Demetrios S. Katos

Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Chairman of the Religious Studies Program

BA,  New York University
MDiv,  Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
MA and PhD,  The Catholic University of America

Demetrios S. Katos is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Hellenic College since 2002. He is the chairman of the Religious Studies Program and teaches courses in Orthodox Christianity, historical theology, and world religions. In the classroom, he trains students to read theology within a historical context and to incorporate interpretive strategies that render meaning and applications appropriate to contemporary circumstances. In addition to his responsibilities here at Hellenic College, he is a Lecturer in the Department of Theology at Boston College, where he teaches courses in Eastern Orthodox theology. Prof. Katos is Treasurer of the Orthodox Theological Society in America, and Board Member of the Stephen and Catherine Pappas Patristics Institute of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

Prof. Katos devotes his research to the theology, history, and philosophy of Christian antiquity. He specializes in early Christian spiritual and mystical traditions. He is currently preparing for publication his first book, Palladius of Helenopolis: An Origenist and His Tradition in the Fifth Century, in which he reconstructs the life and thought of a little-known author, Palladius of Helenopolis (ca. 363-420). Palladius decisively shaped our knowledge of late antique history and early Christian leaders and ascetics through his widely influential writings, the Dialogue on the Life of St. John Chrysostom and the Lausiac History. Recent publications include "Socratic Dialogue or Forensic Debate? Judicial Rhetoric and Stasis Theory in the Dialogue on the Life of St. John Chrysostom," (Vigiliae Christianae 2007), "Humility as the Harbinger of Imageless Prayer in the Lausiac History" (St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly 2007), and "Origenists in the Desert: Palladius of Helenopolis and the Alexandrian Theological Tradition," (American Benedictine Review 2005).  

curriculum vitae pdf

Courses:

• Introduction to Orthodoxy
• Great Christian Thinkers
• World Religions
• Learning Theology with the Church Fathers
• On the Priesthood
• Christians in the Roman Empire
• Seminar: Deification
• Seminar: Spiritual Classics
• Honors Seminar: Christianity in Late Antiquity