The Reverend Steven P. Zorzos, D. Min.
Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne
Father Steven P. Zorzos is the Presiding Priest 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 the present, as presiding priest.
Father Steve holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, New York.
The Reverend Panayiotis V. Steele, M. Div.
Presbyter & Assistant Priest
frpanayiotis@saintsophiadc.com
Father Panayiotis was ordained to the priesthood by His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophoros, on Saturday morning, June 26, 2021 at Saint Sophia. For several years before that he volunteered as one of our assistant chanters. Originally from northern Virginia, before attending Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, he was a steward of Saint Sophia.
Father Panayiotis comes to us with an impressive resume. In addition to the fulfillment of his duties as a deacon and now priest of the Church, at Holy Cross he mentored newly ordained deacons as well as first-year seminarians. While at Holy Cross he served as Residency Director, Communications Director of the Office of Student Life, Chant Group Leader, and Advanced Chant Laboratory Leader. His field work included head chanter of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Lexington, MA, parish assistant/youth director of SS. Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church, Marlborough, MA, and counselor, Camp St. Paul.
Before attending Holy Cross, Father Panayiotis was employed as manager in the fields of software development and production for various designers and for a variety of applications, including allergy and immunology. In addition to a Master of Divinity (Holy Cross, May, 2021), Deacon Panayiotis holds a Master of Science in Computer Science (University of Virginia) and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (University of Virginia). While at UVA, he served as teaching fellow, graduate research assistant, and graduate teaching assistant. He also held internships with Microsoft and the United States Naval Research Lab. He is proficient and experienced in over a dozen programming languages and published multiple essays in computer science. A perennial Dean’s List student and member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Father Panayiotis’ awards and honors include: Holy Cross Most Valuable Psalti (2019-2020), University of Virginia ACM Professor of the Year (2012-2013), University of Virginia Computer Science department teaching fellowship (Jan 2013 – May 2013), and the Commonwealth Fellowship in Engineering at University of Virginia (September 2010 – August 2011).
Georgios Theodoridis
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.
Άρχων Μουσικοδιδάσκαλος της Αμερκής
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: | Cassandra Tsintolas Johnson |
| Vice-President: Vice-President Assistant: | Ioannis Xanthos Andrea (Dede) Colevas |
| Secretary: | Diane Bochanis Cerniglia |
Treasurer: | Efstratios Tsintolas |
| Board Members: | Debroah Charles |
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)
Sexton: Victor Berio (Victor@saintsophiadc.com)
Facility Manager: Oscar Kosmas Montecinos (Oscar@saintsophiadc.com)
Facility Assistant: Angel Claure
Private Directory
Saint Sophia Cathedral’s private phone lines are as follows:
Office Main Line
202-333-4730
Father Steven Zorzos
202-838-1550
Father Panayiotis Steele
202-838-1551
Pete Panagiotopoulos
202-838-1553
George Theodoridis
202-838-1554
Oscar “Kosmas” Montecinos
202-838-1557
Victor Berio
202-838-1558
