PAUL LADOUCEUR 1944 – 2025
Dr. Paul Ladouceur, distinguished theologian, teacher and writer in the Orthodox Christian tradition, fell asleep in the Lord on Friday, June 13, 2025.
An adjunct within the Faculty of Divinity of Trinity College, University of Toronto, and also a teacher at the Institut de théologie orthodoxe de Montréal, Dr. Ladouceur was a towering figure in the study of modern Orthodox theology. His scholarly work, pastoral sensitivity and unflagging commitment to ecumenical dialogue left an indelible mark on generations of students, clergy and theologians across the globe.
Born in 1944 in Quebec to a French-Canadian Roman Catholic family, Dr. Ladouceur’s early academic path led him far afield from theology. He completed doctoral studies at the University of Sussex, researching political regionalism in Ghana—a project that informed his lifelong commitment to methodological rigour and social justice. His entry into the Orthodox Church in 1994 marked the beginning of a new chapter. Dr. Ladouceur authored the widely acclaimed “Modern Orthodox Theology” (2019), a landmark synthesis of theological currents from the Russian Religious Renaissance through the neopatristic revival and into contemporary debates on theosis, ecclesiology and anthropology, taking place not only in the so-called diaspora but also in the traditionally Orthodox countries. His clear, accessible writing—deeply shaped by the example of his mentor, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware—helped countless readers navigate the complex landscape of 20th and 21st-century Orthodox thought. Beyond scholarship, Dr. Ladouceur was a tireless translator and advocate for underrepresented voices.
Dr Paul Ladouceur visited Volos a lot of times and participated in many projects of the Volos Academy, among others the Summer Schools for Ukrainian Clergy and Lay Theologians, the IOTA Mega Conference of 2023, the conferences Volos Academy co-organized with other Institutions in the University of Fribourg (2021, 2024) and also in many online events, the last of which was his lecture on St Maria Skobtsova of Paris, in April 2024. His passing is a huge loss for the international world of Theology.
May his memory be eternal.
With information from a post by Fr. Geoffrey Ready on the website of Trinity College, University of Toronto.
Read the complete obituary by Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Ready at https://tinyurl.com/paulladouceur
The photo is from a lecture by Dr. Paul Ladouceur at the Volos Academy for Theological Studies.