Professor Doru Costache

Professor, Nisibis Assyrian Theological College
PhD Theol (Bucharest, 2000) BTh (Bucharest, 1993)

The Very Revd Dr Doru Costache is a Professor of Theology (Patristic Studies) at Nisibis Assyrian Theological College, where he serves as Academic Dean since April 2025 and where he lectures since 2021. He lectures also for St Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College, since 2017, on a casual basis. He has 30 years of experience in the tertiary sector, in Australia (since 2005) and Romania (since 1995). He is also Research Director of ISCAST (the Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology), since 2021, and coeditor of Christian Perspectives on Science and Technology, since 2022. He chairs the AUCD’s Theology Research Network since 2023.

He is a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR) and of ISCAST, since 2020, as well as a member of the International Orthodox Theological Association and ANZATS, since 2022, and of the International Association of Patristic Studies, since 2013. He was a Selby Old Fellow in the Religious History of the Orthodox Christian Faith at the University of Sydney Library (2023-2025, 2021-2022), and an Honorary Associate in Studies in Religion at the same university (2017-2023). He co-chaired the ‘Cosmology’ group of the Templeton World Charity Foundation-funded project ‘Science and Orthodoxy around the World’ (National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, 2020-2023).

He is a Romanian Orthodox protopresbyter, with over 25 years of ordained experience, currently ministering to St Gregory’s Orthodox Mission, since 2017.

Publications
Books
  • 2025

    Nature Contemplation in Clement of Alexandria: Elements of the Method

    Routledge 2025.

  • 2024

    A New Copernican Turn: Contemporary Cosmology, the Self, and Orthodox Science-Engaged Theology

    Routledge 2024 (together with Geraint F. Lewis).

  • 2021

    Humankind and the Cosmos: Early Christian Representations

    Brill 2021.

  • 2019

    Dreams, Virtue and Divine Knowledge in Early Christian Egypt

    Authors - Bronwen Neil, Doru Costache, Kevin Wagner, Cambridge University Press.

Book Chapters and Refereed Articles
  • 2025

    ‘Consciousness in the Cosmos: From René Descartes to David Bohm’s Revolution’

    Journal of Consciousness Studies 32:5–6, 155-179.

  • 2024

    ‘Abraham, the Contemplation of Nature, and Divine Vision in Clement of Alexandria.’ In: Nichifor Tanase, Marius Portaru, and Daniel Lemeni (eds). Knowing God in Light: Theophany and Language.

    Forum Orthodoxe Theologie 23. Vienna: 127-144.

  • 2024

    ‘Athanasius on Deacons and the Diaconate.’ In: Bart J. Koet, Edwina Murphy, and Esko Ryökäs (eds). Deacons and Diakonia in Late Antiquity: The Third Century Onwards.

    Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2, Reihe 606. Tübingen, 64-77.

  • 2024

    ‘Astral Iconography and the Byzantine Study of the Heavens’

    De Medio Aevo 13:2, 321-351.

  • 2023

    ‘Patristic and Neopatristic Antecedents of Scientifically Engaged Theology’

    St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly 67:1-2, 115-145.

  • 2022

    ‘Affirming Creation’s Goodness in a Time of Pandemic: Patristic Insights’

    in Colloquium 54:2.

  • 2022

    ‘The Trees of Paradise: Patristic Perspectives.’

    In: Ciprian Costin Apintiliesei and Constantin Pogor (eds). Tendances et directions dans les recherches actuelles des théologiens orthodoxes roumains de la diaspora. Patrimoines. Paris: 177-196.

  • 2022

    ‘Burning Hearts: Emmaus as Realised Eschatology in the Philokalic Tradition.’

    In: Peter G. Bolt and Sehyun Kim (eds). God’s Grace Inscribed on the Human Heart: Essays in Honour of James R. Harrison. Early Christian Studies 23. Macquarie Park: SCD Press: 61-78.

  • 2022

    ‘Theological Anthropology Today: Panayiotis Nellas’s Contribution.’

    In: Kostas Tampakis and Haralampos Ventis (eds). Orthodox Christianity and Modern Science: Past, Present and Future. Science and Orthodox Christianity 3. Turnhout: Brepols Publishers: 167-182.

  • 2021

    'One Description, Multiple Interpretations: Suggesting a Way Out of the Current Impasse.’

    In: Christopher C. Knight and Alexei V. Nesteruk (eds). Orthodox Christianity and Modern Sciences: Theological, Philosophical, Scientific and Historical Aspects of the Dialogue. Science and Orthodox Christianity 2. Turnhout: Brepols Publishers: 33-49.

  • 2020

    ‘A Note on Evagrius’ Cosmological and Metaphysical Statements

    In: The Journal of Theological Studies 71:2 (2020) 718-730.

  • 2020

    ‘Strange Bedfellows? Orthodox Perspectives on Theology, Spirituality, Science, and Technology’

    Technology’ Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Theologia Orthodoxa 65:2, 5-25.

  • 2020

    Maximus the Confessor and John Damascene’s cosmology

    In: John Slattery (ed). The T&T Clark Handbook of Christian Theology and the Modern Sciences (Bloomsbury/T&T Clark, 2020) 81-91.

  • 2020

    Andrew of Crete’s Great Canon, Byzantine Hermeneutics, and Genesis 1-3

    In: Andrew Mellas and Sarah Gador-Whyte (eds). Hymns, Homilies and Hermeneutics in Byzantium. Byzantina Australiensia 25 (Leuven and Boston: Brill, 2020) 67-85.

  • 2019

    ‘The Orthodox Doctrine of Creation in the Age of Science.’

    Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies 2:1, 43-64.

  • 2019

    A Theology of the World: Dumitru Stăniloae, the Traditional Worldview, and Contemporary Cosmology

    In: Vasilios N. Makrides and Gayle Woloschak (eds). Orthodox Christianity and Modern Science: Tensions, Ambiguities, Potential. Science and Orthodox Christianity 1 (Turnhout: Brepols Publishers, 2019) 205-22.

  • 2019

    Christian Gnosis: From Clement the Alexandrian to John Damascene

    In: Garry W. Trompf, Gunner B. Mikkelsen, and Jay Johnston (eds). The Gnostic World (Routledge Worlds London and New York: Routledge, 2019) 259-70.

  • 2019

    Byzantine and Modern Orthodox Gnosis: from the Eleventh to the Twenty-First century

    In: Garry W. Trompf, Gunner B. Mikkelsen, and Jay Johnston (eds). The Gnostic World (Routledge Worlds London and New York: Routledge, 2019) 426-35.

  • 2019

    Reading Scripture in the Orthodox Church: The Festal Cycle

    AIOCS 2019.