Past Clergy of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Clergy - Fr. John Kariotakis
Father John Kariotakis was born on the island of Crete in 1956. In 1970, at the age of 14, he entered the Rizarios Seminary in Athens and graduated in 1975. The same year he was admitted to the University of Athens, School of Theology. During his last year of studies at the University (1979) he married to Kathy Schaper of Fort Wayne, IN. After graduating in March of 1980, he immigrated to the United States.
On December 6, 1981 Fr. John was ordained by Bishop Timotheos of Detroit to the Holy Diaconate, and on Christmas Day of 1981 he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in Middletown, OH.
A week after his ordination, he was assigned to his first parish with Fr. Elias Stephanopoulos at the Holy Trinity parish in Portland, OR. While serving in Portland, OR, his daughter, Evangelia, was born in 1982. He served as the assistant priest at Holy Trinity in Portland from January 1982 to December 1985.
In January 1986 he assumed the pastoral responsibilities of the Proistamenos at the parish of St. Nicholas in Tacoma, WA and served there until September 1992.
His next assignment was as the Proistamenos at St. Spyridon parish in San Diego, CA from September 1992 to February 2004. Sadly, in the year 2000, Presvytera Kathy passed away after a lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis. In 2003 Fr. John took a Sabbatical of 6 months from St. Spyridon’s parish. Upon his return from the Sabbatical (2004) His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony assigned Fr. John to lead the newly established Mission at San Juan Capistrano, CA. He served at the Mission at San Juan Capistrano until September of 2006.
In October of 2006 Fr. John was assigned as the proistamenos of St. John the Baptist parish in Salinas, CA where he served until the end of 2010.
In January 2011, His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos assigned Fr. John as proistamenos at St. John the Baptist in Anaheim, CA. Fr. John guided our community and served as our spiritual leader for 10 years until his retirement at the end of December 2020.
Clergy - Fr. Constantine Trumpower
Father Constantine was born and raised in Portland, OR, his family first attending Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Portland, and, beginning in his teenage years, attending St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, in Beaverton, OR. Fr. Constantine participated in Sunday School and served in the holy altar. Yet, it was in his teenage years that he discovered Byzantine Music. He pursued studies, both on his own, and formally under the tutelage of Byzantine Music Professor, the Rev. Fr. Romanos Karanos, culminating in a Certificate in Byzantine Music at Holy Cross School of Theology.
Fr. Constantine was fed by the ministries of the church, and, in turn, offered his time and talents back to Christ’s Church as a Sunday School teacher, singing in choir and chanting, as a Jr. GOYA Advisor of many years, and as a Summer Camp Counselor, at one of the NorthWest’s Summer Camps, Camp Angelos.
After Graduating from Portland State University with an English Literature Major/Business Writing Minor, Fr. Constantine worked for two years through the Federal AmeriCorps Program, serving poor and at-risk youth at Tualatin Elementary School in Oregon. After that time, he went to George Fox University’s Graduate School of Education to attain a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), which he received in 2010. Fr. Constantine then worked at a private orthodox school in Central Washington, where he met and fell in love with his now Presbytera, Adrienne. In the Spring of 2012, he received the blessing of Metropolitan Gerasimos to enroll in studies at Holy Cross School of Theology. While on the Holy Hill, Fr. Constantine worked for the Archdiocese in two different areas: As technical support staff for the Department of Internet Ministries, and as an instructor for the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music.
Immediately following his 2016 graduation from Holy Cross, with a Masters of Divinity degree, Fr. Constantine and family moved to Missoula, MT, where he spent one year ministering as a pastoral assistant to the small, growing parish of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
In June of 2017, Fr. Constantine was assigned as a pastoral assistant to St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Anaheim, CA. He was ordained to the Holy Deaconate by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos on August 5th, 2017, and then to the Holy Priesthood the following day, the Feast of the Transfiguration. Fr. Constantine served under the Rev. Fr. John Kariotakis as his assistant during his time of ministry at St. Johns in Anaheim. In Feburary, 2021 Fr. Constantine was assigned as the presiding pastor at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Camarillo, CA. Fr. Constantine and Pres. Adrienne have three sons, Peter, Isaac and Theodore.
Clergy - Fr. Haralambos (Bob) Fox
Fr. Haralambos was born Robert Fox in Las Vegas, Nevada. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles for his undergraduate studies, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics from Occidental College and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics from CalTech. He later earned a Master's degree in Computer Engineering from USC.
