Education and Qualifications

• 2016: Ph.D. in Systematic Theology University of Aberdeen, UK

• 2010: Masters in Systematic Theology, University of Bucharest Romania

• 2008: Bachelors degree in Theology, University of Bucharest

Biography

• 2025: Lecturer in Modern Orthodox Theology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj, Romania

• 2024–2025: Scientific Collaborator, Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, Radboud University, Netherlands

• 2022–2024: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, Radboud University, Netherlands

• 2021–2022: Scientific Collaborator, UCLouvain, Belgium

• 2019–2021: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, UCLouvain, Belgium

• 2020: Guest Lecturer in Orthodox Theology, Greek Bible College, Athens, Greece

• 2018–2019: Teaching Fellow in Systematic Theology, University of Aberdeen, UK

• 2018–2019: Tutor in Philosophical Ethics, University of Aberdeen, UK2017: Teaching Fellow in Christian Ethics, University of Aberdeen, UK

Membership

• The Higher Education Academy, UK / University of Aberdeen

  Associate Fellow

• European Academy of Religion

  Ordinary Member

• Society for the Scientific Study of Religion

  Ordinary Member

• Societas Oecumenica

  Ordinary Member

• International Orthodox Theological Association

  Ordinary Member

• The OPTIC Forum: The Human and the Speaking Machine

  Ordinary Member

Selected Conferences

• 2025: Charles University Prague, Czechia – “Recovering from Trauma: Orthodox Spiritual and Theological Resources”

• 2024: The Eastern European Institute of Theology, Kiev, Ukraine – “Terrible Beauty: The Aesthetics of Disability and Friendship in Eastern Orthodoxy”

• 2023: International Society for Science and Religion, Swindon, UK – “Spiritual Intelligence and Intellectual Disability: A Theological Re-evaluation of the Nous”

• 2023: International Orthodox Theological Association, Volos, Greece – “An Anthropology of Neputinţei: A Romanian Orthodox Insight into Disability Theology”

• 2023: European Academy of Religion, Saint Andrews, UK – “Feasting on the Paradox of Holy Fools: Dostoevsky’s Novels and Yannaras’ Apophatic Ethics”

• 2021: Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Pittsburgh, US – “Disability East and West: A Romanian Perspective”

• 2021: Charles University Prague, Czechia – “Childhood and Disability: Theological Reflections”

• 2021: European Academy of Religion, Münster, Germany – “Eastern Orthodoxy and Disability”

• 2020: Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Pittsburgh, US – “Intellectual Disability, The Orthodox Church, and the Saint” (Canceled)

• 2020: European Academy of Religion, Bologna, Italy – “Vulnerability and Disability: Perspectives from East and West” (Canceled)

• 2019: Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Saint Louis, US – “Human Perfection and Profound Intellectual Disability in Eastern Orthodoxy”

• 2019: Society for the Study of Theology, Warwick, UK – “An Eastern Orthodox Re-evaluation of the Impact of Filioque on Ecclesiology through the Lenses of Disability Theology”

• 2019: Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, UK – “Human Perfection and Profound Cognitive Disability in Eastern Orthodoxy” (Keynote speaker)

• 2019: European Academy of Religion, Bologna, Italy – “Lay People in 21st Century Orthodox Christianity: Identity, Vocation, Challenges” (Invited panelist)

• 2019: Volos Academy for Theological Studies, Volos, Greece – “The Pneumatic Ecclesiology of Dumitru Stăniloae and the Gift of Persons with Disability for the Church” (Plenary speaker)

• 2019: European Academy of Religion, Bologna, Italy – “Dumitru Stăniloae’s Encounter with the West” (Panel organiser)

• 2019: International Orthodox Theological Association, Iași, Romania – “Eastern Orthodoxy and Human Rights: A Christological Approach”

• 2018: European Academy of Religion, Bologna, Italy – “The Hermeneutics of Togetherness: Dumitru Stăniloae’s Principles for Interpreting the Fathers in an Ecumenical Context”

• 2018: Societas Oecumenica, Mannheim, Germany – “Is Orthodox Nationalism an Impediment to Ecumenical Dialogue?” (Invited speaker)

• 2018: Charles University Prague, Czech Republic – “The Aesthetics of Holiness: Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Anthropology for Eastern Orthodox Use” (Invited speaker)

• 2018: The Institute for the Study of Culture and Christianity, Belgrade, Serbia – “Giving the Laity its Voice Back: One Way to Tackle Fundamentalism in the Eastern Orthodox Church” (Invited speaker)

• 2018: European Academy of Religion, Bologna, Italy – “The Orthodox Tradition and the Imperative of Reform” (Invited speaker)

