User:PapaGregory

A Presbyter of the Greek Orthodox Church of America B.S. Chemistry, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY 1986 M.Div., Holy Cross School of Theology, Brookline, Ma 2005 Ordained to the Holy Diaconate in 2005, His Grace Bishop Dimitrios (Coutchell) of Xanthos Ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 2006, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas (Pissare) of Detroit

Theological Areas of Expertise: After completing the requirements for Master of Divinity at Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Ma, Fr. Patsis continued his academic studies completing the course work for the Master of Theology at Holy Cross. It was at this time that Fr. Patsis extended his theological interest in the area of "Virtue Ethics" having excelled in an masters thesis class of the same name at Boston College offered by Prof. James Keenan,SJ.

It was the exposure to virtue ethics that deepened Fr. Patsis' interest in Orthodox Christian ethics that is embedded in the liturgical life of the Church. Understanding that there is no Orthodox theology without Orthodox practice (ethics-Orthopraxia), Fr. Patsis' theological journey then led him to appreciating the role of Fathers (and Mothers) of the Orthodox faith in determining, through the councils and synods throughout the Church's history, the liturgical standards and practices of the Orthodox Christian.

Pastoral Experience: Fr. Patsis has served four parishes within the Greek Orthodox Church of America: Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Cincinnati, Oh; Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Middletown, Oh; Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, Syracuse, NY; Kimisis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, Poughkeepsie, NY.

Pastoral Emphasis: Wherever Fr. Patsis has pastored, there has always been an emphasis on a full liturgical schedule; educational and fellowship opportunities. Discerning the difference between the function and purpose of the Orthodox Christian monastic calling and that of the parishes, Fr. Patsis directs the stewards under his pastoral care to have a strong evangelical presence in the local community in which the parish is based in order for the presence of Christ to be uniquely experienced and witnessed.