Rev. Fr. Constantine P. Botsis, Protopresbyter
Email: nilesgoc@aol.com
 

Father Chrysanthos D. Kerkeres
Greek School Principal and Youth Director

Email: nilesgoc@aol.com

Father John Suhayda, Deacon
Email: nilesgoc@aol.com
Deacon John G. Suhayda was born in Baltimore, Maryland and was baptized there at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. He grew up in Akron, Ohio, where he was a member of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, and was active in the church school, GOYA, and the Metropolis of Pittsburgh summer camp programs. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and received a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. He was ordained a deacon by His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago at Holy Taxiarhai - St. Haralambos in 1991, where he has served ever since.

Nicholas Harisiadis, Protopsaltis
Email:  sfiros@comcast.net
Nick was born in Constantinople in May 29, 1955.  He graduated middle school at “Megali Tou Genous Scholi” in Fanar, and high school at “Theologiki Scholi Tis Halkis”.   Later chose to become an officer of the merchant marine. To attain his goal he went to Greece and graduated from the “Merchant Marine Academy” in the island of Hydra.  He sailed for two and half years, first as an apprentice deck officer and later as the third officer of the merchant marine. Having encountered the difficulties of the sea life he decided to stay ashore and migrated to the States.  The year was 1977.  There he met Anna also born in Constantinople, now his wife since 1978 and together they have two sons, Leonidas and Socrates.  Niko was first ushered to the psaltiri at age 4 next to the psalti of his local parish of “Agia Triada” in Chalkidon in Constantinople. The following 14 years of his life, he was exposed to the teachings of many distinguished chanters who excelled in the traditional interpretive techniques of the Byzantine tradition, among them Archon Protopsaltis Basilios Nikolaidis, who was his music teacher at “Megali Tou Genous” and “Theologiki Scholi” for six consecutive years.  He credits Thrasivoulos Stanitsas’ way of chanting (Arhon Protopsaltis of Patriarchate) as the biggest influence to his chanting style.  Inasmuch as imitating him may be an unattainable goal, trying to achieve it keeps him motivated.  He was a member of St. George’s choir in Chicago and a freelance psalti in various parishes. He served as the protopsalti of St. Demetrios, Elmhurst for the last 7 years and he is a member of “St. John of Damascus league of Chanters”.  He has lived in the Chicagoland area, residing currently in Hanover Park.  He owns and operates a wholesale produce company on the South side.