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Father John Rallis
Protopresbyter
Fr. John Rallis was born in Athens, Greece, on November 30, 1957, the second of two children to Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Rallis. After receiving a diploma is Shipping Studies in Athens, he traveled to England and Wales, where he studied Port and Shipping Administration, and graduated in 1980 with an equivalent Bachelor of Science degree.
Fr. John met (Presvytera) Irene Kerasote whilst they were both studying in England, and they were married in New York City in September 1980. For two and a half years they lived in Athens, while Fr. John fulfilled his military obligations in the Greek Navy, and Presvytera taught English as a foreign language. In 1983, they returned to the USA and settled in New York, where Fr. John worked as an accountant for maritime shipping companies for three years.
During that time, Fr. John became aware of his “call” to enlist as a servant of the Lord as a priest. In 1986, he enrolled as Holy Cross Seminary in Brookline, MA, received his Masters of Divinity, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1989. Fr. John’s first assignment was to the parish of St. George in Asbury Park, NJ, and he served the community for six and a half years.
The Rallis family currently lives in the Chicagoland area, where Fr. John has served at St. John the Baptist since 1996. Fr. John and Presvytera Irene have three daughters: Elpida, who is married to Anthony Platis, Nikolia, and Katerina.
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