Rev. Fr. Theodor Damian, PhD

Theodor Damian (Doctor Honoris Causa, Bioterra University, Bucharest; PhD, Bucharest University; PhD, Fordham University; Th.M., Princeton Theological Seminary; Post-graduate studies at the Universities of Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland, BA, Bucharest University) 

Theodor Damian is a theologian, writer and editor. He is Professor Emeritus of Human Services and Education at the Metropolitan College of New York; president and founder of the Romanian Institute of Orthodox Theology and Spirituality, New York and of the Literary Society “M. Eminescu”; priest of “Sts. Apostles Peter and Paul” Romanian Orthodox Church in New York; director of Lumina Lina. Gracious Light, a review of Romanian spirituality and culture, and of the journals Symposium and Romanian Medievalia; President of the American branch of the Academy of Romanian Scientists; writer, member of the Writers’ Union of Romania; journalist, member of the Union of Professional Journalists, Romania; member of the editorial board of over 20 literary and academic magazines and journals in Romania and the USA; member in numerous national (Romanian and USA) and international associations.

Theodor Damian has published about 40 books in the fields of theology, philosophy, poetry, and literary criticism such as The Icons. Theological and Spiritual Dimensions According to St. Theodore of Studion (The Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, NY, 2002), Philosophy and Literature: A Hermeneutic of the Metaphysical Challenge (in Romanian, Ed. Fundaţiei România de Mâine, Bucharest, 2008), The Spiritual Implications of the Theology of Icon (Eikon, Cluj, 2003), Semnul Isar (Paralela 45, Piteşti, 2006), Apofaze (Tracus Arte, Bucharest, 2012), Lazăre, vino afară (Junimea, Iassy, 2016), Perihoreze (Eikon, Bucharest, 2018).

Among the many prizes, medals and distinctions he received over the years, in 2002 he was honored with the title of honorary citizen of the city of Botoşani; în 2016 with an honorary doctorate by Bioterra University, Bucharest; in 2017 with the prize Queens Ambassador Awards offered by TimesLedger Newspapers; in 2018 he was awarded the decoration Donum Sacrum Unitatis by Archbishop Irineu Pop of Alba Iulia; and the centennial medal „100 pentru Centenar” by the Romanian Government.

Dr. Damian serves as professor of Philosophy and Ethics in both the undergraduate and graduate programs at Metropolitan College of New York and served as the coordinator of the Staten Island branch of MCNY. In addition to teaching at MCNY since 1992, Dr. Damian has taught courses at St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary, the College of New Rochelle, and Spiru Haret University, Bucharest. He has served as a priest in Romania, as Dean of Dorohoi District and as a magazine editor. He is founder and president of the Romanian Institute of Orthodox Theology and Spirituality, New York, editor of one cultural magazine and two academic journals, a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, Pasadena, CA, and of the Sophia Institute, New York, as well as President of the American branch of the Academy of Romanian Scientists.

Professor Damian’s studies have been published in many national and international journals.

He has also been the recipient of prestigious awards for his work in academic disciplines such as Philosophy, Theology, Ethics, Creative Writing, and Literary Criticism. Dr. Damian has published about 40 books, as well as hundreds of articles and poems in both Romanian and English, in the United States and Europe.

Among his books are Gregory of Nazianzus’ Poetry and His Human Face in It; Life and Mind. Perspectives on the Human Condition (Ed., with Richard Grallo and Bert Breiner); The Isar Sign; Prayers in Hell; Introduction to Christianity: The First Millenium; Philosophy and Literature: A Hermeneutic of the Metaphysical Challenge; and The Icons. Theological and Spiritual Dimensions According to St. Theodore of Studion.

Dr. Damian has organized, presided and presented his research at over 100 national and international conferences.

Books

Theology, Philosophy, Literature:

Woman and the Way to Salvation [in Romanian], Limes, Cluj, 2021

Literary Catecheses [in Romanian], RawexComs, Bucharest, 2020

Gregory of Nazianzus’ Poetry and His Human Face in It. Sophia Institute - Theotokos Press, New York, 2017

The Idea of God in the Poetry of Eminescu [in Romanian], Eikon, Bucharest, 2016

Philosophy and Literature: A Hermeneutic of the Metaphysical Challenge [in Romanian], Ed. Romania de Maine, Bucharest, 2008, 134 pp.

Introduction to the History of Christianity: The First Millennium [in Romanian], Ed. Romania de Maine, Bucharest, 2008, 140 pp.

The One Who Rises from on High (meditations, in Romanian), Viata Crestina, Bucharest, 2006, 118 pp.

I co-edited and published The Romanian Literature of Diaspora (Vol. I, Nr. 1/2005), Proceedings of the First Lumina Lina/ Gracious Light International Symposium.

The Spiritual Implications of the Theology of Icon [research, in Romanian], Eikon, Cluj, 2003, 218 pp.

The Passion of the Text [essays, in Romanian], Universalia, Bucharest/New York, 2003, 222 pp.

