Biography

Archbishop Demetrios of America was born Demetrios Trakatellis in Thessaloniki, Greece on February 1, 1928. In 1950 he graduated with distinction from the University of Athens School of Theology.  In 1960 he was ordained a deacon and in 1964, a priest.  

He was elected Bishop of Vresthena in 1967, as an auxiliary bishop to the Archbishop of Athens with the primary responsibility for the theological education of the clergy. From 1965 to 1971, on scholarship from Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, he studied New Testament and Christian Origins and was awarded a Ph.D. "with distinction", in 1972.

After receiving his Ph.D. from Harvard University, then Bishop of Vresthena returned to his ecclesiastical position in the Archdiocese of Athens and for the ensuing years he had the responsibilities of the theological education of the clergy, ministry among the youth and other duties related to theological conferences in Greece and abroad.

In 1968, he was elected Metropolitan of Attika and Megaris, but did not accept the post for reasons related to the canonical order of the Church and to the political conditions in Greece at that time.  

Later, in 1977, he earned a Th.D. in Theology from the University of Athens.

From 1983 to 1993, then Bishop of Vresthena served as the Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Christian Origins at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA.  Serving as a faculty member for more than a decade, he taught many of America's Greek Orthodox clergy.  He also taught at Harvard Divinity School as a Visiting Professor of New Testament during the academic years of 1984 to 1985 and from 1988 to 1989.  After several years in the United States, he returned to Greece in 1993 to pursue full-time scholarly writing and research.  At the same time, he resumed his responsibilities at the Archdiocese of Athens.

Elected Archbishop of America on August 19, 1999 by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Archbishop Demetrios was enthroned on September 18, 1999 at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City.  As Archbishop of America he leads a church of more than one and a half million Greek Orthodox Christians in the United States.  

Archpastoral Ministry

In his Enthronement Address Archbishop Demetrios unfolded his "threefold plan" of ministry, consisting of: a) cultivating, nurturing, and sustaining of a vibrant and dynamic Orthodox faith in the Unites States, b) teaching and practicing limitless love and philanthropy, and c) emphasizing, pursuing and enhancing the establishment of a strong and unbreakable unity within the Church and the human community in general. He stated, "Here, a remarkably wide field of a truly great work is open to us. A work aimed at the invigoration, cultivation and growth of a dynamic and illumined faith, within the clergy and lay people of the blessed Omegenia, which constitute the flock of our Holy Archdiocese.... We have to be the Church, which should give whole, powerful and genuine witness of faith to this great country of America in which God has planted us. All of us, without exception have been called by the Lord to become conscious, true, dynamic and illumined people of faith, who, as Apostle Peter underlines, are ready and prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls us to account for the hope that is in us" (1 Peter 3:15).

Since his enthronement, he has labored together with the Hierarchs, clergy, and laity of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in an intense effort to strengthen conditions of unity and peace and to advance the administrative and ecclesiastical stability of the work of the Church in America.  His Archpastoral message has been one that has called for faith, unity, love, genuine relationships, and an ever-increasing commitment to God and to service in the name of Christ.  This is essential, he has affirmed, not only as a witness to the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit, but also as a presupposition for growth and development.

His Eminence serves as Chairman of SCOBA (Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas) an organization which brings together the hierarchs of Orthodox jurisdictions in the U.S.A. (Russian, Romanian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Carpatho-Russian, Albanian and Antiochian) for the purpose of strengthening the ties of unity among the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas.  SCOBA has endorsed a number of agencies to implement its mission.  Among them are IOCC, the worldwide humanitarian aid agency of SCOBA, and OCMC, the official international mission agency of SCOBA.

As Archbishop of America, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and head of the Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese, Archbishop Demetrios has traveled extensively throughout the United States and globally.  In the course of more than 600 pastoral visits to various parishes he met with thousands of faithful.  He has joined with the Metropolitans and Bishops of the Archdiocese in leading services, consecrating churches, ordaining clergy, and extending the scope of the work of the Church in America, while concurrently experiencing the vitality and accomplishments of the people and the parishes.

This was evident in the response of the Church to the tragic events of September 11, a day that brought unprecedented challenges and difficulties to people all over the globe.  Immediately following the terrorist attacks, Archbishop Demetrios called on all of the faithful to commit to deep prayer and generous contributions of blood donations and appropriate resources to meet the tremendous needs.  In an intense, multilevel ministry to families, communities, and the nation, he conducted memorial services and funerals for the victims of the September 11 tragedy, made repeated visits to "Ground Zero", affirmed the need to rebuild St. Nicholas Church, which was destroyed in the catastrophe, led an extensive pastoral effort by the clergy and departments of the Archdiocese, and joined other religious leaders in advising federal, state, and local officials as they coped with the crisis and formulated plans for the future.

In December of 2001, the Archbishop spoke about the impact of September 11 on religious and social life at an international meeting in Brussels of more than one hundred Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders.  The meeting entitled "The Peace of God in the World Towards Peaceful Coexistence and Collaboration Among the Three Monotheistic Religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam" was convened by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Romano Prodi, President of the European Union.

In his inaugural year of ministry as the Archbishop of America, His Eminence was invited by President William Clinton to participate in the White House Faith Leaders Summit: A Call to Action, with some 80 religious leaders.  A month later he was invited to a private meeting with President Clinton in New York City to discuss issues of mutual concern regarding Greece and Cyprus, as well as the reopening of Halki Theological School. In May of 2000, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright hosted a historic dinner at the State Department in honor of the Archbishop.

