John Chryssavgis (born 1 April 1958) is an Orthodox Christian theologian who serves as advisor to the

Ecumenical Patriarch The ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople () is the archbishop of Constantinople and (first among equals) among the heads of the several autocephalous churches that comprise the Eastern Orthodox Church. The ecumenical patriarch is regarded as ...

environmental issues Environmental issues are disruptions in the usual function of ecosystems. Further, these issues can be caused by humans (human impact on the environment) or they can be natural. These issues are considered serious when the ecosystem cannot recov ...

. He is a clergyman of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In January 2012, he received the title of Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Throne by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. In 2016, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary. In 2020, he was elected Honorary Professor of Theology in the Sydney College of Divinity.

Early life and education

John Chryssavgis was born in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

in 1958. He matriculated from

the Scots College The Scots College is an independent primary and secondary Day school, day and Boarding school, boarding school for boys, predominantly located in , an Eastern Suburbs (Sydney), eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is affiliat ...

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

in 1975 and received his degree in theology from the

University of Athens The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA; , ''Ethnikó kai Kapodistriakó Panepistímio Athinón''), usually referred to simply as the University of Athens (UoA), is a public university in Athens, Greece, with various campuses alo ...

in 1980. He received a diploma in

Byzantine Music Byzantine music () originally consisted of the songs and hymns composed for the courtly and religious ceremonial of the Byzantine Empire and continued, after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, in the traditions of the sung Byzantine chant of East ...

from the Greek Conservatory of Music in 1979 and was awarded a research scholarship to St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary in 1982. He completed his doctoral studies in

Patristics Patristics, also known as Patrology, is a branch of theological studies focused on the writings and teachings of the Church Fathers, between the 1st to 8th centuries CE. Scholars analyze texts from both orthodox and heretical authors. Patristics e ...

at the

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

in 1983. Chryssavgis read patristic theology at the

Career

His work and writing have focused on medieval theology, as well as on the history of the Eastern Church. He holds degrees in theology and

sacred music Religious music (also sacred music) is a type of music that is performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence. It may overlap with ritual music, which is music, sacred or not, performed or composed for or as a ritual. Reli ...

. His teaching has covered wide-ranging topics, such as theological, political, and social developments, themes and personalities of the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

, including cultural and religious relations and tensions between East and West. His interests have embraced the areas of

spirituality The meaning of ''spirituality'' has developed and expanded over time, and various meanings can be found alongside each other. Traditionally, spirituality referred to a religious process of re-formation which "aims to recover the original shape o ...

, ecology, and

liturgy Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and participation in the sacred through activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, remembra ...

. His research has specialised in the

ascetic Asceticism is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from worldly pleasures through self-discipline, self-imposed poverty, and simple living, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their pra ...

thought and practice of the early Church, especially from the desert tradition of

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

(4th century) through the regions of

Palestine Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by International recognition of Palestine, 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and th ...

(5th–6th centuries) and Sinai (7th century). After several months in silent retreat on

Mount Athos Mount Athos (; ) is a mountain on the Athos peninsula in northeastern Greece directly on the Aegean Sea. It is an important center of Eastern Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodox monasticism. The mountain and most of the Athos peninsula are governed ...

, he worked with the Greek Orthodox Primate in Australia (1984–1994) and was co-founder of

St Andrew Andrew the Apostle ( ; ; ; ) was an apostle of Jesus. According to the New Testament, he was a fisherman and one of the Apostles in the New Testament, Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus. The title First-Called () used by the Eastern Orthodox Chu ...

's Theological College in Sydney, where he was Sub-Dean and taught Patristics and Church History (1986–1995). He was also Lecturer in the Divinity School (1986–1990) and the School of Studies in Religion (1990–1995) at the

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD) is a public university, public research university in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in both Australia and Oceania. One of Australia's six sandstone universities, it was one of the ...

. In 1995, he moved to

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, where he was appointed Professor of Theology at Holy Cross School of Theology and directed the Religious Studies Program at

Hellenic College Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (HCHC) is a private Orthodox Christian liberal arts college and seminary in Brookline, Massachusetts. Its mission is to educate individuals for life and service in the Orthodox Ch ...

until 2002. He established the Environment Office at the same School in 2001. He has also taught as professor of

at the

University of Balamand The University of Balamand (UOB; ) is a private institution, secular in its policies and approach to education. It welcomes faculty, students, and staff from all faiths and national or ethnic origins. The university is located in the northern di ...

in Lebanon. In recent years, he has published several books and countless articles in international journals and encyclopaedias in the area of religion and ecology, social justice and peace, with forthcoming books including John Climacus: from the Egyptian Desert to the Sinaite Mountain ( Ashgate, UK, Winter 2004); and Light Through Darkness: Insights into Orthodox Spirituality (

Orbis Books Orbis Books is an American imprint of the Maryknoll order. It has been a small but influential publisher of liberation theology works. It was founded by Nicaraguan Maryknoll priest Miguel D'Escoto with Philip J. Scharper in 1970. Its editor- ...

