NEW YORK -- His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon has announced the appointment of Mr. Stamatios Gikas as ad interim Director of the Hellenic Cultural Center in Astoria, effective February 25, 1997.

Mr Gikas, who served for eight years as assistant director of the Center, succeeds His Grace Bishop Alexios of Troas, who was named Archiepiscopal Vicar of the Diocese of Atlanta on January 1.

A 1978 graduate of Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Mass., Mr. Gikas attended New York University and received a Masters degree in philosophy from the New School of Social Research and a Masters in education from the City University of New York.

He is presently serving as executive secretary of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce.