Our Clergy
Our Priest
Rev. Fr. Michael A. Gavrilos, Parish Priest (October 1st, 2022-Present)
Fr. Michael was born in Hammond, IN on November 4th, 1985. He was baptized at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Hammond, IN by Fr. Peter Georgacakes. In the summer of 1986, he and his family moved to the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA. He grew up attending the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in Oakmont, PA where Very Rev. Fr. Polycarp Rameas was his priest.
Being actively involved in GOYA, attending Camp Nazareth, and interacting with various clergy at these events, inspired him to want to serve the Church. He graduated from Plum Senior High School in June 2004, and that fall he enrolled at Hellenic College where he would major in Religious Studies. In the fall of 2008 he continued his education at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, graduating with a Masters of Divinity in May 2011.
While studying at Hellenic College / Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, he worked in several different capacities at the Camping Programs of both the Greek Orthodox Metropolises of Pittsburgh, and Boston.
After graduating from Holy Cross, he managed a Pan-Orthodox Non-Profit Coffeehouse and Bookstore in Harrisburg, PA called Agia Sophia Coffee House & Bookstore. In August of 2012, he began as in intern at the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh where he worked with the Chancellor of the Metropolis on various projects.
He married Maria Constantine on February 17th, 2013 at St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church in Boardman, OH.
On August 26th, 2013 he was assigned as the Youth Director of St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church in North Royalton, OH, where he would be under the pastorate of Fr. Costas P. Keares. On November 16th, 2013, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, and on March 16th, 2014 was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church. Both ordinations were by the hand of Metropolitan SAVAS of Pittsburgh.
After nearly three years of service at St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church, Fr. Michael was assigned on August 1st, 2016 as the Proistamenos of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Castle, PA, where he severed for just over 6 years.
Fr. Michael & Presvytera Maria have two daughters, Despina & Ypapanti, and one son, Efstathios.
Fr. Michael began his ministry at Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church on October 1st, 2022.
Very Rev. Fr. Polycarp Rameas (August 21st, 1944-June 6th, 2023)
(Served at Dormition Oakmont from October 1975-September 30th, 2022)
The Very Reverend Polycarp Rameas was born on the Pittsburgh's North Side on August 21, 1944, the only son of Kyriakos and Vasiliki (Bessie) Rameas. Christened Dionysios at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Pittsburgh's North Side, Father along with his sisters Elpida (Hope), Eleni (Elaine) and Zoe (Joy) were raised in a typical Greek-American home environment.
Upon his graduation from High School, Father's life-long commitment to serve the Church was made and he attended the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts as well as the University of Athens, Greece, successfully training to become a Greek Orthodox Priest. Father has also earned degrees from Duquesne University of Pittsburgh and Christ the Savior Orthodox Seminary, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, rounding out his education background.
Tonsured in the monastic life in 1965 by His Grace Bishop Theodosios of Ancona, he was given the name Polycarp. In 1968, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Grace Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos at the St Photios Diocesan Chapel at the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh and shortly thereafter was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 1968 by His Grace Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in Erie, Pennsylvania.
In October 1975 he was assigned to serve the faithful at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church of Oakmont, Pennsylvania. In the 35 years Father has been at the Dormition Church, he has overseen the doubling of the membership of the parish and has encouraged the faithful in our successful efforts to double the size of the Church Hall and to build a Library and Classrooms for the religious education and Greek culture and language classes. Father has also inspired the parish to decorate the interior of our Church with traditional Byzantine Iconography and has encouraged the establishment of a strong Byzantine musical tradition at all of our services. During Father's tenure at the Dormition, he also has overseen the acquisition of the Hunt Marina Property for our parish as well as the establishment of an additional Social Hall for the use of the parish and our friends.
Patient, gentile and kind, Father's easygoing manner and love were among his great virtues, and represent a wonderful source of strength and inspiration for the entire Dormition Family.
Priests Who Have Served Our Community
Rev. Fr. Dorotheos Neamonitos
Rev. Fr. Timotheos Houndras
Rev. Fr. Panagiotis Parianos
Rev. Fr. Spiridon Zois
Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Greagoras
Rev. Fr. Petros Garivaltis
Rev. Fr. Constantine Mager
Rev. Fr. Gregory Tsikourakos
Rev. Fr. John Protopapas
Rev. Fr. Theoklitos Mihalas
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Trakatellis served as the parish priest for several months in 1967 while taking classes at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary