Meet Our Parish Council
Our Parish Council works along side the spiritual leadership of our clergy to guide our community.
Get to know our 2020 Parish Council! Please ask them any questions you might have about our church or how to get involved in the life of our community.
Officers
GEORGE FAGGAS, president
email: gfaggas@goarchangels.com
George Faggas grew up in Watertown, MA and lives in Waltham with his
family. He has been a lifelong member of Taxiarchae Church, he served as an altar boy and was a member of GOYA and has served on the parish council for the past several years as President, Vice President following in his father's footsteps who served many years. He is the President of the Faggas Funeral Service assisting families in very difficult times in their lives for over 60 years. He is involved in many civic activities, and is very excited to be part of the future of our parish.
John Abate, VICE PRESIDENT
email: jabate@goarchangels.com
John A. Abate was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts and is married to Nickie Abate. They have two sons. John is an accountant and a realtor, working at his own firms (MASCO Consultant Services and Ink. Realty). He has been a member of Taxiarchae Church since 1966. He served as Treasurer for 18 years, President for 6 years and has also served as Vice President. John has chaired and co-chaired numerous Greek Festivals and committees. He started the participation from our Church in Watertown Fair on the Square. “I look forward to full participation from all generations in all Church activities”.
Costa karageorgis, treasurer
email: ckarageorgis@goarchangels.com
Costa Karageorgis was born in Arlington, MA. He is a Mechanical Engineer working for Raytheon Company. Costa has been a member of the Taxiarchae Church since he was 10 years old. His many involvements in the life of our parish include weekly attendance at the Divine Liturgy. Costa is currently the director of our Sunday School and also a former Parish Council President.
FRANK CATRIKES, stewardship chairperson
email: fcatrikes@goarchangels.org
Frank Catrickes grew up in the Philadelphia area, attending St. Luke in Broomall, Pennsylvania, where he served as an altar boy and was active in GOYA, Greek dancing, and basketball.
He attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated Cum Laude in 1998. After college, Frank moved to Boston and joined Wellington Management, one of the world’s largest investment management firms with over $1 trillion assets under management. There he works as an equity analyst and equity portfolio manager, and was elected Partner in 2006.
Since moving to Boston after college in 1998, he has been a part of the Taxiarchae community for 21 years. His wife Anastasia, whom he married in 2006, grew up in Eagle River, Alaska. She attended Holy Transfiguration in Anchorage, where her father served as the psalti. Here at Taxiarchae, Anastasia has led numerous youth and family community events. They have an 8 year-old daughter Christiana and an 11 year-old son Demetri, who serves in the altar.
Frank serves on the Board of OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center), the world’s only pan-Orthodox mission organization. He and his wife are members of Leadership 100. Frank is also an Eagle Scout. He is a founder and Cubmaster of Pack 74 and Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 74, both in Beacon Hill/Back Bay, which have grown under his leadership from zero to 65 boys over the past 6 years.
Brian Marriott, secretary
email: bmarriott@goarchangels.com
Council members
Harry Berlis
email: hberlis@goarchangels.com
Harry J. Berlis has been a member of the Taxiarchae Church since the late 1980’s. He is married to Maria (Stamatopoulos) Berlis of Belmont where they live with their three elementary aged children Demitri, Eva and Melina. He is a Geotechnical Engineer and works at McPhail Associates, LLC in Cambridge where he has over 20+ years of experience in the design, construction and repair building foundations. Harry is currently on the committee that is overseeing the renovation of Church’s front entrance and parking lot. Harry believes that a strong foundation is essential to achieving your goals.
Georgia Bitsikas
email: gbitiskas@goarchangels.com
Georgia (Jody) Bitsikas, grew up in Belmont and still residing there. Proud Mother of Constantinos (CJ) and Damian. Employed at Direct Federal Credit Union as an Operations Specialist. The Taxiarchae Church has been my parish home since early 1970. Following my Fathers footsteps who served on the PC for many years I was blessed to have joined the PC in 2016. I feel very strongly for the Taxiarchae parish and look forward to serving this parish and growing it even stronger in the years to come.
Georgia Bitsikas
email: gbitiskas@goarchangels.com
Georgia (Jody) Bitsikas, grew up in Belmont and still residing there. Proud Mother of Constantinos (CJ) and Damian. Employed at Direct Federal Credit Union as an Operations Specialist. The Taxiarchae Church has been my parish home since early 1970. Following my Fathers footsteps who served on the PC for many years I was blessed to have joined the PC in 2016. I feel very strongly for the Taxiarchae parish and look forward to serving this parish and growing it even stronger in the years to come.
Harry Chehemas
email: hchehemas@goarchangels.com
Harry Chehames was born in Cambridge, MA, the son of the late Harry and Mary Chehames. He attended Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Cambridge until his early adult years. He is married to Fay (Vlahos) and resides in Carlisle. They have been members of the Taxiarchae/Archangels Greek Orthodox Church for over 35 years. They have two sons, Steven and Nicholas. Harry is the owner of Cedar Builders for over three decades, focusing on residential as well as commercial construction.
Harry is honored and privileged to have served on the Taxiarchae Parish Council for the last six years. He also enjoys taking part in the church’s largest fundraiser, the Annual Grecian Festival.
George Brakoumatsos
email: gbrakoumatsos@goarchangels.org
Teli Kandilas
email: tkandilas@goarchangels.com
PETER KARALIS
email: pkaralis@goarchangels.org
Peter Karalis has been a member of the Taxiarchae Parish for over 15+ years. He is married to Argyo Nikoletos, who has been one of our Greek school teachers here at Taxiarchae for many years. They have two middle school aged children, Nikolas, and Christna, who both participate in numerous church ministries.
Peter is a software test engineer working for 4G Clinical in Wellesley MA. He has been an active participant at the church festival for years and serves on the Youth, Web/IT, Building Maintenance and Stewardship ministries.
Peter and his family live in Watertown.
Costa Zahos
email: czahos@goarchangels.org
Nick Papakyrikos
email: npapakyrikos@goarchangels.com
Nicholas Papakyrikos was born in Lesvos, Greece, the son of Strats and Ariadni Papakyrikos. He grew up in Watertown and is a graduate of Watertown High School, Wentworth Institute and Northeastern University. He is married to Tamara Papakyrikos; they have four children and live in Needham.
Nick has worked in high tech manufacturing for over thirty years, and currently owns and operates ASP Enterprises Inc. dba Signs By Tomorrow, a Sign and graphics business located in Newton. Nick has been attending the Taxiarchae Parish since 1973. He is a past member of the Parish Council, having served as assistant treasurer and has been an active participant of the annual church festival and other parish activities.
Tony Kapadoukakis
email: tkapadoukakis@goarchangels.org
Honorary Life Time Member
ERNEST G. J. ANASTOS
email: eanastos@goarchangels.com
Ernie first became aware of the Watertown Taxiarchae Church through my courtship of, and his engagement to Loretta Hasapidis whose parents were long time active parishioners and supporters of the Watertown Church going back to its early years on Arlington Street.
Since 1967, when Ernie and Loretta, were married in the current church edifice, they have been members and active supporters of the Parish. Their two daughters as well as both of our granddaughters were baptized in the Taxiarchae Church and are currently members of the Parish.
In 1998 Ernie and his wife became honorary Godparents (along with a number of other parishioners) of the Taxiarchae Church at the time of its consecration.
Ernie has served on the Parish Council in various capacities from 1974 to 1977, 2004 to 2010 and 2013 to 2015. In December 2010 the parish council honored him by voting to make him an honorary lifetime member of the Council.