The Professor Emeritus of the School of Theology Domingo Ramos-Lissón died on November 27 in Pamplona. He was born in Madrid in 1930, where he studied law at the Central University of Madrid.

He then moved to Rome to study theology at the Pontifical Lateran University programs of study . Pontifical Lateran Universitywhere he received his doctorate. He was ordained to the priesthood in December 1959 in Madrid. During his stay in Rome he met St. Josemaría, who awakened his interest in Christian antiquity. As a result, he wrote his work The First Christians (1968), which, expanded and revised, went through three editions.

He joined the University of Navarra in 1971, under the guidance of Professor José Orlandis, where he carried out teaching, research and management tasks. He combined his priestly duties with his scientific activity.

Expert in Patrology and Ancient Church History, he maintained an intense research activity with more than eighty books and articles published in specialized journals. Among his numerous publications are Compendio de Historia de la Iglesia Antigua (EUNSA, 2009) and Patrology (EUNSA, 2005), focused on the life of the Fathers of the Church: "his great dream", as Josep Ignasi Saranyana, Professor Emeritus of the School of Theology, points out.

His contribution to development was very important. high school of Church History of the University of Navarra, of which he was Deputy Director from 1984 to 1990, and director from 1990 to 1996. He was also the driving force behind the new yearbook of Church History (since 1991).

The perfect gentleman: extraordinary cordiality and a permanent smile.

One of his best known tasks at the University was that of advising and partnership in the direction of the Library Services of the academic center. Above all, "he was a great lover of books," says Professor Saranyana: "He dedicated many hours to the Library Services to the point that today, at least in theological matters, it is an international reference point.

Domingo Ramos was a member of the "Association Internationale d'Études Patristiquesof the "Societas Internationalis Studiorum Historiae Conciliorum Investiganda", of the "SocietasInternationalis Studiorum Historiae Conciliorum Investiganda", and of the "Spanish Society of programs of study Classics"and the "Association Française d'Histoire Réligieuse et des Idées". In addition, his openness to the international world led him in 1997 to obtain the award Europa, awarded by the Center of programs of study Europeans of the University of Navarra.

"Some defined him as the 'perfect gentleman', and rightly so, because of his polite manners and his permanent smile," says Professor Saranyana. "He always displayed an extraordinary cordiality and exquisiteness, which he never abandoned, not even during the most stressful times: during the long illness of his mother (whom he cared for with filial care application); when the work or editorial commitments piled up; or in the seasons when the priestly ministry demanded greater dedication from him. He was, undoubtedly, a person of peaceful disposition, who inspired serenity, a good priest and a great university man, very much identified with the British world, particularly with that of Oxford". 

Semblanza written by Marcelo Merino, Professor Emeritus of the School of Theology(PDF)