Clergy

Rev. Peter J. Orfanakos, Proistamenos

Fr. Peter has served as pastor of the Saint Barbara Parish since September 1996. He was born in Danbury, Connecticut and raised in Wayne, New Jersey by his parents, Rev. John and Presbytera Margaret who were serving the Saint George Parish in Clifton, New Jersey. He received a Bachalor of Arts Degree from Hellenic College in 1985 and a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 1992. He married Vangie Touloumes of Elizabethtown, PA on January 3, 1993 and they have been blessed with one son, John-Peter Iakovos of blessed memory.

Fr. Peter has served extensively in youth and young adult ministries on the local, Metropolis and Archdiocese levels since 1987, including serving as one of two New Jersey Metropolis Representatives to the National Young Adult League from 1989-1993.

He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America on June 13, 1993. Fr. Peter had the honor of serving as the Archbishop’s Deacon from that day until he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Archbishop Iakovos on July 21, 1996 at the Saint Barbara Parish, just prior to the Archbishop’s retirement.

At the Archdiocesan Level, Fr. Peter has served as a member of the Archdiocese Council; the National Youth Commission and as a member of the Executive Board of Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology where he served as Chair of the Student Life Committee. He currently serves as a member of the Archdiocesan Council's Stewardship, Outreach & Evangelism Committee and Religious Education Committee. He is also the secretary of the National Archdiocesan Presbyter's Council. and a Telos Project Senior Clergy Advisor.

At the Metropolis Level of the Archdiocesan District, Fr. Peter has served as a member of the A.D. Council, Religious Education Committee, Camp Saint Paul Committee and the Youth Committee, serving as Youth Commissioner for a number of years. He has also served as the Chair of the A.D. College Age Ministry Committee, Young Adult Ministry Committee and Connecticut Spiritual Court of the Archdiocesan District. Fr. Peter currently serves as a member of the A.D. Executive Council and Finance Committee.

Fr. Peter is the President of the Clergy Syndesmos of the Archdiocesan District (having previously served as the Vice President) and is the Vicar of the Westchester, New York and Connecticut Parishes.

On the local level, Fr. Peter serves as the volunteer Chaplain to the Orthodox Christian Fellowship at Quinnipiac University (having previously served in the same capacity at Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University, Southern Connecticut University and New Haven University).

He is also active in the Town of Orange serving as the Chaplain of the Town of Orange Police Department; a member of the Town's Emergency Management Committee; and a member of the Orange Interfaith Clergy Group which consists of Clergy and Rabbis from area congregations and Synagogues.

Rev. Steven M. Sarigianis

Fr. Steven was born on September 6, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School. At 18, he entered Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. He graduated from the Seminary in 1954 with a B.D. Degree. He and Electra Limberakis were married at the Church of the Assumption in Somerville, Massachusetts on October 10, 1954.

He was ordained to the Holy Deaconate at the Saint Paul Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese by Archbishop Michael of North and South America on November 8, 1954 and to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Makris at the Church of the Archangels (Taxiarchae) on November 14, 1954. He was assigned to the Saints Constantine and Helen parish in Middletown, Ohio, where he served for six years and was instrumental in building and completing a new church building.

In 1960, he was assigned to the Saint Nicholas parish in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where he served ten years. During his ministry the parish was able to build and complete a new church facility. It was during this time that Fr. Steven was elevated to the office of Sakelarios and Economos.

In 1970, he was assigned to the Kimisis Tis Theotokou parish in Poughkeepsie, New York where he was assisted the community in paying off the mortgage to their new church facility. Fr. Steven served the parish for twenty-eight years during which time he was elevated to the office of Protopresbyter and served on the Archdiocese Spiritual Court for two years.

He retired from active ministry in January 1999 and on February 14^th he was temporarily assigned to the Saint George parish in Kingston, New York where he served the community for twelve years. Fr. Steven officially retired in 2012 after 58 years of active ministry.

In 2012 he relocated to Hamden, Connecticut and is currently assisting Fr. Peter at the Saint Barbara parish in Orange, Connecticut. Fr. Steven has been a wonderful addition to the Saint Barbara family.

Fr. Steven and Presbytera Electra have three sons Michael, James and Anthony, five grandchildren Eleni, Steven, Anna, Michael and Nicole and three great grandchildren Isaac, Clara Joy and Maria.

To view a video tribute honoring Rev. Steven M. and Presbytera Elektra Sarigianis on the 60th Anniversary of his ordination to the Holy Priesthood click on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT0GOLGhslg