ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: Professor Stylianos Papadopoulos Buried At Mount Athos

January 25, 2012

Professor Stylianos Papadopoulos Buried At Mount Athos

On the morning of January 15th the Emeritus Professor of Theology at the University of Athens Stylianos Papadopoulos reposed. His funeral was held that day at the University Church of Kapnikarea in Athens and afterwards transferred to Docheiareiou Monastery on Mount Athos, where his son and a nephew are monks, to be buried on January 16th. He also was tonsured a monk towards the end of his life and went by the name of Gerasimos.

Professor Stylianos was probably most well-known to English-speakers for his biography about Elder Iakovos Tsalikes, whom he knew personally, and for writing about his well-known uncle Bishop Gerasimos (Papadopoulos) of Abydos (+ June 12, 1995) who taught and resided at Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology and for whom his nephew gave an eloquent sermon at his funeral at Holy Cross Chapel. Bishop Gerasimos also was an Athonite monk prior to his becoming bishop in the United States.

Biography

Stylianos G. Papadopoulos was born in ancient Cleones of Corinth in 1933 and studied Theology at the University of Athens, Patrology and Byzantine Studies at Sorbonne (Paris), and Byzantine theology and literature as well as the history of philosophy at Munich. He published a number of studies and monographs on Scholastic theology in Byzantium, as well as for the great Church Fathers Athanasius, Basil, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom and Cyril of Alexandria.

He graduated with a Ph.D. from the Theological School of Athens (1967), and became lecturer and professor (1972) for the seat of Patrology and Patristic theology and taught at other higher institutions.

He published a systematic treatment on Patrology (2 volumes), published theological-philosophical studies on contemporary issues (such as theology and language), wrote narrative biographies, organized conferences (locally and abroad), took part in international conferences, represented the Patriarchate of Alexandria in inter-Orthodox, inter-Church and inter-Christian dialogues and conferences, was invited to lecture among university theological faculties in Italy, Russia, England, Czech Republic, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Lebanon, Slovakia, Poland and Egypt, and continued as professor emeritus until the end of his life teaching patristic theology and related research.