 Father Mark was born in Chicago, IL in 1967. He grew up in Sauk Village, IL and attended the Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Merrillville, IN. In 1985, he enrolled in Hellenic College in Brookline, MA to pursue a degree in Religious Studies/Pre-Theology. Upon completing his undergraduate degree, he matriculated into the Master of Divinity program at Holy Cross School of Theology, also in Brookline, MA. On August 25, 1990, Father married Virginia “Ginny” Kessis of Cincinnati, OH. During the final year of graduate studies, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop (now Metropolitan) Iakovos of Chicago on January 18, 1992 in Merrillville, IN. Father Mark completed his studies and received a Master of Divinity degree in May of 1992. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop (now Metropolitan) Methodios of Boston on July 26, 1992 at the Holy Cross Chapel in Brookline, MA.
Father Mark has served the following parishes: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in St. Louis Missouri (1992-1995); and St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Saginaw, MI (1995-2002), Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Dayton, OH (2003-2016). He was assigned to the Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Cincinnati, OH on January 1, 2017. Father Mark served as Detroit Clergy Syndesmos President from 1998-2002. He received the Offikion of “Economos” from Bishop (now Metropolitan) Nicholas of Detroit on October 25, 2001. Presbytera Ginny received a B.A in History at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and a M.A. in Education at Miami University in Oxford, OH. She is an Elementary school teacher and busy mom. Presbytera Ginny has also been active in the Metropolis of Detroit Sisterhood of Presbyteres. Father Mark and Presbytera Ginny have two daughters. |