The Icons. Theological and Spiritual Dimensions According to St. Theodore of Studion [Ph.D. diss., revised and expanded], The Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, NY, 2002, 316 pp.

The Dew of Books: A Theological Hermeneutic in Literary Context [essays, in Romanian], Danubius, Bucharest, 1998, 202 pp.

The Icons. Theological and Spiritual Dimensions According to St. Theodore of Studion [Ph.D. diss.], Ann Arbor, MI, 1993, 377 pp.

Prose:

Another New York Journal [in Romanian], RawexComs, Bucharest, 2017

The Charm of Emigration. Notes from New York [in Romanian], Eikon, Bucharest, 2016

Poetry:

Maria Eich [in German], Dionysos Verlag, Boppard am Rhein, Germany, 2021

Perihoreze. Poezii, Eikon, Bucharest, 2018.

Lazăre, vino afară, Junimea, Iassy, 2016.

Ein Fallen selbst im Steigen, Lyrik [German], Ludwigsburg, Germany, Pop Verlag, 2015, 88 pp.

Singurul dincolo [The Only Beyond], Rawexcoms, Bucharest, 2015, 46 pp.

In casa fulgerului [In the House of Lightning], Opera Omnia, TipoMoldova, Iassy, 2013, 431 pp.

Apofaze [Apophases], Editura Tracus Arte, Bucharest, 2012, 150 pp.

Semnul Isar/ The Isar Sign [bilingual Romanian and English], Editura Calauza, Deva, 2011, 228 pp.

Prayers in Hell, Trafford Press, Vancouver, Canada, 2010, 102 pp.

Shenja e Isarit [The Isar Sign, Albanian], TipoMoldova, Iassy, 2010, 120 pp.

The Isar Sign, PublishAmerica, Baltimore, MD, 2010, 109 pp.

Exerciţii de Înviere [Resurrection Exercises], Universalia, Bucharest, 2009, 122 pp.

Stihiri cu Stânjenei [Stanzas with Irises], TipoMoldova, Iassy, 2007, 88 pp.

Semnul Isar [The Sign of Isar], Paralela 45, Bucharest, 2006, 112 pp.

Poesias [Spanish], Lumina Lina, New York, 2005, 102 pp.

Nemitarnice [Unbribables], Dionis, Botosani, 2005, 138 pp.

Ispita ranii [The Temptation of the Wound], Limes, Cluj, 2001, 120 pp.

Rugaciuni in Infern [Prayers in Hell], Axa, Botosani, 2000, 104 pp.

Calea Imparatiei. The Door to the Kingdom [bilingual Romanian and English], Timpul, Iassy, 2000, 138 pp.

Dimineata invierii [The Morning of the Resurrection], Axa, Botosani, 1999, 120 pp.

Lumina Cuvantului [The Light of the Word], Libra, Bucharest, 1995, 80 pp.

The Liturgy of the Word [bilingual Romanian and English], Tremain, Klamath Falls, OR, 1989, 104 pp.

Editor:

Elena Mitru, Triptic literar. Antologie: Grupul New York. Poezie / Proză / Contribuţii critice [Literary Trilogy: Poetry/Prose/Literary Criticism], editorial coordinator: Theodor Damian, RawexComs, Bucharest, 2021

George Alexe, The Unknown Continent, ed. Theodor Damian, Ed. Gens Latina, Alba Iulia, 2015

Life and Mind. Perspectives on the Human Condition, Theodor Damian, Richard Grallo, Bert Breiner (eds.), Sophia Institute - Theotokos Press, New York, 2013.

Editor, Eminescu 2000. Aniversari NewYorkeze [Eminescu 2000. New York Anniversaries], (proceedings of the “M. Eminescu” Symposium), Botosani: Axa, 2000, 178 pp.

Editor, Elena Iupceanu Tomescu, Resting nowhere [in Romanian], Danubius, Bucuresti, 1997

Editor, I have one last wish [in Romanian] (proceedings of the “M. Eminescu” Symposium), New York 1995, 52 pp.

The Interior and the Distant (poetry anthology) [in Romanian], edited by Theodor Damian and Aurel Sasu, TipoMoldova, Iassy, 2007, 214 pp.

Altars: An American-Romanian Anthology of Poetry [in Romanian], Edited by Theodor Damian and Vasile Amarghioalei, Geea, Botosani, 2007, 410 pp.

Periodicals (founder, editor, and director):

Romanian Medievalia. Proceedings of Presentations at the Annual International Congress on Medieval Studies at the Western Michigan University at Kalamazoo, MI, New York, since 2001.

Lumina Lina. Gracious Light, Review of Romanian Spirituality and Culture, (quarterly), New York,

since 1996.

Newsletter of The Romanian Institute of Orthodox Theology and Spirituality, New York, 1993-96.

Symposium, Proceedings of the Annual Theological Ecumenical Symposium, New York, since 1993.

Remembering, Lausanne, Switzerland, 1980-83.