St Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church - St Petersburg Florida

With great joy I have received the news of my new assignment at the community of Saint Stefanos in St. Petersburg. His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios was so kind to keep me for five years as an Ephemerios at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon Springs. The needs of our Metropolis required that I would be assigned to a new parish.

My good friend Father Joseph has been appointed to Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Daytona Beach and that made it possible for me to receive a new assignment. All these changes happened in less than two months.

Soon after His Eminence gave me the news, by the kindness of Father Joseph I had the opportunity to meet our President, Ron Gregory, and his wonderful family. There were several other meetings with the Parish Council, the Agape Club, the Philoptochos, and Parea. All these brought me closer to knowing my new community.

There had been a few times that I participated in services at St. Stefanos. In fact, my first Holy Unction in the Greek Archdiocese was at St. Stefanos in 2001 while Father George was serving the parish. Father Frank from St. Barbara in Sarasota invited me to accompany him for that service. After all these years, I am returning to St. Stefanos, appointed to be the new pastor.

The task of a priest can be summarized in a few simple words: keep Christ in  the center of our lives. Following a priest like Father Joseph is a great blessing, since his ministry at St. Stefanos followed this simple principle and produced excellent results. He taught, inspired, uplifted, and comforted you with all the power of his faith and with great knowledge. Personally, I will miss him and Presbytera, knowing that they will move away from Tampa Bay. When school will begin, I am going to miss greatly Dina, Eleni, and Cindy, whom I've seen four times a week in the last five years at the Parochial School.

As I start my ministry with St. Stefanos, I greet you in the name of the Lord and I thank you for your acceptance and warm welcoming. All my love, my respect, and my gifts are yours. Among many other things, a good shepherd walks with his flock, accompanies his flock through all the obstacles. I am looking forward to enjoy walking side by side with each of you towards the Great Feast that our God prepares for His elected ones.

--Rev. Fr. John Bociu