The Very Rev. Archimandrite Avgoustinos Psomas
The Dean of Saint Sophia Cathedral
The Very Reverend Archimandrite Avgoustinos Psomas was born in 1978 and raised on the island of Corfu, Greece, spending his formative years in the village of Saints Theodoroi in Lefkimmi. From an early age, the life of the Orthodox Church held a central place in his upbringing, nurturing in him a deep love for the Church’s liturgical life, Byzantine musical tradition, and spiritual heritage.
He pursued studies in Electrical Engineering at the Sivitanidios Technical School in Athens. During his years there, his longstanding love for Byzantine music developed into a formal course of study. At the Church of Saint Marina in Ilisia, he began his systematic training in Byzantine ecclesiastical music under the guidance of Dr. Athanasios Vourlis, Doctor of Theology.
Following the completion of his military service in 2000, he continued his academic and theological formation. In 2003, he entered the School of Theology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, graduating in 2007. The following year, he completed advanced studies at the Conservatory of Northern Greece, earning a Master’s Degree in Byzantine Music. His musical formation encompassed Byzantine chant, vocal and speech training, choir direction, liturgical studies, and the proper proclamation and recitation of the sacred liturgical readings.
He later continued his theological education in the United States at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston, where he earned a Master of Theology degree, further strengthening the theological and pastoral foundation of his ministry.
Throughout his theological studies in Greece, he remained deeply devoted to the sacred tradition of Byzantine music. For three consecutive years, he furthered his studies at the Byzantine School of Music under the distinguished instruction of Archon Panagiotis Neochoritis, Protopsaltis (Master Chanter) of the Patriarchal Church of Saint George at the Phanar in Constantinople. This formative experience deepened his knowledge and appreciation of the authentic Patriarchal tradition, style, and ethos of Byzantine ecclesiastical music.
During this period, he also served the Holy Analogion of the Church of Saint George in Ormylia, Greece, where he was honored to serve as Protopsaltis (Head Chanter) from 2004 until his relocation to the United States in 2012.
From 2013 to 2019, he served the Hellenic Community of Saint Demetrios in Astoria, New York, as Head Chanter, placing his musical formation at the service of the Church’s liturgical life. During his years in New York, he also served for five years as Director of the Greek Afternoon School in Corona, New York, where he was entrusted with the education of its students and with fostering the Greek language, Hellenic culture, and Orthodox Christian heritage among a new generation.
On Christmas Eve of 2019, Fr. Avgoustinos was ordained to the Holy Diaconate. On September 29, 2020, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood, and on June 21, 2021, he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite. His ordination to the Diaconate, his ordination to the Priesthood, and his elevation to the rank of Archimandrite were all bestowed upon him by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
Following his ordination to the Holy Diaconate, he served the Greek Orthodox Community of Holy Trinity in New Rochelle, New York, beginning his ordained ministry within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
From January 1, 2021, through August 31, 2025, he served as Presiding Priest of Saint Thomas Greek Orthodox Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. During his tenure, the parish completed the iconography of the entire church, bringing to fulfillment a significant undertaking in the spiritual and liturgical life of the community. Through the remarkable generosity and commitment of the faithful, the parish also raised the funds necessary to fully cover the cost of the iconography while satisfying the financial obligations associated with extensive renovations undertaken in previous years. These accomplishments were made possible through the shared vision, stewardship, and devotion of the Saint Thomas parish family and reflected its commitment to strengthening and beautifying the church for generations to come.
On September 1, 2025, he began serving the Greek Orthodox Community of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Holmdel, New Jersey, continuing his ministry with an emphasis on pastoral care, the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church, and the spiritual growth, fellowship, and unity of the parish community.
Throughout his ministry, Fr. Avgoustinos has sought to unite his theological formation, his lifelong devotion to the liturgical and musical traditions of the Church, and his pastoral experience in the service of Christ and His people. At the heart of his ministry is the conviction that the timeless faith of the Orthodox Church is not simply a precious inheritance to be preserved, but a living faith to be experienced and shared—a source of hope, healing, strength, and communion with Christ.
With gratitude to His Eminence, our Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, for the clergy, communities, and faithful who have shaped his journey, he understands the priesthood above all as a calling to serve with love and compassion. His ministry is devoted to strengthening our parishes, nurturing a vibrant and secure future for generations to come, and inviting all to discover the holiness of our Mother Church and the beauty of our Hellenic heritage.
The Reverend Gregory Gatanas, M. Div.
