Demetrios Constantelos
Fr. Demetrios J. Constantelos is a retired priest of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. He is a world-renowned scholar on Eastern Orthodoxy, Byzantium, modern Greek history, and Hellenistic philosophy. Currently he is a Distinguished Research Scholar in Residence and the Charles Cooper Townsend Sr. Distinguished Professor of History and Religious Studies, Emeritus, at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona, NJ. He was born in Spilia, Messenia, Greece. He became a United States citizen in 1958, and resides in Linwood, NJ, with his wife and presbytera, Stella.
Early life
Following his graduation from the Gymnasium of Kyparissia, Greece, he was offered a scholarship to study at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts). Upon his graduation from the Theological School in 1951 he attended the University of Michigan. In 1954 he married Stella Croussouloudis of New York and Chios, and returned to Greece where he enrolled and attended courses at the School of Theology, University of Athens (1954-1955). Upon his return to the United States in May of 1955, he was ordained in July, 1955 and assigned to St. Demetrios Church in Perth Amboy, NJ. During his diakonia at St. Demetrios (1955-1964) he pursued post-graduate studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ, (1957-1959), receiving a Th. M. in New Testament studies, and Rutgers University (1959-1964), receiving an M.A. in 1963 and Ph.D. in 1965 in the history of Byzantine Civilization. He has received several scholarships, fellowships and honors including the Lane Cooper Fellowship and University Fellowship at Rutgers University, a Junior Fellowship at Dumbarton Oaks of Harvard University, several grants, an honorary doctorate in theology by Hellenic College/Holy Cross and several distinctions from academic, professional and social organizations.
Recent career
Since 1962, he has taught at Rutgers University, Hellenic College, Boston College, New York University and has lectured at several universities and colleges in the United States and before many professional, religious, academic and civic organizations. He has read papers at International Congresses of Byzantine Studies, Conference on Medieval Studies, the Catholic Historical Association, American Historical Association, Society for Church History, the American Academy of Religion, the Modern Greek Studies Association, the Orthodox Theological Society of America, the Anglican-Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox-Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox and Evangelical Lutheran Theological Consultations, and other organizations in the United States, and other countries in Spain, England, France, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Israel, South Korea, Australia and Greece. Between 1955 and 1996, Rev. Constantelos served either as regular or visiting pastor at several communities in New England, New Jersey, and Maryland.
He has been a visiting lecturer in many communities of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, California, Kansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Florida, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Indiana.
Dr. Constantelos is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Ecumenical Studies at Temple University, and a member of the New Revised Standard Version Bible Committee of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. He has also received several academic, community and book awards from 1959 to 2002.
Personal life
Professor Constantelos is married to Stella Croussouloudis of New York City and is the father of four children: Christine, a graduate in Plant Science of Rutgers University; John, a graduate in Political Science and International Relations of Tufts University, Johns Hopkins University, and Duke University; Eleni, a literature graduate of Colgate University; and Maria, an educator, graduate of Bergen College, who also attended Ramapo College and Marymount College. He is blessed with six grandchildren. He resides with his wife Stella in Linwood, New Jersey, USA.
Publications
Fr. Constantelos is a prolific writer, with published books and articles on Hellenism, philosophy, history and theology. His many titles include:
- Christian Faith And Cultural Heritage : Essays from a Greek Orthodox Perspective [ISBN 0972466177]
- Renewing the Church : The Significance of the Council in Trullo [ISBN 1885652852]
- Paideia : Addresses to Young People
- The Complete Works of His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos, Primate of North and South America 1959-1996 [ISBN 1885652208]
- The Torchbearer : Encyclicals Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Subjects, Administration, Education, Culture
- Understanding the Greek Orthodox Church : Its Faith, History and Practice [ISBN 0816405158]
- Christian Hellenism, Volume Three : Essays and Studies in Continuity and Change [ISBN 0892415231]
- The Greeks, Their Heritage, and Its Value Today [ISBN 0917653475]
- Poverty, Society and Philanthropy in the Late Mediaeval Greek World [ISBN 0892414014]
- Byzantine Philanthropy and Social Welfare [ISBN 0892414022]
- Religious-Philosophical Issues and Interreligious Dialogues in the Orthodox Church Since World War II [ISBN 0917651278]
- Orthodox Theology and Diakonia : Trends and Prospects Essays in Honor of His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos on the Occasion of His Seventieth Birthday ISBN 0916586804
- Marriage, Sexuality and Celibacy : A Greek orthodox Perspective
