GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10021 Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215 Web: http://www.goarch.org Email: communications@goarch.org
For Immediate Release: June 15, 2007
Contact: Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos Cell: 617-680-7222
ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS RECEIVES HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM FORDHAM UNIVERSITY
New York, NY - His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, received the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from Fordham University on the occasion of his 40th anniversary of Episcopal Service, on June 14, 2007 at the University Church, Rose Hill Campus, Fordham University.
The degree ceremony took place in conjunction with the Fourth Annual Orthodoxy in America Lecture that was delivered by the Rev. Andrew Louth, Ph.D., renowned Orthodox scholar of Patristic and Byzantine Studies at Durham University in the United Kingdom.
â??We claim you as one of our own,â?? said the Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., President of Fordham University, about Archbishop Demetrios. Fr. McShane continued by referring to the Archbishop as â??one of the great religious leaders of our time, a man of understanding, graciousness and transparent holiness . . . the perfect role model.â??
Archbishop Demetrios expressed his joy and humility in receiving the Honorary Degree. He described the work and mission of Fordham University as â??encompassing more than the mere transferal of knowledge. The mission of Fordham,â?? stated the Archbishop, â??involves offering mercy and justice to the entire world!â??
A private dinner was held in honor of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios in the magnificent Great Hall of the Duane Library following the degree ceremony and lecture.
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios was enthroned as the spiritual leader of 1.5 million Greek Orthodox Christians in America in 1999, becoming the sixth Archbishop of America. The goals of his ministry include teaching the practice of limitless love and philanthropy and emphasizing, pursuing, and enhancing the establishment of an unbreakable unity within the human community. Archbishop Demetrios received a Ph.D. from Harvard in 1972 and a Th.D. in Theology from the University of Athens in 1977. From 1984 to 1985 and 1988 to 1989 he taught as a visiting professor at Harvard Divinity School and from 1983 to 1993 as a distinguished professor at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. A member abroad of the Academy of Athens, Archbishop Demetrios has received several honorary degrees from various universities here and abroad. A prolific writer, H.E. Archbishop Demetrios has published six major books: 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), and A Call to Faith (2004).