In this bi-weekly program, Christo Pappademos sits down with young, recently ordained priests and deacons and chats with them about their personal journey to ordained ministry. In recent times, it seems fewer and fewer young men choose to pursue the priesthood as a life path. Christo would like those who have decided to serve Christ’s Church to share their stories, in hopes of inspiring others to realize God’s hand and perhaps even calling in their own lives. As Christ tells us in Matthew 9:37, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Let’s see if we can’t encourage a few more workers for Christ’s harvest!
In Season 2 Episode 1 of Path to the Priesthood, Christo speaks with Fr. Niko Bekris about his calling to the priesthood and his positive experiences.
Father Niko was born in Seattle, Washington in 1981, and was baptized at the Church of the Annunciation in Amaliada, Greece on August 15, 1982. After graduating from the University of Washington in 2004 with a Bachelor’s degree in History, he enrolled at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, having felt a calling from the Lord to become a priest. He finished his studies in 2008, graduating with a Master of Divinity. Upon completing his studies, he served as the Youth Director of the Metropolis of San Francisco for three years (2008-2011) while also serving at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in San Francisco. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on December 14, 2008, at his home parish of the Assumption in Seattle, Washington, and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on August 15, 2011 at the Annunciation Cathedral, after which he began serving at the Cathedral as the full-time associate pastor. Upon graduating from theological school, Father Niko married the love of his life, Stella Zahariudakis on August 16, 2008, at Presvytera Stella’s home parish of the Nativity of Christ Church in Novato, California. God has blessed Father Niko and Presvytera Stella with two boys, Christos and Dimitri.
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