This fall marks a time of transition for the parish of St. Thomas Greek Orthodox Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Starting September 1, 2025, Father Georgios Oikonomou will begin his service as the new Proistamenos, following the reassignment of Father Avgoustinos Psomas to the Dormition of the Theotokos in Holmdel.
The news came in a communication from the Chancellor of the Metropolis of New Jersey, Father Gregory Gilbert, confirming that His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos had made the official reassignment. While change is never easy, it is often a moment for reflection, gratitude, and renewal.
For the past three and a half years, Father Avgoustinos served the St. Thomas community with deep care, spiritual strength, and unwavering dedication. His presence has left a lasting mark. As he prepares for his new ministry in Holmdel, the faithful of Cherry Hill send him off with heartfelt thanks and prayers for a bright and blessed future. He will be missed.
At the same time, the community prepares to welcome Father Georgios Oikonomou, a dynamic and thoughtful priest originally from Thessaloniki, Greece. Born in 1980, Father Georgios was raised in the Ilioupoli neighborhood of Thessaloniki, where he later earned a PhD in Theology from the Aristotle University. He was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in 2006 and has served for nearly two decades in ministry, focusing on youth, catechesis, education, and theological writing.
Before arriving in New Jersey, Father Georgios served as the presiding priest of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Baltimore, Maryland. He and his wife Anastasia, together with their five children—Ioannis, Styliani, Grigorios, Arsenios, and Loukas—will soon be relocating to Cherry Hill to begin this new chapter with the St. Thomas family.
Parish Council President Anastasios Efstratiades shared a message with fellow parishioners:
The new Proistamenos of Saint Thomas, the Rev. Protopresbyter Georgios Oikonomou, is a young and dynamic priest from Thessaloniki… We are welcoming him with open arms and are looking forward to introducing him to the entire community. I have had the opportunity to meet Father Georgios in the past, and I can attest that he is a wonderful priest.
Transitions like this one are more than administrative; they’re deeply personal for a parish. They mark the closing of one season and the hopeful beginning of another. As the people of St. Thomas bid farewell to one beloved priest and prepare to welcome another, they carry forward what binds them: faith, family, and community.
Καλώς ήρθατε, Πάτερ Γεώργιε. Welcome to Cherry Hill. May your ministry here be long and fruitful.
Featured image: Father Georgios Oikonomou presides over the cutting of the Vasilopita at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Baltimore, January 2024. (Photo via Facebook)