Among those honoured by the Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency Ms Sam Mostyn, on the occasion of this year’s King’s Birthday Honours, was Archdeacon Dr John Chryssavgis of the Ecumenical Throne, a clergyman of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Specifically, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of his significant service to the Orthodox Church, education, and the promotion of environmental awareness.
Fr John, who was born in Australia, has served since 2002 as theological adviser to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on environmental issues.
Since the same year, he has also served as a theological adviser to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, while in 2023 he was appointed the first Executive Director of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston.
He studied at the University of Athens and the University of Oxford, and has taught at the University of Sydney, as well as at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College in Sydney and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston.
Fr John has authored numerous books on environmental, theological, and historical subjects, many of which have been translated into various languages.
It is noted that a total of 949 Australian citizens were honoured in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours, in recognition of their contributions to society, the economy, science, culture, and other fields.
