Dear Saint Sophia Parishioners,
We are working diligently to ensure successful elections this year. The elections process will begin on Sunday, November 9 at the Parish Assembly meeting. On this day, you will be able to nominate Parish Council members. Elections will then be held on Sunday, December 7, immediately following Divine Liturgy, starting at approximately 12:00 Noon and ending at 2:00 p.m. The elections process will be conducted by the Board of Elections.
The information below provides the details regarding each phase of the elections process.
November 9 – Parish Assembly
During the Parish Assembly, candidates to the Parish Council will be nominated. In addition, nominations and elections will take place on this day for the Board of Auditors and the Board of Elections.
Only Parishioners in Good Standing have the right to nominate and vote in Parish Assemblies, as well vote in Parish Council elections. In addition, only such parishioners may be nominated for election to the Parish Council.
The nominee must be present at the Parish Assembly meeting and must accept or decline the nomination at that time. If the nominee cannot be present, the person making the nomination must be present at the meeting and present a signed letter from candidate indicating that he or she accepts the nomination. Please contact the Board of Elections for a copy of the form letter. The time period for nominations will remain open until 4:30 PM, local time, on November 12 for the delivery of the Candidate Letter.
According to the Archdiocese, a Parishioner in Good Standing is defined as a person who is baptized and/or chrismated according to the Orthodox Church and who faithfully and regularly attends the Divine Liturgy and regularly participates in the sacraments. Candidates must be prepared to attend the Divine Liturgy and on time every Sunday, with exceptions, as necessary. In addition, a candidate for the Parish Council must be a Parishioner in Good Standing for at least one year immediately preceding the date of election. A Parishioner in Good Standing is at least eighteen (18) years of age, current in his or her stewardship and other financial obligations of the Cathedral for the current calendar year. The Parish Priest determines whether a Parishioner is in Good Standing canonically (spiritually and liturgically) and financially. Therefore, those who wish to be considered a candidate to run for Parish Council must make an appointment to meet with their Parish Priest to receive his blessing prior to the elections and prior to the December 3 candidate seminar. A new Parishioner in Good Standing may vote at a Parish Assembly or Parish Council election if he or she joined the parish at least three (3) months before the date of the Parish Assembly or Parish Council election and is current in his or her stewardship obligation for the current calendar year.
November 19 – Resumes
Candidates to the Parish Council must provide a resume not to exceed a total of 12 printed lines (Times New Roman, font size 12). Resumes of all candidates, along with their photographs, will be posted on the Bulletin Board of the Cathedral Auditorium prior to the date for established voting. The resume may include, but is not limited to, name, education, profession, business ownership or experience, prior service to the Cathedral, and years of membership at the Cathedral with an emphasis on how the nominee will further the goals and objectives of the Cathedral if elected to the Parish Council.
November 16 – Deadline for Requesting an Absentee Ballot
The Board of Elections may authorize absentee ballots subject to the conditions outlined below.
To be eligible to vote by absentee ballot, the Parishioner must be in Good Standing and
(1) confined to a home or a health care facility, or
(2) out of town on the day of the elections.
The Parishioner must attest to the veracity of one of these facts by signing the envelope containing the absentee ballot with the reason for their absence. The ballot itself should not be signed to maintain the integrity of the Parishioner’s vote.
Parishioners may call the Cathedral office and a ballot will be mailed to them or a Board of Election member may personally deliver the ballot; however, no one else is authorized to pick up or deliver an absentee ballot on behalf of the voter.
December 3 – ALL nominees are required to attend the candidate seminar.
Archdiocesan District Parish Council Seminars 2025 Please note: you should plan to arrive ON TIME. Anyone arriving after a reasonable time will not be validated as having attended the seminar.
Wednesday, December 3 Saint Sophia, Washington, D.C. 2815 36th St NW, Washington, DC Parish Phone: (202) 333-4730. Presenter: Father Jim Kordaris, Refreshments: 6:00 pm, Seminar: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm.
At the conclusion of the seminar, candidates will have to complete 3 forms: (1) Candidate’s Affirmation Statement submitted to the clergy of the parish who will return it to the office of Father Elias Villis, Chancellor, (2) a Certificate of Participation signed and validated by the clergy of the parish and returned by the candidate to the Board of Elections, and (3) Conflict Disclosure Statement signed by the candidate and presented by the candidate to the Board of Elections. The Certificates of Participation and Conflict Disclosure Statements will be sent together with the Parish’s Election results to the Chancellery by the Board of Elections.
December 6 – Deadline for Returning Absentee Ballot
To be counted in the elections, the absentee ballot must be received in the sealed, signed envelope by the Board of Elections no later than 12:00 Noon on the day of the elections.
December 7 – Parish Council Elections
Elections will be held in-person at the Church Cathedral and will begin immediately following the Divine Liturgy at approximately 12:00 Noon and will end at 2:00 p.m. The Board of Elections will conduct the elections.
The Board of Elections
