Regional Commanders

Dr. Theodore P. Vlachos of the Holy Trinity Parish in Clearwater, FL, was invested as Archon in 10/22/2006 and conferred with the offikion Aktouarios. He has visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate many times, and he helped coordinate the visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta.

Archon Vlachos has served as President of the Parish Council of Holy Trinity, on the Archdiocesan Council and on the Executive Committee of the Atlanta Metropolis Council.

Archon Vlachos is a specialist in orthopedics.

He was born and resides in Charlotte, NC & is the son of Archon Thomas Cavalaris & Archondisa Zoe Lucas Cavalaris. His Brother: Archon James Cavalaris. Home Church: Holy Trinity Cathedral Charlotte, North Carolina.

March 6, 1993, His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos of North & South America at The Archdiocesan Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York bestowed him as Archon Ekdikos.

Medal of St. Paul in 1990 was bestowed by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos on the 10th Anniversary of the St. Photios Shrine, St. Augustine, Florida.

Attended the funeral of Patriarch Demetrios in Fall 1991 with the Archdiocese of North & South America Delegation led by his Eminence Archbishop Iakovos.

Attended the 1991 Enthronement of His All Holiness Patriarchate Bartholomeus & witnessed the Phanar 2006 visit of Pope Benedict and 2014 visit of Pope Francis.

Served his Parish Board & Board of Trustees of the Parish Foundation.

Metropolis of Atlanta Council since 1980, he served and as Vice Chairman and Chairman from 1995 – 2001; Metropolis of Atlanta Endowment Fund Trustee.



St. Photios Shrine Foundation since 1979, he served on the Board of Trustees & Vice-President for 15 years. In 2011 he received Emeritus Status.

Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology he served 1998-2006 Board of Trustees.

Order of AHEPA, he served as Chapter, District & National Officers & Order of AHEPA National Projects Chairman.

North Carolina Museum of Art Friends of Greek Art, he has served since 2007. The committee was created to raise funds for the purchase of Greek Antiquities for the new Hellenic Museum Wing. Over $ 1 Million Dollars has been raised.

A graduate of Mars Hill College.

US Army Military Intelligence Division: 1969 to 1971.

He has been active in the Roller-Skating Industry and is in Real Estate.

Dr. Manuel Nick Tissura was invested as Archon in 1989 conferred with Offikion Ekdikos. Appointed State Commander of Georgia and currently serves as Regional Commander of Atlanta and is the liaison to Metropolitan Alexios for the Metropolis Archons. He wrote the proposed rules on Archon Protocols and Etiquette which awaits approval from the Hierarchs.

Born in Savannah, Georgia, he served in the U.S. Navy, graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.S. degree. He received his D.D.S. degree from Emory University School of Dentistry and his Endodontic degree from the University of Iowa Graduate School of Dentistry. In addition to his private practice in Endodontics, he served as Clinical Instructor and Guest Lecturer in Endodontics at Emory University School of Dentistry and Dental Study Groups.

Church Life: Parish Council President of the Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta, Georgia for two terms, a Member of the Diocese/Metropolis and Archdiocesan Councils. Mega Archon Johnny Economy, President of the AHEPA Centennial Foundation Inc., named him Chairman of the National Tribute Weekend (1996) which celebrated the placement of a symbolic Sculpture in Atlanta's new Olympic Park honoring the Ancient Greek Olympic Games. Appointed by Mega Archon Dr. John Skandalakis to Chair Patriarch Bartholomew's visit to the M.L.K Center in Atlanta, (1997) to lay a commemorative wreath on Dr. King's grave.

He was a delegate to the International Patriarchal Clergy Laity Congress in 2000 in Constantinople, and International SAE Conferences in Thessaloniki. He is the First Vice President of the Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine in Saint Augustine, Florida and Chairman of its Annual Anniversary Dedication. Additionally, a member of the Annunciation Cathedral Endowment Foundation and the By-Laws Committee. He was bestowed the Medal of Saint Paul in 2012, by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios.

Tommy Yearout was born March 11, 1949 in Birmingham, Alabama and is a lifelong member of Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral. He is a graduate of Auburn University and Vanderbilt Law School. He was invested as an Archon March 8, 1998 by His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon and conferred with the offikion Ekdikos.

Tommy has been involved in the Birmingham Cathedral and its community his entire life. He has served on the Parish Council for many years serving as President for many years and is President at the present time. He has also served as Treasurer and Vice President. As president of the PC in 1984-85 he was directly involved in the creation and establishment of the Cathedral Day Care which presently has an enrollment of approximately 100 students.

Tommy served on the Metropolis Council of Atlanta for many years and is presently an Ambassador to the Vicar; the Archon Regional Commander of Alabama, Mississippi, and the Pan Handle of Florida and the Vice Chairperson for the Strategic Plan for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta Clergy Development Program.

In 2011 His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios presented Tommy with the Wings of Archangel Michael Award.

John Scurtis of St. Sophia Cathedral in Miami, FL, was invested as Archon in 10/28/2007 and conferred with the offikion Hartoularios.

Archon Scurtis is a licensed real estate broker in Miami.

Constantine Sideridis of the St. George Church in Lynn, MA, was invested as Archon in 2015 and conferred with the offikion Protonotarios.

Archon Sideridis has served on the parish council. He is the stewardship chairman of the parish and a fulfilled member of Leadership 100. He also supports the Boston Metropolis Summer Camp.

Archon Sideridis is a trained engineer, who owns a company that creates ceramics from inorganic nonmetallic materials, which are then used for industrial purposes.

John G. Manos, of St. Demetrios in Elmhurst, Illinois, was invested as an Archon in 2013 and conferred with the offikion Eutaxias by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Phanar. Archon Manos has served as an officer on the Parish Council, on the Metropolis Council and on several Metropolis committees and is a member of Leadership 100.

A graduate from the University of Illinois with a BS in Architecture, Archon Manos is President of a publicly traded Financial Institution headquartered in the Chicago, Illinois area. He and his family develop Commercial Real Estate and operate a chain retail grocery stores.

Archon Manos and his wife Elena, were married in 1986 and have 3 children.

Gus M. Pablecas, (baptized as Kosmas), is National Secretary of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle. He is a Steward of St. Nectarios in Palatine, IL, was invested as Archon in 2006 and conferred with the offikion Ostiarios.

He has served the Church in a variety of positions for over 30 years, including as the Metropolis of Chicago Council’s First Vice President, six term Parish Council President; Parish Council First Vice President; Chairman of Finance, Ways and Means, Budget, Metropolis Task Force Chairman, Ad Hoc Committees, Chairman of Metropolis Clergy Laity and Real Estate Committees, member of the Archdiocesan Council and currently a member of the Metropolis of Chicago Building, Planning and Architectural Committee.

He served on the original Planning and Development Committee as a Board Member for the purchase of the St. Iakovos Retreat Center and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the PanHellenic Foundation.

He is currently the President/CEO of a company active in real estate acquisitions and asset management. As a former FBI Special Agent, he currently serves as a Director for the Chicago Chapter of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI.

Dr. Gregory G. Papadeas of the Assumption of the Theotokos Cathedral in Denver, CO, was invested as Archon in 2009 and conferred with the offikion Aktouarios.

Archon Papadeas is a fulfilled member of Leadership 100, a member of the Archdiocesan Council since 2006, and a great benefactor of the Holy Metropolis of Denver and its ministries, including the St. George Monastery). Beginning in 2005, he has also volunteered as Medical Director of the Archdiocesan Ionian Youth Camp in Greece. In 1987 he participated in the first ever medical mission team sent by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese to Kenya.

Archon Papadeas is a graduate of San Diego State University with a BS in Zoology (1983) and a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (1988). He is recognized as one of the leading dermatologists in the Denver area. He is the recipient of many awards and the author of many medical publications on dermatology. In 1983-1984, he also played professional basketball in Greece.

Archon Papadeas and his wife, Stellee, were married in 1989 and they have four children.

Christopher J. Pappas of Annunciation Cathedral in Houston, was invested as Archon in 2008 and conferred with the offikion Prostatis Ton Grammaton. He has been very active in the ministries of the parish and a member of Leadership 100.

A graduate of the University of Texas with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, Archon Pappas, is President and CEO of Luby’s, Inc., a public company which owns and operates 128 restaurants in Texas and adjoining states. Along with his brother, Harris, he also owns and operates the Pappas Seafood restaurants in the Houston area.

Archon Pappas and his wife, Maria, were married in 1979 and have five children.

Nikiforos Mathews, of Annunciation in Stamford, Connecticut, was invested as an Archon in 2009 by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and conferred with the offikion Ekdikos. He has served as a member and officer of the Parish Council at his parish.

Archon Mathews is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He is a finance attorney and partner at the law firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in New York City. He also served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corp of the U.S. Army Reserve from 1999 - 2008 and was deployed to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Dr. Cary J. Limberakis, a steward of the St. Sophia, Saints Faith, Hope and Agape Parish in Jeffersonville, PA and the St. Luke Parish in Broomall, PA, was invested as Archon on October 10, 2004, by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and conferred with the offikion Aktouarios. He has served on the Parish Council at both parishes, and as President at St. Luke, as well as serving on the Metropolis of New Jersey Metropolitan Council.

Dr. Limberakis received a B.A from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. from Villanova University, and a D.M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He is a general dentist who works alongside his son, Dr. Jonathan Limberakis, at their practice, Limberakis Family Dentistry in Abington, a Philadelphia suburb. Together, they have travelled to Mount Athos to render dental care the to the monks at Vatopedi Monastery.

Throughout his dental career, Dr. Limberakis has been involved with the American Dental Association at the executive level at the local, state and national levels.

Archon Limberakis and his wife Alexis (Demetris) were married in 1977 and together they have four children and three grandchildren.

Manatos served as a U.S. Senate committee staff director and an assistant secretary in the President Jimmy Carter Administration. He founded the Washington, D.C., public affairs company of Manatos & Manatos in 1983, of which he continues to be president. The Washington Post described the firm as "one of Washington's most powerful lobbying firms."

Working closely with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, on whose national council he serves and as a regional commander of the Order of St. Andrew, his firm created and maintains an annual meeting with each president of the United States for 27 years with the Greek-American community. Manatos managed the legislation that secured the Congressional Gold Medal for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, secured use of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for honoring Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios, the second time in history the Rotunda was used to honor a living person. He also orchestrated efforts producing letters to the president advocating religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, signed by 90 of the 100 senators and more than 291 members of Congress.

Manatos has testified before the U.S. Congress and has been a guest columnist for The Washington Post, The New York Times, and other national publications. Manatos co-hosts an annual Washington dinner for the THEA Foundation with former President Bill Clinton.

George A. Tsougarakis, of St. John the Theologian Cathedral in Tenafly, NJ, was invested as Archon in 2011 and conferred with the offikion Dikaiophylax.

Archon Tsougarakis has served as an officer on the Parish Council, on the Education Committee and chaired the Outreach Committee.

Archon Tsougarakis, a practicing attorney in New York City, has represented—on a pro bono basis—the Sacred Patriarchal and Stavropegial Orthodox Monastery of St. Irene Chrysovalantou, in connection with various allegations.

Archon Terezis was invested as Archon on October 18, 2015 and conferred with the offikion Ekdikos. He is the founding partner of Marathon Strategic Advisors, LLC, and has acted as the company’s President and Chief Investment Officer since its inception in 1999. Archon Terezis also currently serves as Chairman of the IOCC’s Pittsburgh Metropolitan Committee. He is a Trustee of Eastern Gateway Community College Foundation; and an Investment Committee Member of his parish, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Steubenville, Ohio.

Archon-elect Tranto led a distinguished 36 year career with the US Treasury Department of the Internal Revenue Service as a senior Tax Policy Manager in Washington DC and upon retirement founded a consulting firm specializing in domestic and international excise taxes. He has served his parish and the Metropolis for many years in various capacities and has been the president of his parish council for the past 4 years.

A parishioner of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Portland, Oregon, Archon Garifalakis was invested as Archon on October 10, 2004 and conferred with the offikion Depoutatos.

Archon Garifalakis is the principal owner of Omega Industries, headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, where he operates the largest main line railroad crossing supplier in the United States. His company also manufactures dredging parts and a variety of fabricated steel products at their four plants located throughout the US. He is a member of the Metropolis Council for the Metropolis of San Francisco, where he chairs the Fundraising and Development Committee. He and his family are generous supporters of their parish in Portland, of the Saint John the Forerunner Monastery in Goldendale, WA, and Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA. Archon Garifalakis currently serves as a member of the Archdiocesan Council, a position he has held for several years. He and Maria are also fulfilled members of Leadership 100.

Theodore D. Konopisos of the St. Paul Church in Irvine, CA, was invested as Archon in 2015 and conferred with the offikion Hieromnimon.

Archon Konopisos is a major benefactor of the Holy Metropolis of San Francisco and of his parish, where he has served extensively on the parish council.

Archon Konopisos manages real estate properties.

Archon Paul P. Sogotis was invested as Archon by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, former Geron of America, and conferred upon him the Offikion Orphanotrofos on October 26, 2008.

Archon Sogotis is president of the Parish Council for the Metropolis of San Francisco’s Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. He has also served on the Archdiocesan Council since 2006 and the Metropolis Council of San Francisco for several years. The Metropolis of San Francisco has sent Archon Sogotis to the Saint Photios National Shrine as its representative. Archon Sogotis president and owner of Pacific Coast Maritime Agencies, Inc. with offices located in the Ports of California, Oregon, and Washington State. He and his beloved wife Evangelia have two sons, Panayioti and Yianni. They reside in Burlingame, California.

A parishioner of Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Anaheim, California, the Hon. Steven G. Counelis was invested as an Archon by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on October 31, 2021 and conferred with the offikion Nomophylax.

Archon Hon. Counelis is Judge of the Superior Court of the State of California in the County of Riverside. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government, and with his Juris Doctor degree, from the University of San Francisco. As a college student, he served at the United States Supreme Court, in the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice. Prior to being elected to the Superior Court in 2010, he served as a Deputy District Attorney for seventeen years. He has also served in a number of parish leadership roles. In 2016 he was elected by the Metropolis Assembly to serve on the Metropolis Council, and has done so to the present. Archon Counelis and his wife Stacia have served as the Conference Advisors to the Young Adult League (YAL) Conference Ministry of the Metropolis of San Francisco since its renaissance in 2018, and continue to guide in the execution and planning of the annual Conference.