Father George BIOGRAPHY

 

Our beloved Father George was born on July 31, 1947 to the proud parents of Harry J. Dounelis and Rita Efthmion in Mineola, New York.

 

He attended Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, New York, where he received his High School diploma in 1966…. and later attended Franklin Pierce College in Ringe, New Hamsphire.

He then proceeded to embark upon his spiritual career and attended Hellenic College in Brookline Mass., where he study and received a BA in liberal arts.  In 1973 he attended the Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Mass., and received a Masters of Divinity.

 

On June 10, 1973, he married the love of his life Kathryn, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phuros, at St. Pauls Greek Orthodox Church in Hempstead, New York.  A few months later, in September of that year, he was ordained into the Holy Priesthood in Flushing, New York by His Grace Bishop Melois of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

 

Also, in 1973 he became Director of Youth at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox church in Worster, Mass.  In July 1973 he was the Holy Diaconate at the Ionian Village in Greece under the direction of His Grace Bishop Theodosius, Diocese of Pittsburgh…. And later of that year he was assigned to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, New York as an assistant Pastor.

 

His first Parish, as Pastor, was Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Madison, Wisconsin.   In 1977 he continued his education at the Methodist Hospital in Madison Wisconsin and received a certificate of Hospital Chaplaincy.   The following year he attended the University of Wisconsin and he majored in Death and Dying where he received his certificate. During this time he and Kathryn started their family and were blessed with the birth of their daughter Gina Michelle on July 28, 1979.

 

In April 1980 we were blessed with Father George’s assignment to our beloved Kimisis Tis Theokotou to the present day.  He and Kathryn settled into their life in Aberdeen, New Jersey where they expanded their lovely family and were blessed with the birth of their son, Athas George on August 5, 1984.

 

Father George in the past 25 years has dedicate his life to our community and has gone through groundbreaking ceremonies, door openings (thyranoixia), first Iconography placement in our beloved Kimisis, installation of pews, installing of our beautiful Iconostasion, building plans for community center, door opening of our community center, wedding ceremonies, baptismals, chrismations, and funerals. And last, but not least, our festivals, and the endless donations received for our festival through Father George’s efforts.

 

 

He has opened his heart to us all without question or hesitation. He has been our spiritual leader for more than 25 years and he has provided us with love, support, and guidance