Stephanides, 63, Notable Greek Orthodox Priest

IRVINE â€”  Father George Stephanides, influential pastor of the large St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church in Irvine, had died at age 63.

He led the congregation’s growth from just 57 families when he arrived in 1978 to 700 families now.

Born in Boston, Stephanides earned degrees in religion, the classics and theology from Hellenic College-Holy Cross Seminary, Boston University and Princeton Theological Seminary. He did additional study at the University of Athens in Greece and at Harvard and Rutgers universities.

He was ordained a priest of the Orthodox Christian Church in 1960. In California, he served as vicar of Southern California and council member for the Diocese of San Francisco, member of the Archdiocesan Council, director of Hellenic College-Holy Cross Seminary and ecumenical director of Orange County for the Diocese of San Francisco.

He did much to increase recognition of the Greek Orthodox Church as the fourth major religion in the United States.

Before coming to California, Stephanides served the church in Trenton, N.J., and Brockton and Worcester, Mass.

He died Tuesday in Irvine.