Interviews

Though Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik grew up worlds apart in their respective hometowns of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan and Kharkiv, Ukraine, the two were nevertheless raised in the same Eastern Orthodox Christian faith. Now

Every Sunday morning at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Des Plaines, IL, a small group of children gather in a classroom. The room, intentionally quiet and calm, is filled with soft voices,

Though fewer than 1% of Americans serve in the U.S. military, an even smaller group walks beside them–Orthodox Christian military chaplains. This ministry, rooted in faith while shaped by the realities of military life, remains

At 11 years old, in 1941, little Anna Marakas climbed onto the organ bench in the choir loft at then Assumption Church in Oakland, California, and began to play. 85 years later, she is still

Orthodox Marketplace is the official e-commerce platform of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America—built to connect parishes, ministries, and families with trusted, faith-centered resources, from GOARCH ministry materials to carefully curated liturgical and devotional goods

In communist Albania, atheism was enshrined in the constitution. Owning a copy of the Gospel was enough to land a person in prison for a decade–if they were lucky. Churches had been destroyed, clergy executed,

Michael N. Bapis was born and raised in Salt Lake City, a place where being Greek Orthodox meant you belonged to something small, but so strong. The strength of his commitment to his faith is

Lebanese twin brothers Charbel and Giovanni Lteif began an Instagram account with a mission of bearing witness to the beauty of Middle Eastern Christianity. In just two years, their platform has reached a following of

When meeting Angelo Kircos—whether in person or across a Zoom screen—you feel the exuberance and joy of a man who has spent his life in service to his church, his family and his faith.  At

John Georges is the CEO of Georges Enterprises, a diversified holding company based in New Orleans with interests in distribution, real estate, and hospitality. In 2013, he and his wife, Dathel, purchased The Advocate, today

Ahead of our piece Convert crisis?, the Orthodox Observer spoke with Fr. Evagoras Constantinides to gain insight into how Greek Orthodox priests are responding to U.S. Orthodoxy’s influx of converts.  > Read: Convert crisis? Clergy,

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). As a step toward educating Orthodox Observer readers about the ordination of men with disabilities, Fr. John Chryssavgis answered questions from the Observer‘s Managing Editor Corinna Robinson. Fr. Chryssavgis is Archdeacon

Today, June 19, 2025, we reshare this April 9, 2025 interview in recognition of Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Here, the Orthodox Observer’s Dr. Claire Koen spoke with the Rev. Fr. Samuel Davis to discuss his work as director the Apostolic Mission to the African Diaspora. Currently the assistant priest at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and National Shrine, Fr. Samuel is also a veteran of the United States Air Force. Keep reading to learn how the unique experiences of Black communities in the United States complement, and allow a deeper understanding of, the Orthodox Tradition.

In anticipation of the upcoming Pentecost Tribute Concert honoring His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the late Archon music instructor Nikolaos Steliaros, the Orthodox Observer’s Dr. Claire Koen spoke with Protopsaltis Dr. Demetrios Kehagias about his late mentor.

This week the Orthodox Observer’s Dr. Claire Koen sat down with American Idol finalist Amanda Barise to talk about the intersection of her music and her Orthodox faith

Fr. Steven Klund, Director of Ionian Village, spoke with the Orthodox Observer’s Marissa Costidis about his path to the priesthood, Ionian Village and the importance of “unplugging” today’s young people from technology to allow them to focus on their relationship with God.    

Demetrios “Jim” Logothetis, Chairman of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund, has had a notable career spanning four decades at Ernst & Young, with leadership roles in Chicago, New York, London, and Frankfurt. He spoke to the Orthodox Observer and Dr. Stratos Safioleas just before the 34th Annual Leadership 100 Conference in Orlando, Florida. 

During her coverage of FDF 2025, the Orthodox Observer’s Corinna Robinson spoke with Danny Staveris – Oakland, California’s longtime dancer and director referred to as a “titan” of FDF history. Danny shared about praising God with dance, the research and care needed to design each year’s suite, and performing through grief.

Nikos Avgoustinakis, Dimitris Adam, and Nikos Doxastakis are three Greek musicians who perform together in Crete. With their bandmate Manos Lantzanakis, they traveled to the U.S. for the first time to play live music at FDF this weekend alongside dancers from San Francisco’s Annunciation Cathedral. During her coverage of FDF, the Orthodox Observer’s Corinna Robinson spoke to Nikos, Dimitris, and Nikos about their time at FDF and their impressions of Greek American culture. 

During Archbishop Elpidophoros’s visit to Cheyenne, Wyoming this weekend, the Orthodox Observer’s Corinna Robinson interviewed Billie Zumo, curator of Sts. Constantine & Helen’s Hellenic Heritage House and Honorary Philoptochos National Board Member.

During Archbishop Elpidophoros’s visit to Cheyenne, Wyoming this weekend, the Orthodox Observer’s Corinna Robinson interviewed Sam Galiotis, Parish Council President at Holy Apostles Orthodox Christian Church. 

This weekend, the Orthodox Observer’s Corinna Robinson interviewed Metropolitan Constantine of Denver during his visit to Cheyenne, Wyoming.