Mr Sotiris Despotis, Professor in the Department of Social Theology and the Study of Religion at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, specializing in New Testament interpretation, is the guest on Voice of Greece on Wednesday, 07 January 2026, at 22:00 (Athens time), on the program “Remarkable Personalities”, hosted by Stavroula Karali.
Mr Despotis offers a substantive and well-documented exploration of a lesser-known yet decisive period in the life of Jesus Christ: the so-called Hidden Years, spanning from His Birth to His Baptism. These years mark the transition of the Incarnate Word from silence to healing word and action—a period largely absent from the Gospel narratives, yet one that decisively shapes the historical, social, and spiritual framework of His public ministry.
The discussion also focuses on the figure of John the Forerunner—the ascetic and prophet who prepared the people for the coming of the Messiah through sharp moral, social, and religious critique—laying the groundwork for the paradoxical Epiphany that would follow. Within this context, the Baptism of the Lord is interpreted as a “first Descent into Hades” and a prefiguration of Resurrection.
Mr Despotis further examines Christ’s public action within the space of “Galilee of the Gentiles,” set against the historical backdrop of Roman occupation. He highlights how Christ’s proclamation of a “New World”—His Kingdom—as well as His stance, already evident in the Temptations, challenges prevailing forms of power. For Emmanuel, however, such powers are not identified with external rulers, just as He Himself rejects the role of a messianic king understood in worldly terms.
At the same time, the conversation turns to Christ’s coexistence with marginalized and socially “unclean” groups—a defining element that shaped Christianity’s radically inclusive message of peace, fundamentally incompatible with any imposed Pax.
Research – production – presentation: Stavroula Karali
Sound Recording & Editing: Evangelia Kovaiou – Efi Georgopoulou
Broadcast: Wednesday, 07 January 2026, 22:00 (Athens time)
