Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald, M.Div., Ph.D.
Biographical Notes:
Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald, M.Div., Ph.D. serves as an Orthodox theologian, author and licensed psychologist. She is adjunct professor in theology at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Theological School and has also served on the graduate theological faculties of St. VladimirÕs Seminary, the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland and the adjunct clinical faculty of Andover-Newton Theological School. She represents the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople at theological conferences and meetings; this includes having served on the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches. She also was invited to serve as the theological coordinator and facilitator of the Damascus (1996) and Istanbul (1997) International Orthodox WomenÕs Conferences. Professor FitzGerald was recently appointed to represent the Ecumenical Patriarchate as a delegate for the International Orthodox Christian-Jewish Theological Conversation in Jerusalem, Israel.
In addition to her license to practice as a psychologist and health service provider in Massachusetts, Professor FitzGerald is also certified as a pastoral psychotherapist through the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and served for several years as the Director of Education and Associate Director of Training at the Worcester Pastoral Counseling Center (which was at the time the largest ecumenical and interfaith pastoral counseling center in New England). During this time period she also was invited to serve as the Director of Orthodox Pastoral Counseling on behalf of the Eastern Orthodox Council of Churches of Central Massachusetts, serving sixteen Orthodox parishes of various ethnic jurisdictions. At the same time, Dr. FitzGerald served on the graduate clinical faculty of Andover-Newton Theological School in Newton, Massachusetts. Subsequently, she served at the Gosnold-Thorn Counseling Center in Falmouth Massachusetts where she worked with individual persons, couples and groups challenged by mental health, trauma and/or addictive disorders, as well as at the Paloma Christian Center for Psychology in Nyon, Switzerland. She also served as the first Orthodox member of the Board of the Interfaith Sexual Trauma Institute (ISTI) in Collegeville, MN.
Professor FitzGerald is the founder and coordinator of the St. CatherineÕs Vision project (SCV www.orthodoxwomen.org). SCV is a Pan-Orthodox initiative blessed by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America comprised of women theologians and others striving to fulfill the mission of the Church through endeavors dedicated to Orthodox spiritual renewal (Eph. 4:12), Orthodox unity (Jn. 15:9-13; 17:20-24) and education (Eph. 4:13-16). She is the editor of their most recent study: Encountering Women of Faith: The St. CatherineÕs Vision Collection, volume 1. She has also written and/or edited: Women Deacons in the Orthodox Church: Called to Holiness and Ministry, Orthodox Women Speak: Discerning the Signs of the Times, Living the Beatitudes: Perspectives from Orthodox Spirituality (together with her husband, Father Thomas FitzGerald, Dean of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology) and Persons in Communion: A Theology of Authentic Relationships. Dr. FitzGerald is presently facilitating as the editor SCVÕs next book: Encountering Women of Faith: The St. CatherineÕs Vision Collection, vol. 2. She is Òvery slowlyÓ working on a subsequent volume to Persons in Communion. Dr. FitzGerald presently enjoys a private practice in Sandwich, (Cape Cod) Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Books by Kyriaki Karidoyanes Fitzgerald
Persons in Communion: A Theology
of Authentic Relationship,
By Kyriaki Karidoyanes Fitzgerald
Theologian and psychologist Kyriaki Fitzgerald explores
the implications of Eastern Orthodox Trinitarian theology for human
relationships. Drawing on the wisdom of the Church Fathers and her years of
clinical experience as a therapist, she both explains the teaching of the
Orthodox Church for a contemporary audience and presents a way for the reader
to look deeply into his or her life and relationships so that they might be
transformed. The second part of the book presents the contemporary discussion
on the role of women in the Orthodox Church. Here, she connects the ministries
of women to the authenticity of the relationships that women (and men) have and
are called to have with the living God in the life of the Church. Published by
InterOrthodox Press.
Encountering Women of Faith: The
St. CatherineÕs Vision Collection, vol. 1
Edited by Kyriaki Karidoyanes
Fitzgerald
The authors, women who have pursued graduate studies at
Orthodox theological schools, succeed in telling the stories of several female
saints venerated by the Orthodox Church. Each author strives to write in a
manner that is accountable to holy tradition, academically responsible, as well
as spiritually revealing regarding a number of contemporary issues that
challenge Christians today. This fascinating collection of reflections on their
lives and ministries offers inspiration and guidance to seekers today. Among
the saints studied are: St. Elizabeth, the New Martyr; St. Olympias; St. Xenia;
St. Mary Magdalene etc. Published by InterOrthodox Press.
Living the Beatitudes:
Perspectives from Orthodox Spirituality
By Kyriaki and Thomas Fitzgerald
Following the model of the early commentaries, the
authors, both Orthodox theologians, discuss the Beatitudes relating them to
everyday living, Excellent for use in private devotions or as a text for Bible
study and/or group discussions. Published by Holy Cross Orthodox Press.
Women Deacons in the Orthodox
Church: Called to Holiness and Ministry,
By Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald
This highly praised book examines the ministry of women
ordained to the diaconate (i.e. ÒdeaconessesÓ) in the early Church, its decline
in the Middle Ages, attempts to restore the order by St. Nektarios of Aegina
and others, and recent discussions held on the subject. This study explores
this order of ministry from scriptural, patristic, liturgical, and theological
sources. The book includes a lengthy prologue by Prof. Evangelos Theodorou, one
of the pioneering exponents of the ordination of women to the diaconate.
Published by Holy Cross Orthodox Press.
This collection offers a range
of contemporary Orthodox voices addressing key issues around the role and place
of women in the life of the church. Drawing on biblical and patristic sources,
the lives of saints, the work of theologians and the experiences of women
today, 18 women and 3 men open up perspectives that speak not only to Orthodox
but to all Christian churches. Includes reports from two consultations of
Orthodox women organized by the World Council of Churches in the context of the
Ecumenical Decade - Churches in Solidarity with Women. Published by Holy Cross Orthodox
Press and the WCC.
What is
St. CatherineÕs Vision (SCV)?
ENDORSED
by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of America (SCOBA), SCV
is a working group of Orthodox women theologians and others committed to
fulfilling the mission of the Church through endeavors dedicated to three
shared obligations: Spiritual
Renewal (Eph. 4:12), Orthodox Unity (Jn. 15: 9-13; 17: 20-24) and Education
(Eph. 13-16). Information about SCV
is available on their website: www.orthodoxwomen.org