Tap the gear icon above to manage new release emails.
Follow Bishop Demetrios C. Kantzavelos to get new release emails from Audible and Amazon.
For more than 25 years, BISHOP DEMETRIOS C. KANTZAVELOS has been an unwavering champion for social justice, human rights, and religious unity. His efforts have spanned national and local initiatives, leaving a profound impact on both faith communities and advocacy organizations.
After graduating from seminary in 1987, he began his dedicated service at the Greek Orthodox Diocese (later Metropolis) of Chicago. His journey in the Church saw him ordained as a deacon in 1989, a priest in 1992, and, fourteen years later, a bishop in 2006. Over the course of three decades, he faithfully served the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago.
From 1992 to 2017, Bishop Demetrios was at the forefront of social justice efforts, gaining widespread recognition for his groundbreaking work in AIDS ministry and his instrumental role in advocating for the abolition of the death penalty in Illinois. His leadership and tireless activism have earned him numerous awards, and his presence in Chicago’s interfaith, ecumenical, and Greek Orthodox circles has made him a well-known and respected figure.
Even before rising to the rank of bishop, Fr. Demetrios was recognized as a transformative leader. In 1995, the Cook County Board of Commissioners named him an "Outstanding Community Leader" for his work in AIDS ministry. In 2003, the Chicago Sun-Times listed him as one of “Twelve People to Watch,” and his inspiring journey from altar boy to bishop was documented by the Chicago Tribune in 2006. His influence extended to the national stage when Representative Anna Eshoo read his Wall Street Journal op-ed, “ISIS Is Guilty of Anti-Christian Genocide,” into the Congressional Record in 2016.
He served on the National Council of Churches of Christ, representing the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America from 2002 to 2007, and led the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, he received the prestigious AIDS Ministry President’s Award from the Alexian Brothers’ Bonaventure House. His leadership extended to the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, where he served as president from 2008 to 2009, and he also contributed to the Illinois State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights from 2008 to 2014. In 2023, he was honored for his relentless work in criminal justice reform at the Illinois Prison Project’s “Life After Death Row” event.
A compelling speaker and prolific writer, Bishop Demetrios has passionately addressed critical issues such as capital punishment, genocide, religious unity, and human dignity. His op-ed articles and letters have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. His voice has resonated at conferences, universities, and interfaith dialogues around the world. Whether discussing religious freedom with the Wisconsin Council of Churches, speaking at Wheaton College’s screening of “Modern Christian Martyrs,” or engaging in interfaith discussions on Pope Francis' Laudato Si', Bishop Demetrios remains steadfast in his commitment to truth and justice. He retired from active ministry in 2023.
His journey—one deeply rooted in faith, driven by activism, and marked by courage—continues to inspire those who work toward a world defined by compassion and justice. Today, Bishop Demetrios divides his time between Chicago, and a tranquil village in the Peloponnese region of Greece, where he finds peace and inspiration to continue his lifelong mission.
Read more
Read less
