Ministry Leadership

Father Rick AndrewsRev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews

Fr. Rick is an ordained priest of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America since 1995 and is currently serving Saints Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview, Illinois, assigned by Metropolitan Nathanael of the Metropolis of Chicago in August 2019. He earned a doctoral degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University (2019). He is a graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Masters of Divinity,1994), and the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing,1988).

Fr. Rick serves as a Frontline Chaplain doing disaster response for International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) since 2013. He has received several certifications for critical incident response including training and experience gained as a volunteer chaplain for the Saint Paul Police Department (SPPD) 2005-2019.

Fr. Rick most recently served St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota (1999 – 2019). He also served as spiritual advisor for the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry of Minnesota (OCPM-MN) 2010-2019, Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) campus ministry 1999-2019 including starting the OCF chapter at St. Thomas University in Saint Paul. He was the coordinator for the Minnesota Eastern Orthodox Christian Clergy Association (MEOCCA) Cooperative Catechism program and presiding priest of the Greek Orthodox Spiritual Court in Minnesota.

He is married to Presbytera Jane (Donovan) since 1990 and has an adult son, Theodore who currently lives in California. Fr. Rick was ordained to the diaconate in 1994 and the priesthood in 1995 by Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago.

Fr. Rick previously served Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Westchester, Illinois (1994-1997) and Kimissis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church in Racine, Wisconsin (1997-1999). During those years, he occasionally served at the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. John Chrysostom in Kenosha, Wisconsin, participated at the Diocese Fanari Camp, and was a member of the Racine Clergy Association and the Orthodox Clergy Syndesmos of Wisconsin.

Contact: frrick@ssppglenview.org

 

Rev SaclaridesRev. Dn. Theodore Saclarides, MD.

Deacon Dr. Ted Saclarides earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and Chemistry from Vanderbilt University. He subsequently earned his MD from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. His training in general and intestinal surgery took place through Rush University and the Mayo Clinic. For the last thirty years Dn. Ted has served as the head of his division at Rush and Loyola and is currently the Vice-Chairman of Surgery at Rush University. Upon completing the permanent Diaconate program at Holy Cross, Dn. Ted was ordained and began to serve his home parish of Saints Peter and Paul. While successful in his medical career, it is his diaconal service, five children, and six grandchildren which matters most and sustains him.

 
 
 

 
 

Youth Director – Steven Thell

Steven is from Minneapolis and attended St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral until 18, where he participated in various youth events and taught Sunday School. Steven attended college at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. While at UW Superior, Steven attended Twelve Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Duluth, Minnesota, and has been its youth director for the past five years (2018-2023). He also currently works as a long-term substitute Physical Education teacher at Cooper Elementary School in Superior, Wisconsin. Steve also has worked in adult foster care (2021-2022), as a summer program coordinator and coach for a youth soccer program in Minneapolis (2018-present), and as a St. Mary Summer Church Camp counselor (2016-present).

Contact: youthdirector@ssppglenview.org

 

 

Elea Valessares Bentley, Parish Administrator

Elea graduated from Drake University with a BA in Psychology. Her previous experience includes Desk Manager at the Chicago Board of Trade, Certified Client Services Associate at Merrill Lynch, and Office Manager at The Ragsdale Company. Elea is passionate about her work and building productive and long-lasting relationships with her co-workers and the communities she serves. Elea has a strong faith and is inspired by her husband, Ned, and their 3 children: George, Alexis & Sophia. They are active members at Ascension Greek Orthodox Church in Lincolnshire

 
 
 
 
 

 

Amanda Sideris, Communications Coordinator

Amanda grew up in the SSPP community and graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS in Advertising and a minor in Visual Art and Design. Amanda has worked with several agencies, including Walker Sands and Merge, and brands such as Coca-Cola. She also started her own company during the pandemic. Amanda is passionate about working in the world of design, social media and communications and looks forward to bringing her energy and enthusiasm to SSPP. She is honored to give back to the parish that has given her much in return.
 
 

 

 

 

 

Julie Mantice, AGAPE School Director

Julie grew up at Saints Peter and Paul and has been active in many ministries, including president of Philoptochos. Julie received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Loyola University and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from DePaul University and has over 14 years of experience in early childhood care and education, including as a supervisor with the Wilmette Park District. She worked at AGAPE for 10 years as a Lead Teacher and Director. Julie returned to AGAPE School recently and is building a strong, nurturing environment for early learners.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greek School Director – Mrs. Stella Theoharopoulos

Stella Theoharopoulos was born and raised in Greece on the island of Crete. She continued her education here in Chicago and received her B.A. in Psychology and Secondary Education from Northeastern Illinois University in 1986. In 1989 and 1990 attended graduate courses on Elementary education. She returned to the United States in 1995 and started working at Saints Peter and Paul Greek School as the Director and teacher and has been working for 25 consecutive years. She has also taught at other Chicago schools and has a total of 35 years of teaching. Stella has completed more than 160 seminar hours hosted by organizations such as the American Educational Research Association, the Chicago Greek Council, the Greek Archdiocese, and the University of Crete in order to be updated on new educational practices. She has extensively written and created educational materials that have been used freely by various Greek schools. In 2016, Stella was nominated by the United Hellenic Voters of America “The most distinguished Greek American in the field of Education”.
 
 

 

 

Former Proistamenoi

Rev. Fr. Dennis Latto 1962-1973
Rev. Fr. George Scoulas 1974-2000
Rev. Fr. Angelo Artemas 2001-2012
Rev. Fr. Jim Dokos 2012-2014
Rev. Fr. Panagiotis Boznos 2014-2019