SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
July 30, 2026
Dearest Saint Sophia Parishioners,
As we prepare for the ecclesiastical new year, Saint Sophia Cathedral embarks on a new chapter in her 122-year history. With heavy hearts, we say farewell to our beloved Reverend Steven P. Zorzos, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, and with open arms, soon welcome a new Protopresbyter.
Father Steve has faithfully served our Saint Sophia Cathedral, community, and the extended DC area for more than 42 years! He celebrated thousands of Divine Liturgies, baptisms, weddings, and funerals, scores of Lenten Seasons, Holy Weeks, and glorious Easters. Since 2011, under Father Steve’s leadership as Proistamenos of the Cathedral, he has successfully completed many strategic initiatives, which strengthened our Cathedral spiritually, physically, and fiscally. They include moving the Cathedral from a dues membership to stewardship structure; presiding over the consecration of our Cathedral in 2015; implementing our annual Mercedes-Benz Raffle; ensuring our annual Festival’s success; and fundraising $3.6M to complete the Preserve and Protect Campaign, which addressed 30 years of deferred maintenance and insured the stability of our facilities for the next 15 to 20 years. Throughout the pandemic, he insisted that we “stay connected while separated.” He hosted numerous visiting priests, hierarchs, bishops, and archbishops and mentored many assistant priests: Father Dimitri Lee, Father Panayiotis Steele, Father Gabriel Galifianakis, and Father Gregory Gatanas. He fundraised and implemented the Narthex Project. On two occasions, he took many of the Saint Sophia Faithful on a pilgrimage to Constantinople (Istanbul) and Jerusalem. He loved “his” Ladies of Philoptochos. We will remember him engaged with all ministries and on the sidelines cheering on our Saint Sophia GOYA basketball teams. Of course, his FS Bible Study, children’s sermons, and adult sermons will remain legendary!
Some twelve years ago Father Steve made it very clear to the Parish Council and stated publicly that he wanted to retire at age 70 (2024) and, in fact, sent a letter requesting his retirement to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America 12 months before that anniversary (May 2023). We were blessed on so many levels to have had him for 40 years and now an additional two years as our spiritual father and at the Cathedral’s helm. Over the last several years, Archbishop Elpidophoros and the Archdiocese District Chancellor, Protopresbyter Elias Villis, have collaboratively worked with the Parish Council to find Father Steve’s successor. The Parish Council is grateful for this gift of collaboration that helped to set a path for our beloved Saint Sophia Cathedral’s next chapter and the assignment of our next Protopresbyter.
For 92 years, from 1934 to 2026, Saint Sophia Cathedral of Washington, DC has been blessed to have three long-standing priests and theologians at our Cathedral: Bishop Aimilianos Lalousis (26 years), Father John T. Tavlarides (55 years), and Father Steven P. Zorzos (42 years). From all accounts, this history is unprecedented! Well done good and faithful servants!
We wish Father Steve a well-deserved retirement and look forward to welcoming our new Proistamenos in the near future.
In Service to Christ,
Saint Sophia Cathedral Parish Council