, Summer 2004) He currently serves as theological advisor to the

. He lives in

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

Bibliography

*''Persons and Events: Historical Moments in the Development of Orthodox Christianity'', Archdiocese of Australia, Sydney, 1985. ut of print*''Fire and Light: Aspects of the Eastern Orthodox Tradition'' (Light and Life Publications, Minneapolis MN, 1987). ut of print*''Ascent to Heaven: The Theology of the Human Person According to Saint John of the Ladder'' (Holy Cross Press, Boston MA, 1989) ut of printGoogle Books: ''Ascent to Heaven: The Theology of the Human Person According to Saint John of the Ladder''
()- Retrieved 2019-02-06 *''The World My Church'' (with Sophie Chryssavgis), David Lovell Publishing, Melbourne, 1990. Reprinted with changes by Holy Cross Press, Boston MA, 1998. Five printings to date. *''The Desert is Alive: Dimensions of Australian Spirituality'', Joint Board of Christian Education, Melbourne, 1990. Second Printing 1993. ut of print*''Repentance and Confession'', Holy Cross Press, Boston MA, 1990. Second Printing 1996. Third printing 1998. *''Love, Sexuality, and Marriage'', Holy Cross Press, Boston MA, 1996. Second printing 1998. *''The Way of the Fathers: Exploring the Mind of the Church Fathers'', Analecta Vlatadon, Thessalonika, 1998. ut of print*''Beyond the Shattered Image: Insights into an Orthodox Ecological World View'', Light and Life Books, Minneapolis MN, 1999. ut of print*''Soul Mending: The Art of Spiritual Direction'', Holy Cross Press, Boston MA, 2000. Second printing 2002. *''In the Footsteps of Christ: the ascetic teaching of Abba Isaiah of Scetis'', SLG Press, Oxford UK, 2001. ith P.R.Penkett*''The Body of Christ: A Place of Welcome for People with Disabilities'', Light and Life, Minneapolis MN, 2002. Subsequently published by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America: New York NY, 2017. *''Abba Isaiah of Scetis: The Ascetic Discourses'', Cistercian Publications, Kalamazoo MI, 2002. ith P.R.Penkett*''In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers'', World Wisdom Books, Bloomington IN, 2003. 2nd revised edition 2008. Also translated into Italian: Bose Publications, Italy 2004. Also translated into Romanian: Sophia Editions, Bucharest, 2004. *''Cosmic Grace, Humble Prayer: Ecological Vision of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew'', Eerdmans Books, Grand Rapids MI, 2003. Revised and updated, 2009. ut of print*''Letters from the Desert: A Selection of the Spiritual Correspondence of Barsanuphius and John'', St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, New York NY, 2003. *''The Way of Tears: A Spirituality of Imperfection'', In Greek: Akritas Publications, Athens, 2003. *''The Way of the Fathers: Exploring the Mind of the Church Fathers'', Light and Life Books, Minneapolis MN, 2003 *''Light through Darkness: Insights into Orthodox Spirituality'', Orbis Press: Maryknoll; and Darton Longman and Todd: London, 2004 *''John Climacus: from the Egyptian desert to the Sinaite mountain'', Ashgate, London, 2004. *''The Reflections of Abba Zosimas: Monk of the Palestinian Desert'', SLG Press: Oxford, 2004. Reprinted 2006. *''The Ecumenical Patriarchate: a historical guide'', Ecumenical Patriarchate Publications, Constantinople, 2005. 2nd revised edition, 2007. ut of print*''The Correspondence of Barsanuphius and John, with translation, introduction, notes and complete indices (scriptural, patristic, subject and names)''. For Catholic University Press, Washington DC, 2 volumes, 2006 and 2007. *''In the World, Yet Not of the World: Social and Global Initiatives of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew'',

Fordham University Press The Fordham University Press is a publishing house, a division of Fordham University, that publishes primarily in the humanities and the social sciences. Fordham University Press was established in 1907 and is headquartered at the university's Li ...

