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Orthodox Observer - March 5, 1997

His Eminence Announces New Appointments

NEW YORK — Archbishop Spyridon has announced the appointment of new directors of three Archdiocese organizations: Leadership 100, St. Basil Academy and the Hellenic Cultural Center.

The Rev. Presbyter Mark B. Arey has been named executive director ad interim of the Archbishop Iakovos 'Leadership 100' Endowment Fund.

Fr. Arey is a 1979 graduate of Holy Cross School of Theology with a master of divinity degree and holds a master's in pastoral counseling from Loyola College in Maryland. Fr. Arey has also studied in the post-graduate program in history and philosophy at Yale University School of Divinity. He is a 1975 graduate of the University of Maryland and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Fr. Arey has served as a priest at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Frederick, Md.; Holy Trinity Church, Nashville; St. Barbara Church, New Haven, Conn.; and Annunciation Cathedral in Baltimore. He has also lectured at Vanderbilt University School of Divinity in Nashville.

Leadership 100 was established in 1984 as the endowment fund of the Archdiocese and supports the Church's National Ministries.

Stewardship Ministries

The Very Rev. J. Gabriel Karambis was appointed as director of Stewardship Ministries, effective March 15.

Fr. Gabriel, pastor of St. Nicholas Church, Oak Lawn, Ill., since 1984, also has served as pastor of Sts. Constantine and Helen, Belleville, Ill., and as an assistant priest at Holy Trinity, Chicago.

A 1975 graduate of Holy Cross School of Theology, he also completed one year of post-graduate work at the University of Thessaloniki School of Theology.

Paulette Poulos, who has been Stewardship director since October 1996, and faithfully served the Archdiocese for 32 years, asked to be relieved of her responsibilities so that, with the blessings of Archbishop Spyridon, she may serve as administrative assistant to Archbishop Iakovos.

St. Basil Academy

The Very Rev. Sylvester Berberis was named as director of St. Basil Academy, replacing Fr. George Neofotistos who resigned in February after a sudden illness.

Fr. Berberis, pastor of Holy Cross Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., also has served as pastor of Zoodochos Peghe in the Bronx and Kimisis Tis Theotokou, Southampton, N.Y.

A native of Greece, Fr. Berberis received a master's degree in church history from the John XXIII Institute of Fordham University in New York.

He will continue to serve Holy Cross Church until a successor is appointed by His Eminence.

In making the announcement, Archbishop Spyridon noted the great zeal and dedication with which Fr. Neofotistos had served the Church and the Archdiocese; as pastor, as director of St. Basil Academy, and two years ago returning from retirement to resume the directorship of the academy for a second time. He had, however, made several requests to retire once again.

Cultural Center

Archbishop Spyridon also announced that Mr. Stamatios Gikas has been appointed as ad interim director of the Hellenic Cultural Center in Astoria, effective Feb. 25.

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

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

Until his appointment, he was serving as executive secretary of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce.

[ Orthodox Observer - Vol. 62, No. 1124 - March 5, 1997 - p. 3 ]