'''The Rev. Deacon '''Dr. John Chryssavgis''', DPhil, (born 1 April 1958) is a an [[deaconauthor]] of the and [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Americatheologian]], who serves on the Steering Committee of [[Orthodox Fellowship of the Transfiguration|The Orthodox Fellowship of the Transfiguration]] and as theological advisor to the [[Ecumenical Patriarch]] on [[environmental issues]]. He is a clergyman of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In January 2012, he became the first in history to receive the title of '''Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Throne''' by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Born Rev. John Chryssavgis was born in [[Australia (]] in 1958), he . He matriculated from The [[the Scots College (]] in [[Sydney, New South Wales|Sydney]] in 1975), and received his degree in Theology from the [[University of Athens (]] in 1980), . He received a diploma in [[Byzantine Music ]] from the Greek Conservatory of Music (in 1979), and was awarded a research scholarship to [[St. Vladimir]]'s Orthodox Theological Seminary in 1982. He completed his doctoral studies in [[Patristics]] at the [[University of Oxford]] in 1983. Chryssavgis read patristic theology at Oxford. 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]]. His teaching has covered wide-ranging topics, such as theological, political, and social developments, themes and personalities of the [[Middle Ages]], including cultural and religious relations and tensions between East and West. His interests have embraced the areas of [[spirituality]], [[ecology]], and [[liturgy]]. His research has specialized in the [[ascetic]] thought and practice of the early Church, especially from the desert tradition of [[Egypt]] (4th century) through the regions of [[Palestine]] ([[5th-6th centuries]]) and [[Sinai]] (Crestwood7th century). After several months in silent retreat on [[Mt Athos]], New Yorkhe worked with the Greek Orthodox Primate in Australia (1984-94)|and was co-founder of [[St. VladimirAndrew]]'s Theological SeminaryCollege in [[Sydney]] , where he was Sub-Dean and taught Patristics and Church History (19821986-95). He completed his doctoral studies was also Lecturer in the Divinity School (1986-90) and the School of Studies in patristics Religion (1990-95) at the [[University of Oxford (1983)Sydney]].<ref>"About Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis" [http://cappellaromana.blogspot.com/2007/10/about-rev-dr-john-chryssavgis-and-his.html]</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=May 2008}}

After several months in silent retreat on In 1995, he moved to [[Mount AthosBoston]], where he served as Personal Assistant to the Greek Orthodox Primate in Australia (1984-94) and was co-founder appointed Professor of Theology at [[St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College (Sydney, Australia)|St Andrew's Theological Holy Cross School of Theology]] and directed the Religious Studies Program at [[Hellenic College]] in Sydney (1985), where he was Sub-Dean and taught Patristics and Church History (1986-95)until 2002. He also served as Lecturer in established the Divinity School (1986-90), in Environment Office at the same School of Studies in Religion (1990-95) at the University 2001. He has also taught as professor of Sydney, and in patristics [[Patristics]] at [[Balamand University ]] in [[Lebanon]].

Fr. John moved to Boston in 1995In recent years, where he was appointed Professor has published several books and countless articles in international journals and encyclopedias in the area of Theology at [[Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brooklinereligion and ecology, Massachusetts)|Holy Cross School of Theology]]social justice and peace, directed with forthcoming books including John Climacus: from the Religious Studies Program at Egyptian Desert to the Sinaite Mountain ([[Hellenic College (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Hellenic CollegeAshgate]] until 2002, and established the Environment Office there in 2001. In May 2008UK, he delivered the 8th Annual SS. Cyril Winter 2004); and Methodius Lecture at St. Paul's Seminary in PittsburghLight Through Darkness: Insights into Orthodox Spirituality ([[Orbis Books]], Pennsylvania. His lecture, "Remembering Sacred Silence", touched on the subtle variations of solitude, silence and stillness in the letters of Barsanuphius and John. Summer 2004)

He is currently serves as theological advisor to the author of numerous books and articles [[Ecumenical Patriarch]] on [[environmental issues]]. He lives in several languages on the Church Fathers and Orthodox spiritualityMaine.

*''Persons and Events: Historical Moments in the Development of Orthodox Christianity, Archdiocese of Australia, Sydney, 1985. [Out of print]*''Fire and Light: Aspects of the Eastern Orthodox Tradition, Light and Life Publications, Minneapolis MN, 1987.*''Ascent to Heaven: The Theology of the Human Person, Holy Cross Press, Boston MA, 1989. [Out of print]*''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.*''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. [Out of print]*''Beyond the Shattered Image: Insights into an Orthodox Christian Ecological WorldviewWorld View, Light and Life Books, Minneapolis MN, 1999.*'' (revised edSoul 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, 2007)Oxford UK, 2001. [With P. ISBN (1999 edR., ISBN 978-1880971420)Penkett]*''Cosmic Grace, Humble PrayerThe Body of Christ: The Ecological Vision A Place of the Green Patriarch Bartholomew IWelcome for People with Disabilities, Light and Life, Minneapolis MN, 2002.*'' (revised edAbba Isaiah of Scetis: The Ascetic Discourses, Cistercian Publications, Kalamazoo MI, 2002., 2009)[With P. ISBN 978-0802862617R.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.*'' (revised edCosmic Grace, Humble Prayer: Ecological Vision of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Eerdmans Books, Grand Rapids MI, 2003.Revised and updated, 2008)2009. ISBN 978-1933316567*''Letters from the Desert: A Selection of the Spiritual Correspondence of Barsanuphius and John, St. (2005 edVladimir's Seminary Press, New York NY, 2003.*''The Way of Tears: A Spirituality of Imperfection, ISBN 978-0941532518)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 from the Egyptian Desert desert to the Sinaite Mountainmountain, Ashgate, London, 2004.*'' (The Reflections of Abba Zosimas: Monk of the Palestinian Desert, SLG Press: Oxford, 2004). ISBN 978-0754650409Reprinted 2006.*''Light Through DarknessThe Ecumenical Patriarchate: The Orthodox Traditiona historical guide, Ecumenical Patriarchate Publications, Constantinople, 2005. 2nd revised edition, 2007.*'' The Correspondence of Barsanuphius and John, with translation, introduction, notes and complete indices (2004scriptural, patristic, subject and names). ISBN 978-1570755484For Catholic University Press, Washington DC, 2 volumes, 2006 and 2007. *''Love, SexualityIn the World, Yet Not of the World: Social and the Sacrament Global Initiatives of MarriageEcumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Fordham University Press, New York, 2009.*'' (2005). ISBN 978-1885652034Speaking the Truth in Love: Theological and Spiritual Exhortations of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Fordham University Press, New York, 2010.*''Repentance and Confession in In the Orthodox Church'' (1990)Footsteps of St. ISBN 978-0917651564Paul: An Academic Symposium, Holy Cross Press, Boston MA, 2011.[With Archbishop Demetrios Trakatellis of America]*''Soul MendingOn 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 (2005Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 2009). ISBN 978-1885652478.