National Leadership 100 Sunday Observed For Eighth Year

National Leadership 100 Sunday was observed for the eighth year in parishes across the nation on October 23, 2016, the Feastday of Saint Iakovos, according to George S. Tsandikos, Leadership 100 Chairman and Theodore K. Zampetis, National Leadership 100 Sunday Chairman and National Membership Chairman.

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America and Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, issued an Encyclical on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod commemorating the observance. Parish Priests throughout the nation read the Encyclical at the Divine Liturgy.

National Leadership 100 Sunday received wide recognition for the role of Leadership 100 in the Church and the Hellenic Community. Tsandikos, who hosted the coffee hour at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City, observed that the Dean of the Cathedral, Fr. John Vlahos, gave a moving talk on Leadership 100 after the Divine Liturgy.

Zampetis, who has made National Leadership 100 Sunday an integral part of his strategy for recruiting new members, spoke on several occasions. He addressed St. George Church in Southgate, Michigan on October 16 and St. Paul Church in North Royalton, Ohio on October 23. He also spoke at St. Nicholas Church in Troy, Michigan on October 30 and will speak at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Toledo, Ohio on November 13.

Among the many parishes holding events, Thomas G. Jordan, Leadership 100 Treasurer, and Fr. Michael Varlamos, pastor, spoke at Assumption Church in St. Clair Shores, Michigan and Mike Manatos, member of the Leadership 100 Executive Committee, along with Fr. Dimitrios Antokas, pastor and former Leadership 100 Executive Director, spoke after Divine Liturgy at St. George Church in Bethesda, Maryland. Manatos was joined by John Sitilides, Chairman of the Leadership 100 Grant Committee and Leadership 100 member Leon Andris in sponsoring the coffee hour.

In addition, Leadership 100 members Tom and Elaine Kyrus and Maria Maroulis hosted the coffee hour at Annunciation Cathedral in Norfolk, Virginia, while Tom Kyrus and Fr. George Bessinas addressed the congregation. At St. George Church in Lynn, Massachusetts, Leadership 100 member Costa Sideridis spoke to 250 parishioners on the ministries supported by Leadership 100. He was joined in hosting the event by longtime Leadership 100 member and past member of the Board of Trustees, Thomas L. Demakes.

At Assumption Church in Chicago, Leadership 100 members Louis G. and Marion Malevitis were joined by Constance and Demetra Andrews in hosting the coffee hour, while across the country at St. Katherine Church in Redondo Beach, California, Leadership members Dr. Nick Halikis and Chris W. Caras hosted the event. Caras, who carried on the tradition of his father, former member of the Leadership 100 Executive Committee, Chris W. Caras, was joined by his daughters, Julianne and Grace.

National Leadership 100 Sunday was designated in 2009 in honor of Archbishop Iakovos of Blessed Memory, the Founder of Leadership 100, to be observed on the Sunday nearest the Feastday. This year’s celebration, on the actual Feastday, fell three days prior to the Feastday of Saint Demetrios.

Since its founding in 1984, Leadership 100 has distributed close to $46 million in grants to support the National Ministries and institutions of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Metropolises, advancing Orthodoxy and Hellenism and meeting human need in the nation and around the world.

Leadership 100 now has 1,013 members, having reached its goal of 1,000 members earlier in the year. Its members come from a broad spectrum of Greek Orthodox leaders, men and women of all ages from every field of endeavor, including young professionals.