Welcome! Allow us to take a moment of your time to introduce ourselves. We are the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Team of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. We live all over the United States and each work in a Metropolis as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. We help work towards the vision of our Archbishop and the Holy Synod (each Metropolitan Hierarch) to make the youth active participants in their Orthodox faith.

As youth and young adult directors, all of us have graduated from Holy Cross School of Theology with a Master of Divinity degree. Additionally, we have spent countless hours talking, laughing, running and praying with the youth and young adults of our Archdiocese.

The patron saints of the youth department are the Three Youths, who stand as strong examples of how children are active members of their faith. You can read about them in the Old Testament book of Daniel but here is a preview of what you’ll read…

Their real names are Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego. At the time they lived, King Nebuchadnezzar made a law that said everyone in the land was to bow down and worship his golden idols. If the people chose not to, they would be thrown into a furnace where they would be burned to death. So, people from all over bowed down and worshiped the king’s idols.

It came to the attention of the King that three young people were refusing to worship these idols. Enraged the king had the young people brought to him and he said, “Now if you are ready… fall down and worship the image which I have made… but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into the fiery furnace; and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?” The youths steadfast in their faith replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, o king. But if not, be it known to you, O king that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

What amazing faith! Well, their declaration of faith enraged the king and he had the fire made even hotter than it was. The youths were cast into the fire. God sent an angel into the furnace with the youths and the angel cooled the flames. The youths danced and sang praises to God. The king, seeing that they had not been harmed, declared their God the true God.

ARCHDIOCESE YOUTH MINISTRY TEAM

The Archdiocese Youth Ministry Team is comprised of each Metropolis Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries throughout our Archdiocese. This team meets bi-annually to share ideas, discuss pertinent youth ministry information, and form committees to work on various projects. This team assists in the vision planning and goal setting for the National Department.

Mission

Our mission is to minister to youth workers, young people and their families, enabling them to fully experience the Orthodox Faith, and to live a vital Orthodox Christian life.  We assist local parish programs in creating and sustaining youth and young adult ministries.

For further information, contact the Archdiocesan Department or your local Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.

Archdiocese Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries

83 Saint Basil Road
Garrison, New York 10524
(646) 519-6180
Fax (646) 519-6191
youthoffice@goarch.org

• Father Mark Leondis – National Director – Fr Mark comes to the youth department from Denver, where he served as the Diocese Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries -- but he’s originally from New Jersey. He and his wife Anastasia have two children, Juliana Maria and Alexander Peter..  In addition to Juliana and Alexander, they have a beagle, Ruka. He loves the Knicks and the Yankees.  In his spare time, he loves to play golf and tennis. Fr. Mark works with youth because he strongly believes that regardless of their age or maturity – they are full members of the Church, and should be given that privilege.   frmarko@goarch.org
• Mary Long - Resource Coordinator marylong@goarch.org
• Christina Meares - Assistant/Special Projects cmeares@goarch.org

Archdiocesan District

83 Saint Basil Road
Garrison, New York 10524
(646) 519-6183
Fax (646) 519-6191
nyyouth@goarch.org

• Deacon Bus Constantine Lazarakis – Director – Fr Bus is from Salt Lake City, Utah and has always been involved in youth ministry, having had countless years of summer camp and youth ministry experience. Fr Bus received his masters’ degree in Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.  Fr Bus loves music of all kinds, goes to the movies every time he has a chance (especially likes Star Wars), and likes to write.  He recently got married to Anastasia Karloutsos. He works with young people because he loves their enthusiasm for life and believes that the decisions young people make impact the rest of their lives.  He believes that if a young person’s faith is nurtured, it will last through adulthood. bus@goarch.org

Metropolis of Atlanta

2480 Clairmont Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 634-9347
Fax (404) 634-2471
youth@atlmetropolis.org

• Michelle Cassimus – Director - Michelle was born and raised in the ‘south’ and graduated from the University of Tennessee. She is a former High School and Middle School teacher of Family and Consumer Science, or what used to be called, “Home Economics.” Michelle and her husband Greg have four children--three boys and one girl. Her favorite place to visit is the Great Smokey Mountains, and some of her favorite things are Italian food, working with clay or ‘handbuilding,’ college football, old movies, and musicals. She loves working with young people because their hearts are so pure and they have so much to give!

