The Director

The Bishop of Tanagra Apostolos Kavaliotis was born in Eleftheroupoli of Kavala. He studied at the Theological School and at the Pedagogical Department of Primary Education of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He holds a post doctorate in thePedagogical Department of Primary Education, Department of Special Pedagogy and Psychology of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens and Phd too.He also holds masters: 1) in Special Education at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in autism and mental retardation, 2) in the Design of Educational Units at the University of the Aegean, specializing in gender equality and 3) in Language and Literature at the Democritus University of Thrace, specializing in the Black Sea countries.

​He participates with presentations in International Conferences and Meetings, while he publishes articles in international scientific journals, also in newspapers. He has written 13 research monographs on Special Education and Education, a monograph with research on the professional employment of Muslim, Roma, pomachand Christian women of the Rhodopes Law with an award from the Region of Anmak and Thrace, a monograph on the relations between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, a chapter in English in an international Vatican writing on the subject of the Eucharist and three tales, translated into English. 

Wiley, one of the largest publishers and a pioneer in research and education, in 2023 included Fr. Apostolos Kavaliotis among the greatest authors on autism worldwide, based on the readings of his articles.

He is a member of the international consultancy IAC UNESCO, regular member of the Greek Red Cross of Alexandroupoli, regular member of the national mental health committee, regular member of the Ministry of Health’s committees for day centers for people with DDS.

He was, after a pan – Hellenic written competition and assessment tables, School Counselor of Special Education and Education of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace and Serres, North and South Aegean and regular member of the board of directors of the University General Hospital  Alexandroupoli. He was a member of the Wise Committee of the Ministry of Labor with responsibility for vulnerable groups under the Ministry of Loukas Katselis, vice-president of the Association for the Protection of Minors of North Central Macedonia and Thrace, regular member of the board of directors of Special Olympics HELLAS and deputy president of the Foundation for Chronic Diseases of the Prefecture of Kavala.

For his multifaceted humanitarian work he was honored with an award from the Academy of Athens in December 2007. In 2010 he was announced by the President of Special Olympics Hellas Mrs. Gianna Despotopoulou “Preacher of Volunteering” of Special Olympics in Greece. In 2011 and 2012 he was honored by the President of Special Olympics Dr. Shriver-Kennedy for the mobilization of Greek citizens in 2013 and 2014 by the President of SO HELLAS Gianna Despotopoulou. In March 2014 he was honored by the Mayor of Paggaio – Eleftheroupoli and the Mayor of Kavala Mr. K. Simitsis for his social, humanitarian, scientific and literary work.

In July 2014, the World Health Organization made a special mention to his study on breastfeeding, as the best in the world. on November 8. The Vatican-based Giuseppe Scacca International Awards awarded him the 1st World Pedagogical Science Award for his research on autism, Down Syndrome and breastfeeding. On 16/1/2015 the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias awarded him the Golden Cross of theOrder of Honor, which is the highest distinction of the Hellenic Republic. He is an honorary doctor of the International University – TEI of Kavala and was declared an honorary Citizen of Thassos and Kavala.

Lately he is studying on the Nature and Limits of Church (post-doc for the Theology Department of theNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens).

He teaches at the Democritus University of Thrace. Autism, Family and Resilience”,Interdepartmental Postgraduate Studies Program of Special Education.