DR. GEORGE BEBIS TO BE HONORED IN RETIREMENT DINNER AFTER FORTY YEARS OF SERVICE AT HOLY CROSS

Brookline, MA -- At a time when travel, upward mobility, frequent career changes are the norm and we live in a general atmosphere of instability and lack of roots, it is quite remarkable for an individual to devote four decades of service to one institution.

For the hundreds of students that have passed through the Brookline gates of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology during the past forty years, there has been one constant in the person of Professor George S. Bebis. Fondly known among his students and colleagues as Dr. Bebis, Professor George Bebis has educated hundreds of students during his forty-two years of teaching at Holy Cross. On March 11 2002, Dr. Bebis will be honored at an appreciation dinner by the trustees, faculty, and administration of Holy Cross.

Last Spring, Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou, President of Hellenic College and Holy Cross, announced the retirement of Dr. Bebis from the faculty of Holy Cross. At that time, Fr. Triantafilou noted that "Holy Cross and the entire Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and faithful owe a debt of gratitude to the contributions made by Dr. George Bebis in the education of hundreds of clergy throughout the country and world."

The stellar academic career of Dr. Bebis began with the tragedies of World War II and the Greek Civil War that followed. After growing up in Rethimon, Crete during this wartime, Dr. Bebis and his twin brother (who followed a career path of service to the Church) traveled to Boston at the young age of 18 to enroll in studies at Holy Cross.

Upon graduation from Holy Cross, Dr. Bebis pursued further studies receiving a Masters of Sacred Theology from Harvard Divinity School and a Doctor of Theology from the University of Athens. He returned to his Alma Mater Holy Cross in 1962 to begin his teaching career on the faculty of theology, eventually becoming Professor of Patristics.

Dr. Bebis' academic work has focused on the Greek Fathers of the early and Byzantine periods of the Church. His foundational work is on the person and theology of Nestorios, the fifth-century Patriarch of Constantinople whose theology sparked a major controversy in the Church. Dr. Bebis has published numerous articles and book reviews in the area of patristics and has received several academic awards throughout the years. In 1994, he received the particular honor of being elected a Visiting Professor of the School of Theology of the University of Athens. He retires with the honorary title Professor of Patrology Emeritus.

In honor and recognition of the career of Dr. Bebis, Holy Cross is hosting an appreciation dinner in Boston on March 11, 2002. On this day, Holy Cross will show their gratitude to a man, who for more than four decades has been a beacon of theological education at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.  More Community News