Assistant Priest
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America blessed and formally assigned Fr. Gregory Gatanas to his new ministry, as shown in the accompanying photo with the District Chancellor, the Rev. Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Elias G. Villis. Effective December 1, 2025, Fr. Gregory will begin his priestly life as the Assistant Priest at Saint Sophia Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Fr. Gregory Gatanas was born and raised in Flushing, Queens, and grew up in the St. Nicholas community, where he attended the William Spyropoulos Greek-American Day School from kindergarten through eighth grade. He graduated from Chaminade High School in 2013 and later earned his Bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University (SUNY). In 2021, he completed his Master of Divinity at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
For the past four years, Fr. Gregory has faithfully served as the Pastoral Assistant at the Church of the Holy Resurrection in Brookville, NY. In the summer of 2024, he married his wife, Eleftheria Papadopoulos, in Thessaloniki, Greece, at the Cathedral of St. Demetrios.
Fr. Gregory was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the Archangel Michael Church in Port Washington: the nameday of our beloved Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood one week later, on November 9, 2025, also by His Eminence, at the Church of the Holy Resurrection, the Feast Day of Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis.
The Reverend Steven P. Zorzos, D. Min.
Dean Emeritus of Saint Sophia Cathedral
Father Steven P. Zorzos is currently the Dean Emeritus of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
Father Steve grew up in the Greek Orthodox Community of the Church of the Archangels, Stamford, Connecticut. After attending the University of Connecticut for two years, he transferred to Hellenic College, Brookline, Massachusetts, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy & Religion. Upon completion of the Master in Theological Studies and Master of Divinity degrees from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts, Father Steve was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in 1982 and served the Greek Community of Saint Demetrios Cathedral, Astoria, New York, as assistant priest from 1982-84. From August, 1984 to January, 2011, Father Steve served Saint Sophia Cathedral as assistant priest and from January, 2011 to September 15, 2026, as presiding priest and Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne. Father Steve holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, New York.
Father Steve was given the blessing by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros as the Dean Emeritus of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Washington, DC on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Georgios Theodoridis
Άρχων Μουσικοδιδάσκαλος της Αμερκής
Archon Mousikodidaskalos (Music Instructor)
George Theodoridis is Archon Mousikodidaskalos (Music Instructor), of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Master Chanter, Choir Master, and Director of Music Arts of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
In April 2012, Mr. Theodoridis moved to Washington, D.C., to join the Saint Sophia community.
Born in Böblingen, Germany, Mr. Theodoridis studied under many renowned teachers and chanters and has traveled extensively as part of Byzantine choirs. Prior to joining Saint Sophia, Mr. Theodoridis conducted the Students Byzantine Choir of the Theological College of the Apostolic Diakonia and the Byzantine Multi Choir of Chantors, who performed a special ceremony before Pope Benedict XVI in the Event Hall of the Vatican Palace. Mr. Theodoridis has served as master chanter (protopsaltis) and choirmaster of the Holy Shrine of Saint Barbara in Athens, Greece, as well as instructor of Byzantine music to the Students Byzantine choir of the Theological College, Apostolic Diakonia of the Church of Greece.
Mr. Theodoridis has an undergraduate degree from the University of Athens, an honors degree from the Conservatory of Egaleo in Athens, is fluent in Greek, German and English, and holds the rank of Lieutenant in the Greek army.
Parish Council
The Parish Council of Saint Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral meets on a monthly basis to guide and manage the cathedral’s affairs.
| President: | Janice Calomiris |
| Vice-President(s): | Diane Bochanis Cerniglia Ioannis (Yiannis) Xanthos |
Secretary: | Amanda Creed Lockhart |
Treasurer: | Nicholas G. Margarites |
| Board Members: | Margo Anderson |
Cathedral Staff
The cathedral staff are the caretakers and stewards of the Cathedral’s facilities and daily operations.
Cathedral Administrator: Pete Panagiotopoulos (Ptpoulos@saintsophiadc.com)
Cathedral Administrator Assistant: Yianni Panagiotopoulos (Yianni@saintsophiadc.com)
Sexton: Victor Berio (Victor@saintsophiadc.com)
Facility Assistant: Angel Claure
Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral is incorporated as a non-profit under the DC Law and governed by its Bylaws which are available HERE or by contacting Pete Panagiotopoulos, Cathedral Administrator at 202-838-1553 or via email at ptpoulos@saintsophiadc.com.
The Bylaws incorporate the Uniform Parish Regulations and are available by clicking HERE.
Private Directory
Saint Sophia Cathedral’s private phone lines are as follows:
Office Main Line
202-333-4730
Father Avgoustinos Psomas
202-838-1550
Father Gregory Gatanas
202-838-1551
Pete Panagiotopoulos
202-838-1553
George Theodoridis
202-838-1554
Yianni Panagiotopoulos
202-838-1557
Victor Berio
202-838-1558