While in college, two events happened that changed his life: he embraced the Orthodox Faith and was chrismated with the name Haralambos; and he met the love of his life - Joann Katsiotis. Fr. Haralambos and Pva. Joann were married in 1992 at St. Nicholas Church in Northridge, Califorrnia. They were both professional folk dancers and teachers with the Aman Folk Ensemble for many years until Fr. Haralambos left the group to pursue employment in engineering, and Joann left to give birth to their first child, Marika, in 1997. Throughout their young adult years, they were active in the Northridge parish - singing in the choir, participating in YAL, growing in their faith together, and nurturing a desire to study theology more deeply at the seminary in Brookline.
In 1999, they were blessed with the opportunity to follow an employment opportunity in Lowell, Massachusetts that led them closer to their goal of attending seminary. They temporarily settled in New Hampshire where their son Theophanis was born in 2000. Fr. took seminary classes part-time until the family was able to move on campus and enroll full-time. His greatest desire of serving the Church with all of his strength was realized when he was ordained a Deacon by Metropolitan Anthony of blessed memory in 2004, becoming the first clergyman to be ordained at the Monastery of the LifeGiving Spring in Dunlap, CA at one of the last two ordinations performed by Metropolitan Anthony. He returned to complete his senior year at the seminary and was assigned to the parish of St. Athanasius in Arlington, Massachusetts to serve with Fr. Nicholas Kastanas.
Following his graduation from the seminary in 2005, Fr. Haralambos was assigned to St. Nicholas Church in Northridge where he had first attended as a college student. He was ordained to the Priesthood in 2006 by Metropolitan Gerasimos, and continued to serve the parish in Northridge until 201 o. In 201 o Fr. Haralambos was assigned as the Proistamenos of Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Lancaster, California. He arrived at St. John the Baptist in September 2013.
When Fr. Haralambos was at seminary, he was assisted greatly by the then-Archdeacon Gerasimos. When he asked how he could ever repay the kindness, he was told "we don't ask for much in return, just your life." Since that time, he has sought to dedicate that life to ministering to others and opening up the treasures of our Faith to as many people as possible. He has a special love of serving the youth and young adults whom he doesn't see as merely the Future of the Church, but it's strength in the Present.
Fr. Nicholas Andrews, Oikonomos
April 21, 1958 - June 2, 2013
Fr. Nicholas Andrews was born in London, Ontario, Canada on April 21, 1958. He was reared in Michigan and later he relocated to Athens, Greece with his family, where he completed high school. Following graduation, he enrolled at the University of Laverne (oversees campus) where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a double minor in Sociology and Education. He was granted a scholarship by the Ministry of Exterior of the Greek government to study Theology at the University of Athens. In 1978, he returned back to the United States and completed his studies at Holy Cross School of Theology, graduating in 1979 with a Masters Degree in Divinity. Upon completion of his graduate studies, he relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, in order to join his family, where his father, Fr. Apostolos, was serving as the parish priest at St. John the Baptist. While in Las Vegas, Fr. Nicholas worked as a lay assistant. He continued his education by taking graduate level courses in Psychology and Counseling, subsequently passing his State Boards and thus becoming a Licensed Substance Abuse Therapist.
In November 1993, he accepted a position in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a substance abuse consultant at The Al-Amal hospital. Following his return to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994, he worked at the Charter facility. In May 1998, he accepted a position as the spiritual care coordinator of Safe Harbor Hospice. On June 6th of that year, he married his longtime friend Toni Eck. On August 20, 2000, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate at St. John Greek Orthodox Church in Las Vegas by Metropolitan Anthony of blessed memory. On September 24th of that year, he was ordained to the Orthodox Holy Priesthood at the Annunciation Cathedral in Houston, Texas, by Archbishop Demetrios. On August 22, 2004, he was bestowed the ecclesiastical office of Economos by Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver. Fr. Nicholas served at the Cathedral in Houston for six years until relocating to California, serving at St. Nectarios Church in Covina from October through December of 2006. From January 2007 until his death, he lovingly served the faithful of St. John the Baptist parish in Anaheim. Fr. Nicholas was a third-generation Greek Orthodox priest. He was fiuent in Greek, English, and Spanish, and had a working knowledge of Arabic. He is survived by Presvetera Toni and their two miniature schnauzers, Sunny and Shade.
The obituary for Fr. Nicholas Andrews is online at GreekObituary.com. You may view the obituary and sign the guestbook.
