"The first step of any great journey can be the riskiest one of all."
The narrative centers on two pivotal encounters that transformed his ministry. The first took place in 1992, amid the height of the AIDS crisis. The newly ordained Fr. Demetri visited Bob, a dying man abandoned by his own parish priest due to fear and stigma. This act of compassion sparked his calling to AIDS ministry and the founding the Bishop’s Task Force on AIDS in the Greek Orthodox Diocese (later Metropolis) of Chicago. It became the first such Orthodox Christian initiative in the western hemisphere, offering resources, workshops, and pastoral care. Despite initial resistance and skepticism within his own church, the effort expanded nationally, addressing misinformation and providing support during a time of widespread fear.
Seven years later, in 1999, Fr. Demetri was called to visit Andrew (Andrew Kokoraleis), a convicted gang member on death row for a gruesome murder (part of the "Ripper Crew" case). Andrew, who maintained his innocence and had a tragic background, became a focal point for the priest's advocacy. Grappling with moral complexities—justice for victims, empathy for the condemned, societal demands, and Christian mercy—Fr. Demetri visited him repeatedly, appealing to the governor, and ultimately joining broader efforts to halt Andrew's imminent execution. When clemency was denied and the execution proceeded, the experience propelled him into an 11-year campaign against the death penalty in Illinois.
The book weaves these stories with reflections on faith, resilience, redemption, and the true cost of living out the Gospel. It argues that social activism—ministering to the sick, imprisoned, and marginalized—is not a departure from Orthodox tradition but a reclamation of it, confronting "social unrighteousness" while affirming life and human dignity. Themes include internal church struggles, interfaith collaboration, personal doubts, family moments, and mentorship from figures like Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago.
In Grace Unbound, Orthodox Christianity provided the spiritual foundation for Bishop Demetrios’s activism, following a call to live out Christ’s love through service and compassion, as highlighted in the book’s themes of sacred activism and empathy. The faith’s focus on theosis—becoming more like God through acts of love—underscores Demetrios’s efforts to minister to marginalized individuals like Bob (dying of AIDS) and Andrew (on death row for murder), showing how Orthodox principles can inspire social justice. Co-author Patra Sevastiades’s storytelling captures this blend of faith and action, making the book a powerful example of Orthodoxy’s relevance in addressing modern challenges.
Through Patra and her husband Dean Casperson, who live here in Duluth, I've learned a few things about the Greek Orthodox Church that I'd not known before. For example, the Greek Orthodox Church broke off from Roman Catholicism in 1054 and made Constantinople its center, an event called The Great Schism. Unlike the Roman branch, which gives all authority to the Pope, the Eastern church rejected papal supremacy and governs through bishops, with the Patriarch of Constantinople as first among equals, not a ruler. There are several theological differences as well. In addition, Greek Orthodox priests can marry, whereas Catholic priests make a promise to remain celibate.
The Greek Orthodox emphasis on compassion, community, and spiritual depth is the primary driver for Demetrios in Grace Unbound. Its rich traditions and focus on personal transformation align with themes of empowerment and purpose, encouraging readers to see faith as a catalyst for meaningful change, much like Demetrios’s journey.
I'll close with these excerpts from reviews on Amazon.com.
Bishop Demetrios has written a compelling, deeply personal and highly engaging book that would appeal to ANY reader of non-fiction. Grace Unbound is written from a faith-based point of view but does not demand or assume belief from the reader. It's an easy read that draws you in quickly. It's grounded in lived experience – part memoir, part true crime, and part history and the result is inspiring, thoughtful, and surprisingly accessible to anyone interested in human stories, moral complexity and justice.
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What makes Grace Unbound particularly powerful is its balance of timeless truths and timely relevance. Whether reflecting on Scripture, personal stories, or the challenges of contemporary life, Bishop Demetrios draws the reader into a conversation that is both intimate and universal. His message is clear: no wound is too deep, no distance too great, and no soul too lost for the reach of God’s grace.
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