Parish Clergy

Rev. David G. Bissias, Proistamenos

Voice: (219) 932-7347
Email: stdemetrioshammond@sbcglobal.net

 

 

Father David Bissias was born November 24, 1967, in Chicago, IL.  He was raised by his parents Mary Ann and George with his younger sister Nicole in suburban Elmhurst, while attending the Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church of Westchester, IL, headed then by Fr. William Chiganos of blessed memory.  In 1982 he met Father Jon Magoulias, his mentor and spiritual father who was then the pastor of Holy Cross Church in Justice, IL, (later retiring from the Annunciation Church of Modesto, CA) and who inspired him to pursue preparation for service in the Church.

After graduating from York Community High School, he attended Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA, from which he graduated in 1993 with the Master of Divinity (with Distinction) degree.

On February 2, 1994, the Feast of the Meeting of our Lord, Father David was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by the hand of Bishop (later Metropolitan) Iakovos of Chicago, now reposing in the Lord, at his home parish of Holy Apostles.  He served as deacon to the bishop until Bishop Iakovos ordained him to the priesthood on the Feast of Saints Constantine and Helen, May 21, 1994 at Palos Hills, IL.  On June 1, 1994, Father began his initial assignment at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Milwaukee, WI, where he served as Associate Pastor until July 30, 1996.

On August 1, 1996, Father began his pastoral ministry as the pastor of Saint Demetrios in Hammond, IN, following the long tenure of Father Peter Georgacakes of blessed memory who had recently retired from active parish ministry.  

During his pastoral ministry, Father continued to be active in various programs at our Metropolis of Chicago, representing His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos at various theological, interfaith and ecumenical events.  Father has lectured and spoken on various subjects of the Orthodox Faith in a wide range of settings. 

From 1998 to 2017, Father served as a member of the Metropolis Council of our Holy Metropolis and the Bishop's Task Force on AIDS.  From October, 2004, in addition to his ministry at Saint Demetrios, Father also served as the Special Administrative Assistant to the Metropolitan, serving His Eminence and the Office of the Chancellor in special projects and in the area of communications.  He continued in this position following the repose in our Lord of His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos, and under the Locum Tenens Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, was charged with overseeing the Metropolis office administration until completing the transition with the enthronement of His Eminence Nathanael of Chicago in 2017.

In 2008 his first book, The Mystery of Healing: Oil, Anointing, and the Unity of the Local Church, was published by the Orthodox Research Institute and was later translated into Romanian and published in that country.

Father David lives in nearby Munster, IN, and has two adult children, George and Efthymia.

To view Father David's Activities/C.V., please click here.