Father James attended elementary schools in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area and high school in Dover, New Hampshire and San Antonio, Texas, graduating in 1955.
For as long as he can remember, he nourished a strong desire to become a priest. It was no surprise to his parents or to those who knew him, that immediately after graduating from Thomas Jefferson High, he entered the Greek Orthodox Theological School in Brookline, MA. from which he graduated in 1961. On August 20, 1961 he married Helen Govostes, daughter of Spelios and Jenny Govostes of Lowell, MA, at the Transfiguration Church in Lowell, Mass.
He was ordained to the Diaconate on September 10, 1961 in Fitchburg, MA., by Bishop Meletios and on the Feast of the Holy Cross, September 14,1961, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop lakovos at the Seminary.
His first assignment was to Holy Trinity parish in Waterbury, Conn., where he was to remain for eighteen years until his appointment to St.John's parish on August 1, 1979.
Waterbury was an immediate challenge, what with a succession of six priests preceding him from 1951 to 1961. During his service at Holy Trinity, a new Church and a new Gymnasium and Classroom Wing were built and opened by Archbishop Iakovos on December 31, 1972.
After the building of the new complex in Waterbury, one of his most cherished accomplishments was being the first Greek Orthodox priest (along with Father Anthony Gergiannakis - now Metropolitan Anthony of our Diocese) to receive a Master of Sacred Theology degree from the prestigious Divinity School of Yale University (1964). His abiding love for the academic life led him to continue his post-graduate studies at the Hartford Seminary Foundation, from which he received a Master of Arts degree several years later.
During his studies for the priesthood, while other seminarians went to a movie, visited friends or went shopping on their Thursday afternoons off, he attended the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied voice from 1956 to 1959. While there, he became a member of the Conservatory Chorus. Father James recalls what a thrill it was for him to sing with the famous Boston Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Charles Munch. The first work performed was Beethoven's immortal Ninth Symphony and later the monumental choral masterpiece by Berlioz, the Requiem Mass.
As a priest at the young age of twenty-nine he was asked to organize and direct a hundred-fifty voice choir, composed of choir members from throughout the State of Connecticut. The occasion was the Archieratical Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archbishop Iakovos during the 1965 G0YA International Conference in Hartford, which was held outdoors on the grounds of the State capitol.
At his request in order to be closer to his family in California, Father James was transferred to St. John the Baptist parish in Anaheim,California assuming his new position on August 1, 1979. Now in his 24th year of service to St. John's, Fr. James and Presvytera Helen have worked together with many fine people in serving the spiritual and educational needs of such a large parish. Father has shown and continues to exhibit a special interest in the youth of the parish, ever striving in a faithful and conscientious manner to cultivate in them a love and appreciation of their venerable ancient faith and rich ethnic heritage.
He is a sincere, dedicated and highly motivated man who speaks his mind with honest candor and conviction, and who possesses a genuine love for all of his parishioners. His dedication to the Church is well known and he strives to be faithful to his calling as a servant of God. Our priest has been a vocal supporter of our expansion which is currently underway.
For his faithful and dedicated service to the Church he has been awarded the offikia of Sakellarios, Oikonomos and Protopresbyter. He was chosen by Bishop Anthony to serve as his Vicar for Southern California and also served as President of the Diocesan Presbyter's Council for three terms.
Our priest's interests are wide ranging. He likes gardening and fishing. He exalts in the outdoor experience as provided especially by California's majestic Sierra Nevada. He supports conservation efforts to preserve these fragile ecosystems for future generations.
Father James and Presbytera Helen have three children: Joanna, Sperry
and Stasi.