Archimandrite Aristarchοs (Vasileios) Gkrekas
Very Revd. Dr. Aristarchos (Vasileios) Gkrekas is an Archimandrite of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens and Associate Professor at the Department of Theology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. His academic work lies at the intersection of Orthodox Theology, Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Human-Centered AI, International Relations, Security, and Cultural Diplomacy.
He holds B.A., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Theology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as well as an M.A. in International Relations (Conflict Prevention, Sustainable Peace and Security) from Durham University (UK). He has completed executive and professional programs at the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and Harvard Kennedy School, including Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Policy, Technology, and Governance.
His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence and Orthodox Christian anthropology, AI ethics and governance, digital transformation, religion and emerging technologies, leadership, and peacebuilding. He has authored numerous scholarly books and articles in Greek and English, including Artificial Intelligence and Man: An Orthodox Theological Approach (2022), Exploring Religious Dimensions in AI and Humanity (Lexington Books/Rowman & Littlefield, 2024).
Dr. Gkrekas has participated in numerous European Commission research projects as scientific collaborator, expert, and project manager. His academic distinctions include the Academy of Athens Prize (2025), the Botsis Foundation Journalism and Technology Award (2024) for research on Artificial Intelligence and Humanism, the AHEPA Literature Award (2024), and selection as a finalist for the British Council Study UK Alumni Awards 2024. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), a member of Chatham House, the Harvard Christian Alumni Society, the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), and serves on the Academic Council of the Hellenic Institute of Cultural Diplomacy and as Director of the Department of Cultural and Religious Diplomacy at the Institute of Foreign Affairs.