Rev. Prof. Dr. Emeritus Gheorghe Metallinós

Father Professor Gheorghe Metallinós was born on 11 March 1940 and fell asleep in the Lord on 19 December 2019. He was married and, together with his wife, Mrs Varvara, was blessed by the Lord with three children: two boys and a girl. He was born on the island of Cherchira (Kerkira or Corfu), where he completed primary school, secondary school and high school (1958). He studied Theology and Classical Philology at the University of Athens (Greece). After completing his military service, he was appointed as a teaching assistant in the Department of Patrology at the Faculty of Theology in Athens (1965). Between 1969 and 1975, he studied Theology, Philology, History, Philosophy and Sociology in West Germany, whilst also undertaking studies and research in the archives in England. He holds a doctorate in Theology (Athens, 1977), as well as in Philosophy and History (Cologne, 1978). Whilst studying in Germany, he was ordained a priest (1971). From 1984 until 2007, he was a full professor at the Faculty of Theology in Athens, where he taught courses on the History and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox East, the History and Theology of the Orthodox Liturgy, and Byzantine History. He also served as Dean of the Faculty of Theology in Athens from 2004 to 2007. Renowned as a preacher and a scholar of exceptional theological calibre both in Greece and abroad, Father Metallinós was a member of numerous scholarly associations, representing the Churches of Greece and Cyprus at various Orthodox and interfaith congresses and meetings. For example, from 1978 to 1992, he was the representative of the Church of Cyprus in the dialogue with the Lutheran World Federation. His body of work as a writer and theologian is rich and varied, comprising many articles, studies and dozens of books. Among his books, we mention just a few: Politics and Theology, The Church in the World, The Parish, Orthodoxy and the Greek Character, Hesitant Hellenism, Struggling Hellenism, The Theological Testimony of Church Worship (translator’s note).