, New York, 2009. *''Speaking the Truth in Love: Theological and Spiritual Exhortations of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew'', Fordham University Press, New York, 2010. *''In the Footsteps of St. Paul: An Academic Symposium'', Holy Cross Press, Boston MA, 2011. ith Archbishop Demetrios Trakatellis of America*''On Earth as in Heaven: Ecological Vision and Initiatives of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew'', Fordham University Press, New York, 2012. *''Remembering and Reclaiming Diakonia: The Diaconate Yesterday and Today'' (Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 2009) *''The Patriarch of Solidarity: ecological and global concerns of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew'', In Greek and English: Istos Books, Istanbul, 2013. *''Toward an Ecology of Transfiguration: Orthodox Christian Perspectives on Environment, Nature, and Creation'', Fordham University Press, New York, 2013. ith Bruce Foltz*''Dialogue of Love: Breaking the Silence of Centuries'', Fordham University Press, 2014. *''The Ecumenical Patriarchate Today: Sacred Greek Orthodox Sites of Istanbul'', London Editions: Istanbul, 2014. *
Translation of The Fathers of the Church: Barsanuphius and John, Letters, Volume 2
', The Catholic University of America Press, Washington, D.C., 2014. *''Three Perspectives on the Sacred: The Augustana Distinguished Lectures'', Chester Ronning Center, Camrose Alberta, 2015. *''Saint Anthony the Great, with Marilyn Rouvelas llustrated by Isabelle Brent', Wisdom Tales, Bloomington IN, 2015. *''Primacy in the Church: The Office of Primacy and the Authority of Councils'', St. Vladimir's Press, Yonkers NY, 2016 volumes *''Toward the Holy and Great Council: Retrieving a Culture of Conciliarity and Communion, Faith Matters Series, no. 1: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America'', New York NY, 2016. *''Translation of Anastasios Yannoulatos, In Africa: Orthodox Witness and Service'', Holy Cross Orthodox Press, Brookline MA, 2015 (449 pages). *
Translation of The Fathers of the Church: Barsanuphius and John, Letters, Volume 1
', The Catholic University of America Press, Washington, D.C., 2015. *''Bartholomew: Apostle and Visionary'', HarperCollins, New York NY, 2016. Greek translation: Athens Books, Athens, 2017. French translation: Cerf, Paris, 2017. Ukrainian and Russian translation: Ethos Biblioteka, Kyiv, 2021 *''Translation of Anastasios Yannoulatos, In Albania: Cross and Resurrection'', St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, Yonkers NY, 2016. (378 pages). *''Theology as Doxology and Dialogue: The Essential Writings of Nikos Nissiotis'', with Nikolaos Asproulis (eds), Fortress Academic, Lanham MD, 2019. *''Creation as Sacrament: Reflections on Ecology and Spirituality'', Bloomsbury/T&T Clark, London, 2019. *Coedited (with Nikolaos Asproulis), ''Priests of Creation: John Zizioulas on Discerning an Ecological Crisis,'' T&T Clark, London, 2021. *Coedited (with Brandon Gallaher), ''The Living Christ: The Theological Legacy of Georges Florovsky,'' T&T Clark, London, 2021. *Coauthored (with Peter Chamberas), ''The Recognition of Saints in the Orthodox Church,'' Newfound Publishing, Hebron NH, 2021. *Coedited two volumes on ''The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church: Orthodox Theology in the Twenty-First Century,'' University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 2021 reek and English *''The Letters of Barsanuphius and John: Desert Wisdom for Everyday Life'', Foreword by Kallistos Ware, 2021, T&T Clark, London, 2022. Foreword by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware. *''Coexistence: Peace, Nature, Poverty, Terrorism, and Values'', by Archbishop Anastasios Yannoulatos of Albania. ranslation from the GreekGeneva: World Council of Churches, Geneva, 2022. *T''heology, Ecology, and Ecumenism: Reflections of an Innocent Sojourner'' (Fairfax, VA: Washington Theological Consortium, 2023). Introduction by Prof. Paul McPartlan.

References

External links

Author PageBeyond the Shattered Image
review by Vincent Rossi
Light Through Darkness: The Orthodox Tradition
review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
An Orthodox perspective on hamartology and ecology: Assessing John Chryssavgis' contribution to current discourse
review by Dr. Newton Cloete
‘Ecumenical Patriarchate title would elevate Turkey’s reputation’
interview by Cansu Çamlıbel {{DEFAULTSORT:Chryssavgis, John 1958 births Alumni of Pembroke College, Oxford National and Kapodistrian University of Athens alumni Eastern Orthodox theologians Christianity and environmentalism Religious action on climate change Australian Christian theologians Living people Sustainability advocates Academic staff of the University of Sydney Academic staff of the University of Balamand The Moscow Times people Traditionalist School People educated at Scots College (Sydney) Scholars of the Desert Fathers