Clergy - Fr. James Diavatis, Protopresbyter
January 28, 1936 - December 23, 2012
Our presiding priest from August 1, 1979 to December 31, 2010, Fr. James S. Diavatis was born in Potamos, Corfu, Greece on August 8, 1936 to Father Spyridon and Presvytera Anastasia Cheimarios. His father was assigned to serve the Church in America by Archbishop Athenagoras and the family arrived in late 1946.
Father James attended schools in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, Dover, New Hampshire and graduated from High School in San Antonio, Texas. He then enrolled at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Theological School in Brookline, Massachussets from which he graduated in 1961. Shortly thereafter '1 he married Helen Govostes, daughter of Spelios and Jenny Govostes in Lowell, Massachussets.
He was ordained to the Diaconate on September 10, 1961 by Bishop Meletios in Fitchburgh, Massachussets and Archbishop lakovos ordained him a priest on September 14, 1961 at Holy Cross Seminary.
Father James had served only two parishes. For eighteen years he served as the proistamenos
(presiding priest) of the Holy Trinity Church in Waterbury, Connecticut. Since August 1, 1979 to December 31, 201 o he had served as the pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Anaheim, California.
He earned two post-graduate degrees; a Masters of Sacred Theology from Yale Divinity School and a Masters of Religious Studies from Hartford Seminary.
For his faithful service to the Church, he had been awarded the offikia of Economos and Protopresbyter. Also he had served as Vicar for Southern California and President of the Metropolis Clergy Council for three two year terms.
He is survived by Presvytera Helen and their three children, Sperry (Spyridon), Stasi {Anastasios), and Joanna.
Father James was also known for his love of gardening, photography and fishing. He grew award-winning chrysanthemums, and took great care in cultivating beautiful flowers for the enjoyment and appreciation of others.
The obituary for Fr. James Diavatis is online at GreekObituary.com. You may view the obituary and sign the guestbook.
Fr. George Constantine Massouras
December, 1933-March 25, 2017
Father George Massouras was born on December 7, 1933 in Ellensburg, Washington, the son of Thomas and Chrysoula Massouras, owners of the Palace Cafe, which still exists today. His interest in the church from an early age was fostered by a kind Episcopal priest in the small town who gave him his first bible. He traveled by train twice a year to visit the nearest Greek Orthodox Church, Saint Demetrios in Seattle, to celebrate Easter and the Assumption.
In 1952, after completing his high school education in New York City, where he moved with his mother and brother after the early death of his farther, Fr. George enrolled at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA. Upon graduation, he married the former Despina Besbikos of Boston. They were married for 57 years.
On December 13, 1959 he was ordained into the priesthood by Archbishop lakovos of the Americas at St. Spyridon Church in Worcester, MA. Fr. George's priesthood ordination was the first ordination His Eminence Archbishop lakovos celebrated as the newly elected Archbishop of the Americas. Fr. Massouras served the parishes of St. George in Pittsfield, MA (1959-1963); St. Andrew in South Bend, IN (1963-1969); St. John the Baptist in Anaheim, CA (1969-1979); St. Nicholas of Oak Lawn, IL (1979-1981); and the Assumption Church of Chicago (1981-2006). At each one of the parishes he served, he left the parishes in better condition than he found them. In Pittsfield, MA and South Bend, IN he began building programs resulting in new churches. In Anaheim, CA he began and oversaw the building and completion of a new church, gym, and Sunday School complex. In Chicago at the Assumption, he oversaw and guided the spectacular renovation of the landmark church, a historic anchor in Chicago's Austin neighborhood.
Father and Presbytera Despina have four sons and daughters-in-law; Thomas (Nikki), Theodore (Deanna), Andrew (Rebecca), and Christopher (Lara). In addition, they have seven grandchildren; Nico, Ben. Steven George, Christen, Evan, Madelyn, and Alexander. He is the brother of John (Dawn) Massouras, and fond uncle and cousin of many.
Father George completed his graduate studies in Theology at the University of Notre Dame, where he also taught. Along with leading numerous pilgrimages to the holy land, he was a student and authority on Byzantine iconography. He devoted a major part of his ministry to the welfare of his community's faithful and was concerned about the care of the senior citizens. To that end, he was a founder of the Hellenic Home for the Aged in Wheeling, IL. He will be remembered for his love of the faith, his compassion, his caring, his sense of humor, and his humility.
The obituary for Fr. George Massouras is online at GreekObituary.com. You may view the obituary and sign the guestbook.
