serention, the official representative of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Metropolitan Paul of Servia & Kozani in Macedonia, and Archimandrite Stavros Salmas, an official representative of Metropolitan Anthimos of Thessaloniki.

Vice Rector Aristides D. Kazis, representing University Rector John G. Antonopoulos, acknowledged Father Dragas’ distinctive contributions to theology on an international level, and Pastoral & Social Theology Department Chair Professor Despo Lialiou delivered the laudation address and outlined the Father Dragas’ achievements, which include not only his international academic activities and recognition, but also his numerous publications. Special reference was made to his mentoring of many young theologians, some of whom are now serving as university professors in Thessaloniki and Athens and in other countries, or have distinguished themselves as both clerics and lay professionals.

Father Dragas delivered a lecture, "The Theology of St. Athanasius as the Basis of Patristic Orthodox Dogmatics," and also presented the University with a new volume – "Saint Athanasius of Alexandria: Original Research and New Perspectives" (Orthodox Research Institute, 347 pages, Rollinsford, New Hampshire: 2005) – which he produced for the occasion, and dedicated it to the Department which conferred its highest honor on him.

The ceremony concluded with hymns sung by the Byzantine choir of the Theology School and an open reception offered by the Nomarches (Prefect) of Thessaloniki, Panagiotis Psomiades, in the gardens of the School of Philosophy.

That evening, another reception for the honoree, his presvytera Assimenia and the Faculty of Pastoral Theology was offered by Metropolitan Barnabas of Neapolis in northern Thessaloniki at the Metropolis Center.

In a personal letter, His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens commended Father Dragas for the honor:

Very Rev. Father George – In the conferral of an honorary doctorate on you by the Department of Pastoral & Social Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, I would like to express my warmest congratulations to you. In your person, it is our Holy Church and Orthodox Patristic Theology which is honored, and which you have been already served for a series of years.

May the Risen Lord bless you always and fill you with His grace "in all things," so that you may continue to give your witness of the living God to the contemporary world.

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America also congratulated Father Dragas in a personal letter. The Archbishop, who received an honorary doctorate from the National & Capodistrian University of Athens (Philology Department of the School of Philosophy) on June 8, wrote the following:

Beloved Father George – I received the information relating to the conferral of an Honorary Doctorate upon you by the Department of Pastoral & Social Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and was especially pleased for this truly honorary distinction.

This conferral not only honors your person, but also the Sacred Archdiocese of America which you scrupulously serve. You have my warmest congratulations. I wish to you and to your family every blessing from above. May God protect you, guide you and richly grant you His gifts, so that you may continue your ecclesiastical and academic work productively and creatively.

Before returning stateside, Father Dragas paid a visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate on June 6 to thank the Patriarch for sending a Patriarchal representative to the conferral ceremony, and to receive His All Holiness’ blessing.

About Rev. Dr. George D. Dragas

Father Dragas was born and raised in Athens, Greece, and holds Theology degrees from Edinburgh (Scotland), Princeton (New Jersey) and Durham (England) Universities. He taught Patristics (the Theology of the Fathers of the Church) at Durham from 1974-1995. Since 1995, he has been teaching at Holy Cross in Brookline where he also served as Dean (1995-1997) and Acting President. At present, he is also Visiting Professor at Sherbrooke Université and Laval Université (both in Montreal, Quebec), teaching Doctoral courses in Orthodox Theology, and in the University of Balamand in Lebanon. He is a member of the Academie Internationale des Sciences Religieuses (Brussels, Belgium) and has been involved in ecumenical dialogues for many years as representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (e.g., World Council of Churches, Anglican-Orthodox Dialogue, Eastern & Oriental Orthodox Dialogue, Orthodox-Reformed Dialogue). For his recent publications, visit the web at www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org.



Volume 7 Number 33 - Tuesday, August 16th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY