St Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church - St Petersburg Florida

Archbishop Michael continued the programs of his predecessor and brought the Church through its tender years. He founded St. Michael’s Home for the Aged in Yonkers, NY. A brilliant scholar and linguist, he founded the Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA); he promoted vigorously the campaign for national recognition of Eastern Orthodoxy as a major faith in America; he created the Office of Information and Public Relations; he brought about the acceptance of the Regulations and Uniform By-Laws of the Archdiocese; he gained membership of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. His efforts for widespread recognition of the Church were appropriately acknowledged when he was invited to deliver the invocation at the Presidential inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower in January,1957, the first Orthodox Christian cleric to be so honored.

Archbishop Iakovos who was enthroned on April 1, 1959 ushered in the dawn of a new era for Greek Orthodox in America as the Archbishop was the first to be selected from the ranks of the American clergy. Dean of all religious leaders in the United States when he retired on July 30, 1996, Archbishop Iakovos’ 37 years of service were distinguished by his leadership in furthering religious unity, revitalizing Christian worship and championing human and civil rights. The Archbishop was co-president of the World Council of Churches; established dialogues with Roman Catholics, Anglicans,Lutherans, Southern Baptist and Black Church leaders; and in a successful effort to promote closer ties among several Orthodox jurisdictions and improve relations between them and other denominations, the Archbishop founded in 1960 the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas. He was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Jimmy Carter and was captured on the cover of LIFE magazine on March 26,1965, walking hand in hand with Dr. Martin Luther King in Selma, Alabama. During his tenure organizations were expanded and new departments were added including Church and Society, Youth Ministry, Communications and Leadership 100, a major gift program of the National Endowment of the Archdiocese. He guided the reorganization of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline,MA and brought to fruition Hellenic College in 1968.