• 2017: LEST XI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium – “Sensus Fidelium and the Reformation of the Church: An Eastern Orthodox Perspective”

• 2016: Societas Oecumenica Biennial Conference, Helsinki, Finland – “Why Ecumenical Dialogue Matters for Eastern Orthodoxy”

• 2016: The Loyola Institute, Dublin, Ireland – “The Eastern Orthodox Church: Back to Progress”

• 2015: Society for the Study of Theology, Nottingham, UK – “Open Sobornicity: An Eastern Orthodox Perspective on Ecumenism”

• 2014: Society for the Study of Theology Postgraduate Conference, Oxford, UK – “Angela of Foligno's Bodily Experience of the Mystical Union with God”

Teaching Activity

• 2025: Modern Orthodox Theology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj, Romania – Lectures and tutorials on contemporary Orthodox theology; assessed student work

• 2023: Introduction to Disability Theology, Radboud University, Netherlands – Designed and delivered lectures and tutorials on disability in the Christian tradition; marked essays and exams

• 2023: Introduction to Philosophical Ethics, Radboud University, Netherlands – Designed and led tutorials on philosophical ethics for two seminar groups

• 2023: The History of Christian Thought, Radboud University, Netherlands – Designed and delivered lectures and tutorials on Christian doctrinal development (on campus and online); assessed essays and exams

• 2023: Introduction to Romanian Orthodoxy, Radboud University, Netherlands – Designed and delivered a six-hour online module for undergraduates on Romanian Orthodox theology

• 2020: Guest Lectures in Orthodox Theology, Greek Bible College, Athens, Greece

• 2018–2019: Exploring the Tradition of Christian Ethics, University of Aberdeen, UK – Designed and delivered lectures and tutorials (on campus and online); assessed essays and exams

• 2018–2019: Introduction to Philosophical Ethics, University of Aberdeen, UK – Led tutorials for two seminar groups

• 2018–2019: Introduction to Religious Myth, University of Aberdeen, UK – Designed and led tutorials on the notion of myth for two seminar groups

• 2017: Teaching Fellow in Christian Ethics, University of Aberdeen, UK

• 2016: Teaching Responsibilities (unspecified), University of Aberdeen, UK

Bibliography

Books:

• 2025 (October): The Cross at the Heart of the Church: Study in Ecclesial Recognition. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

• 2025 (August): Disability in the Greek Patristic Tradition. Lexington.

• 2025 (April): The Asceticism of Emotions: An Eastern Orthodox Approach to Inclusion. Palgrave Macmillan.

• 2023: Deification and Modern Orthodox Theology: Introduction to Contemporary Debates. Leiden: Brill.

Edited Journal Issues:

• 2021: “The Reception of the Orthodox Ecumenical Engagement in the West”, co-edited with Justin Mihoc. The Ecumenical Review 73:1.

• 2021: “Vulnerability, Power, and Disability”, co-edited with Talitha Cooreman. Journal of Disability and Religion 25:1.

Research Articles:

• 2025: “Spiritual Intelligence and Dementia: A Theological Reevaluation of the Nous.” CPOSAT 3: 174–191.

• 2024: “Powerless in Christ: A Romanian Orthodox Insight into Disability Theology.” Journal of Disability and Religion 28:2, 285–303.

• 2023: “Teologia dizabilității, drepturile omului și neosinteza patristică.” In Biserica și Statul, 225–246.

• 2022: “Stăniloae’s Reading of Western Theological Traditions: A Re-evaluation.” In Tendances et directions dans les recherches actuelles..., 223–236.

• 2022: “Learning to Perceive: Grace and the Emotional Conundrum of Disability.” Modern Theology 38:3, 535–547.

• 2022: “The Care of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in Romania: Between Politics and Theology.” Political Theology 23:3, 201–214.

• 2022: “Outlining an Inclusive Anthropological Ethics for Eastern Orthodoxy.” Scottish Journal of Theology 75:1, 43–54.

• 2021: “Vulnerability and Solidarity: An Improbable Connection.” Journal of Disability and Religion 25:1, 55–67.

• 2020: “Overcoming Exclusion in Eastern Orthodoxy: Human Dignity and Disability from a Christological Perspective.” Studies in Christian Ethics 33:4, 496–509.

• 2019: “Une Herméneutique Orthodoxe Œcuménique: Dumitru Stăniloae sur l’interprétation des Pères de l’Eglise dans un contexte œcuménique.” Contacts 71:2, 190–214.

• 2019: “Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Theology of Holiness for Eastern Orthodox Use.” Communio Viatorum 61:2, 28–39.

• 2019: “Through Sensus Fidelium to Deification: Listening to the Voice of the Laity in Eastern Orthodoxy.” Modern Theology 35:2, 285–300.

• 2018: “The Eastern Orthodox Church: Back to Progress.” Irish Theological Quarterly 83:2, 1–15.

Proceedings:

• 2021: “Perfecțiunea umană în teologia ortodoxă și implicațiile ei pentru îngrijirea persoanelor cu dizabilități intelectuale profunde.” In Polis and Paideia Conference Proceedings (2019), 197–206.

• 2020: “The Ambiguity of Nationalism and Ecumenism: A Romanian Orthodox Account.” In Societas Oecumenica Leipzig, 82–90.

• 2018: “Why Ecumenical Dialogue Matters for Eastern Orthodoxy.” In Societas Oecumenica Helsinki, 289–298.

Editorials:

• 2021: “Theological Exchanges: The Ecumenical Reception of Orthodoxy,” with Stephen G. Brown and Justin Mihoc. The Ecumenical Review 73:1, 1–7.

• 2021: “Vulnerability and Solidarity,” with Talitha Cooreman. Journal of Disability and Religion 25:1, 1–3.

Book Reviews:

• 2025: The Oxford Handbook of Deification, eds. Paul L. Gavrilyuk, Andrew Hofer, O.P., and Matthew Levering. Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies.

• 2024: Theological Perspectives on Reimagining Friendship and Disability by Martina Vuk. Journal of Disability and Religion 29:1, 119-120.

• 2024: Sustaining Hope: Friendships and Intellectual Impairment by David B. McEwan and Jim Good. Journal of Disability and Religion 28:1, 90–91.

• 2023: The Sophiology of Death by Sergius Bulgakov. Irish Theological Quarterly 36:2, 410–413.

• 2022: Dumitru Stăniloae’s Trinitarian Ecclesiology: Orthodoxy and the Filioque by Viorel Coman. Saint Vladimir's Theological Quarterly 66:3–4, 243–247.

• 2022: Discerning Persons: Profound Disability, the Early Church Fathers and the Concept of the Person in Bioethics by Pia Matthews. Journal of Disability and Religion 26: 3, 327-328.

• 2022: Catéchèse et théologies du handicap by Talitha Cooreman-Guittin. Journal of Disability and Religion 26:3, 323-324.

• 2021: La structure ontologique-communicationnelle de la personne by Ciprian Apintiliesei. Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses 97:4, 714–715.

• 2021: Libertatea omului la Karl Barth, Emil Brunner și Rudolf Bultmann by Mihai Iordache. International Journal of Orthodox Theology 12:3.

• 2018: Ecclesiology in the Trenches, eds. Sune Fahlgren and Jonas Ideström. Reviews in Religion and Theology 25:1, 61–64.

• 2015: Balthasar: A (Very) Critical Introduction by Karen Kilby. Theology in Scotland 22:1, 65–68.

Popularizing Work:

• 2024: “Warum nicht? Zum Fehlen einer orthodoxen Theologie der Behinderung.” Religion & Gesellschaft in Ost und West 9, 23–26.

• 2024: “Trauma en het helende potentieel van aanbidding.” Platform Oosters Christendom (August).

• 2023: “Martyrs without Scars: Disability and The Iconographic Tradition.” The Wheel 31–32, 33–38.

• 2023: “Portret: Dumitru Stăniloae (1903–1993).” Platform Oosters Christendom (December).

• 2023: IOTA Conference Report. Platform Oosters Christendom (February).

• 2022: “Portret: André Scrima (1925–2000).” Platform Oosters Christendom (June).

• 2022: “Persoane Suspendate: Notiunea de Persoana in Teologia Ortodoxa Moderna…” Syntopic (March); translated into Greek.

• 2021: “The Sacrament of Adoption and the Orphan Crisis in Romania.” Public Orthodoxy (May).

• 2020: “Corona Virus, productivité et déficience intellectuelle profonde.” Institut RSCS, UCLouvain (April).

• 2019: “Image and Likeness and Profound Cognitive Disability.” Public Orthodoxy (July).

• 2017: “Is There Anything Orthodoxy Can Learn from the Reformation?” The Wheel 12, 78–80; translated into multiple languages.

Translations:

• 2020: For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church (with Viorel Coman). Romanian translation: Pentru viața lumii. Ratio et Revelatio.

• 2020: David Bentley Hart, Nor Height nor Depth: On The Toll Houses. Romanian translation: Nici înălțimea, nici adâncul..., Analele Universității de Vest din Timișoara, 49–53.