Athanasios Gkikas Email & Phone Number

I am the Dean of the Faculty of Theology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a professor in the Department of Social Theology and Christian Culture. I research and teach the field of Pastoral Theology (pastoral care, Christian counseling, confession, pastoral psychology) at both undergraduate and postgraduate students who are either prospective clergy or teachers in schools.As a priest and spiritual father in the Orthodox Church of Greece, under the jurisdiction of the Holy Metropolis of Neapolis and Stavroupolis in Thessaloniki, I serve at the Metochion of the Holy Monastery of Simonopetra Agios Charalampos, where I engage in pastoral activities.My research focuses on the study of the work of pastors in applying Orthodox Christian Theology within the parish. I examine the principles and methods of pastoral dialogue between pastor and parishioners in the context of the sacrament of confession, combined with Christian counseling. My work also focuses on addressing social issues requiring special pastoral engagement such as addictions, family dysfunction, divorce, domestic violence, transgender issues, homosexuality to name a few.My dual role ensures a mutual enrichment of theory and practice, resulting in an empirical and experiential approach to the subject, essential elements of both teaching and pastoral practice.PublicationsThe Problem of Drugs and the Church's Response, DD, Thessaloniki 1993"Leniency as a Patristic Pastoral Method," Gregorios Palamas, March-April 1994Conditions and Frequency of Receiving Holy Communion: A Pastoral Approach, Thessaloniki 1994Lessons in Pastoral Care, Mygdonia, Thessaloniki 1997, 2005The Spiritual Father and the Sacrament of Repentance, Mygdonia, Thessaloniki 2002, 2005"Pastoral Positions of Saint Nicodemus in the Advisory Manual and the Contemporary Pastoral Reality", Proceedings of the 2nd Scientific Conference: Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite - 200 Years Since His Repose, ed. Holy Community of Saint Nicodemus, Pentalofos Paionia 2011"The Church and Charismatic Pastoral Ministry," Theology, 81(2010)19-36Pastoral Therapeutics: A Study of the Letters to Clergy by Abba Neilos, Mygdonia, Thessaloniki 2016