Archbishop Demetrios has met with and received many leaders and dignitaries including Presidents William Jefferson Clinton and President George W. Bush.  Annually, he has participated in the White House meeting recognizing March 25 Greek Independence Day at the White House.  In 2000 and 2004, he offered prayers at both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions and was invited to attend the presidential Inaugural Ceremonies that followed the elections.

The Archbishop made his first official visit to Greece at the invitation of the Greek government in January 2002 where he met with Church and government officials.  Additionally, he was officially honored by the cities of Athens and Thessaloniki, presided at a Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Athens, addressed the Greek Parliament and was honored by the University of Athens.  In February of 2002, Archbishop Demetrios joined other prominent world religious leaders as a key discussion partner in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.

In July of 2002, President George W. Bush invited Archbishop Demetrios and the Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas to the White House, where the President expressed his gratitude for the prayers and service of Orthodox leaders and communities since the events of September 11, 2001.

In November of 2002, the Archbishop was elected by the prestigious Academy of Athens as an abroad-residing member in the Discipline of Theology in the areas of Ethics and Political Sciences.  He was officially inducted into the Academy on November 14, 2003.

In June 2003 on the occasion of the patronal feast of the Church of Rome, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Archbishop Demetrios led the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to The Vatican and met with Pope John Paul II.  

On February 19, 2004 as Archbishop of America and Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, His Eminence was elected a member of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.  This election was part of a modification in the Synod to include six hierarchs from Eparchies of the Ecumenical Throne outside of Turkey.  He attended his first meeting of the Synod which met in Constantinople, Turkey on March 9-11, 2004.

Additionally, in 2004 Archbishop Demetrios was awarded the highest honor of the Republic of Cyprus with the medal of the Great Cross of the Order of Archbishop Makarios III, bestowed on him by the President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos. 

During the summer of  2004, he was invited by the President of the United States George W. Bush to be a member of the Presidential Delegation of the United States to the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

In November 2004, he participated in a historic Ecumenical service at the Vatican with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope John Paul II, celebrating the Return of the Holy Relics of Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Gregory the Theologian to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople.

In January 2006, Archbishop Demetrios made a historic six-day visit to the Republic of Cyprus, the first official visit of an Archbishop of America to the Republic of Cyprus.  In a meeting with the President of Cyprus, Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos His Eminence stated that he would continue on the path of support towards a just resolution to the Cyprus issue.  During this trip Archbishop Demetrios was presented with the Golden Key to the City of Nicosia, citing his tireless work for a just solution to the Cyprus issue and his contribution to Hellenism and Orthodoxy. 

Archbishop Demetrios participated in the historic Papal Voyage of Pope Benedict XVI to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in November- December 2006.  He served as the Official Spokesman of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, addressing Press Representatives from around the world, and co-hosted a Press Conference prior to the visit.  

In 2007, Archbishop Demetrios celebrates his 40th Anniversary of Elevation to the Episcopacy with special recognitions and honors by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and a special tribute by President George W. Bush at the White House.

In June 2007, the Archbishop was awarded the Marc H. Tanenbaum Award for the Advancement of Interreligious Understanding from the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding.

Archbishop Demetrios has responded to numerous national and international needs and crises, including the Macedonian issue in November 2004, and specific acts of terrorism, such as the violence against the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the attack on the school in Beslan, Russia, both in September of 2004, and Hurricane Katrina Humanitarian assistance in September 2005.  In March of 2005, he testified before the Helsinki Commission regarding issues of religious freedom and the function of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey.  Responding to the needs of contemporary families, he proclaimed 2005 the "Year of the Family" for the parishes and ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.  This emphasis is part of an initiative that began in 2002 with the appointment of the Archdiocesan Roundtable on the Family and the establishment of the Center for Family Care.

Archbishop Demetrios has worked tirelessly to strengthen the administrative and financial stability and legislative clarity of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.  With the support of the Holy and Eparchial Synod he has convened four successful Clergy Laity Congresses in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 and was instrumental in revising the Charter of the Archdiocese and the Uniform Parish Regulations, and in producing the Regulations for Monasteries and the Regulations for Auxiliary Bishops.  With the remarkable assistance of prominent lay members of the church he established "FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism." 

As an Orthodox Hierarch, theologian, statesman, and biblical scholar for 40 years, His Eminence faithfully demonstrates the healing power of Christ's truth and compassion.  Especially in America as an Archbishop he has manifested the effectiveness of the Grace of God in establishing peace, tranquility, stability and trust inside and outside the Church. 

In the years since his Enthronement, Archbishop Demetrios has received Honorary Degrees and Inductions including: 

Honorary Degrees and Inductions

• Richard Stockton College, Stockton, NJ, Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters (October 1999)
• Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, NY Honorary Doctorate of Divinity (January 2002)
• Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece, School of Divinity, Honorary Doctorate (November 2002)
• Academy of Athens, Inducted as an Abroad Residing Member (November 2003)
• University of Athens, School of Philosophy Honorary Doctorate Degree (June 2005)
• Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities (November 2005)
• Fordham University, Bronx, NY Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, (June 2007)
• American College of Greece, Athens, Greece Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (June 2007)
• Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (November 2007)
• Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity (November 2007)  

A prolific writer, Archbishop Demetrios has offered numerous lectures around the world.  He is the author of hundreds of articles and essays that have been published in periodicals and is the author of six major books:

• The Pre-Existence of Christ in Justin Martyr (1976)
• Presence of the Holy Spirit (1984),
• Authority and Passion (1987),
• The Transcendent God of Eugnostos (1991),
• The Fathers Interpret (1996)
• A Call to Faith (2004)