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.

 

Rev. Father Manousos Emmanuel Lionikis

Fr. Emmanuel Manousos Lionikis has successfully completed sixty-five years as a Priest in the service of the Greek Ortho­dox Church.  Fr. Emmanuel was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey the son of Emmanuel and Audrey (Androniki Psalidakis) Lionikis.  He was one of five children. He attended the schools through High School in New Brunswick, NJ. At the age of eight, he began serving the Church as an Acolyte. The late Archbishop and Patriarch Athenagoras tonsured him and elevated him to the rank of Reader.

Fr. Lionikis entered the Greek Theological School in Pomfret, Conn. in 1938 and graduated in 1944.  While a student at the Seminary, he managed the Seminary Print Shop for over five years. There they printed the first Greek English Prayer Book for our young men in the Armed Forces during WW II, the materials for our Sunday Schools nationwide (In Greek at the time), and four editions of the Annual Yearbook of the Archdiocese. Also printed were “The Priests Service Books” containing the Liturgies and the Sacraments in Greek and English for the newly ordained Priests. Bishop Kavadas and Bishop Kokkinakis compiled the Prayer Book and the Service Books. Both Hierarchs successively became Archbishop of Theateiron. The Seminary Press also supplied needed printed materials for the Seminary.

For over forty years, Fr. Lionikis edited and printed an annual Greek Orthodox Religious Calendar, used in numerous parishes. Among his other works are:
1.  The Wedding Service Book in co-operation with the late Fr. John Hondrus.
2.  The Consecration Vespers.
3.  The Consecration Service (with illustrations).
4.  The St. John All Saints Icon Book that describes the 48 X 4 foot Mosaic that adorns the area in our Church between the Choir Loft and the Nave.
5.  The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom which includes both the Greek and English text and music, historical and biblical notes, and a 48 page glossary, now in its fourth edition.

While visiting the Assumption Church in Chicago Father met Katherine Spiropoulos who was active in Choir and Religious School. They were married on March 11, 1945.

Fr. Lionikis was ordained in 1945 and has served the parish­es of Cheyenne, WY, Waukegan, IL, Joliet, IL, and Gary, IN. While in Waukegan, he also served Racine. WI. During his service in Cheyenne, WY, he served the Military Personnel at Ft. Warren and often traveled the entire state to serve the religious needs of the Greek Orthodox Faithful.  For a number of years he held Prayer Services at the Great Lakes Naval Station before his regular Sunday Services at St. Demetrios in Waukegan. During that period, he also served the needs of the Greek Naval Personnel training at the Great Lakes Naval Station.  He served on the Diocese Spiritual Court for twenty years, President of the Diocese Presbyters Syndesmos and for some time was a member of the National Presbyters Council and various Diocese Committees. For a number of years he headed our Diocese Medical and Hospitalization program before it incorporated into the Archdiocese Plan.

While serving the parish in Joliet, IL Fr. Lionikis attended Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL, receiving his Master's Degree in Sacred Theology in 1956. The subject of his thesis was “Correspondence and Contacts between the Anglican and the Eastern Orthodox Church (15-19 Centuries).” The Church has honored him by conferring the title of Protopresbyter of both the Greek Archdiocese, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

In Gary, Indiana, Father was able to enforce the Archdiocese by-laws and eliminated an odd Two Party System made up of a Board of Trustees and a Parish Council, which impeded progress. Before his transfer, the Parish acquired the land upon which the parish built the present Church in Merrillville, Indiana.

At the St. John Parish Father Emmanuel advanced the need for full participation of our children in the Sunday Divine Liturgy and in the Liturgical life of the Parish. The children and Staff have attended the Predominate English Language Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Chapel during the school year for the last 41 years to enhance their liturgical life. Fr. Emmanuel also established full stewardship to replace the Festival, giving parishioner’s time to engage in activities that are more spiritual. The parish built the main Sanctuary of the Parish soon after Fr. Lionikis’ arrival.

Fr. Emmanuel and Presvytera Katherine were blessed with four sons:

Lt. Col. Emmanuel (Ret) and his wife Athanasia served in Germany for 23 years, he in the U.S. Air force and Athanasia as a teacher in the Military Middle Schools. Following retirement Emmanuel spent two years in Greece working for SAIC (Science Applications International Corp), as Chief Engineer for the installation of security at the Athens Olympics, and now does consulting for the same firm. Athanasia still teaches in a Military Base Middle School at Camp Lejune, NC. Their son Manousos lives and attends college in Grand Rapids, while their daughter Katina (now married), and younger son Demetri, following graduation, live and work in Chicago.

Dr. Nemo (Neoptolemos) and his wife Janis have one son, Alex.  Dr. Nemo is a mathematician for the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland. His wife Janis, a former High School teacher, now prefers homemaking. Son Alex is preparing for a career as a Fireman and Paramedic. They reside in Columbia, Maryland.

James and his wife Katrina live in Chicago, IL with their two young children Aleko and Flora. James, an Engineer in Computer Science, is presently a computer consultant, and in real estate developing in Chicago. Katrina a Fine Arts Major enjoys homemaking and pursuing her interests in painting, sculpture and music.

Paul, his wife Sue and their son Andrew live in Chicago. The Federal Reserve of Boston employs Paul, an Engineer in Computer Science and a consultant. Susan, Music and Psychology Major, now prefers homemaking and Andrew is a junior at the Walter Payton High School in Chicago.

Presvytera Katherine actively assisted her husband in Parish activities. She also had a successful career as a Real Estate Broker and later operated her own Women’s Bouteque

Fr. Lionikis’ has survived a 51-year bout with cancer (six major surgeries in all) plus other medical conditions. He still actively serves the St. John Parish to the best of his ability. Fr. Lionikis and Presvytera Katherine now in their 90’s reside in Mount Prospect, IL and continue to lead an active life in the St. John the Baptist Parish.

The Church has honored him by conferring the title of Protopresbyter of both the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Archdiocese.