Metropolis of Boston

162 Goddard Avenue
Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 277-4742
Fax (617) 739-9229
youthministry@boston.goarch.org

• Father Philippe Mousis– Director - Fr Phil is originally from New York (go Jets). He and his wife, Anastasia, have twin boys Panayioti and Demetri. Fr Phil enjoys eating a good Grinder (for those of you not from Boston that is a Submarine, Hoagie…in general just a really big sandwich). When he is not chasing his twins or eating a grinder, Fr Phil likes playing all types of sports.  Fr Phil believes that youth work is important to teach children about our Orthodox faith at a young age. Early education lays the foundation on which the children can grow.

Metropolis of Chicago

601 South Central Avenue
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 626-5400
Fax (773) 626-4814
gochicagoyouth@aol.com

• Chris Avramopoulos– Director – Chris was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois. He received his degree in history from the University of Wisconsin – Madison (Go Badgers!!!) and was planning on getting his MBA. God had different plans. Upon graduation from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Chris worked as the Youth Pastoral Assistant for the community of SS. Constantine & Helen, Palos Hills, IL before coming to the Metropolis Youth Office. Chris loves all sports but most especially football (Da Bears). However, golf is a close second; Chris tries to get out on the course as much as possible. Chris likes working with young people because of their eagerness to learn and experience new things. We often hear how the youth are the future of the Church but actually the youth are the Church now. What they learn about their faith at this time and experience through worship is vital for their growth as a person and as an Orthodox Christian.

Metropolis of Denver

4550 East Alameda Avenue
Denver, CO 80246-1208
(303) 333-7794
Fax (303) 333-7796
denveryouth@goarch.org

• Deacon Paul Zaharas – Director – Fr. Paul grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In Wyoming, he learned to love out door activities. He loves fly-fishing, hiking, camping, snowboarding, golf and anything he can do outside. He and his wife Celia welcomed their first child Kyriaki "Kiki" in January of 2003. His absolute favorite college team win or lose is the Wyoming cowboys...go pokes! Fr. Paul works with young people because when he was young there were adults that cared enough to spend time with him which made him who he is today. He has a great concern for the well being of young people and hopes that in some small way he can impact their lives the way he was impacted.

Metropolis of Detroit

2560 Crooks Road
Troy, MI 48084
Phone: 248.823.2411
Fax: 248.823.2401
youth@detroit.goarch.org

• Eva Kokinos - Director - Eva is originally from Anderson, IN which is famous for...absolutely nothing at all. She received her B.A. in Speech Communications before attending Holy Cross. There are three things you should know about Eva. First, anyone who knows her knows her favorite color (hint: check out her last name in a Greek dictionary). Secondly, "The Diva" has big plans to fulfill two life long dreams: competing on Wheel of Fortune and singing on Star Search. Finally, she is a die hard Indiana Pacers fan!! Eva loves working with the youth because learning is a two way street. She prays that they learn something from her, and she is thankful for the many lessons she learns from them.

Metropolis of New Jersey

629 Springfield Road
Kenilworth, NJ 07033
Phone: 908-686-0003
Fax: 908-686-0046
youth@nj.goarch.org

• Marions Sarantakos – Director

Metropolis of Pittsburgh

5201 Ellsworth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
(412) 621-8543
Fax (412) 621-1522
youth@odpgh.org

• Vasie-Leigh Andriotis– Director – Vasie-Leigh grew up in San Marino, California (that’s down south). Before attending Holy Cross she got her degree in Geology from the University of the Pacific (she wanted to invent the cure for earthquakes). She enjoys traveling, visiting with friends, reading cookbooks and baking. She loves Mexican food and always stops at her favorite restaurant, Rubio’s, when she goes home to California. She is married to Eugene. Vasie-Leigh likes working with young people because it helps her give back some of what people have given to her.

Metropolis of San Francisco

PO Box 400
38526 Dunlap Road
Dunlap, CA 93621
(559) 338-2103
Fax (559) 338-0065
sfyouth@sanfran.goarch.org

• Pete Sotiras – Director - Pete grew up in beautiful Marin County, California (which is near the most beautiful city in the world--San Francisco). Before heading to Holy Cross, Pete received his B.A. in history from UC Berkeley. He enjoys hanging out with his family and friends, snowboarding, playing football and basketball. He's a huge Forty Niners and Cal Bears fan. Helping young people to grow in their faith and realize their potential is something he loves doing and is grateful that he can do it for a living.