Parish Clergy
Rev. Fr. Sotirios P. Malamis, Proistamenos
Voice: (847) 482-1200
Email: frsotirios@ascensiongoc.com
Rev. Fr. Sotirios P. Malamis was born in Elmhurst, IL on August 6, 1978, the eighth of nine children to Fr. Panagiotis & Presvytera Theodora Malamis. After graduating York High School in 1997, Fr. Sotirios attended DePaul University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. During his four years at DePaul, Fr. Sotirios was the OCF President of DePaul University. In 2001, he attended Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he received a Masters of Divinity with high distinction. He continued his theological studies at the University of Athens from 2004 through 2006 in the field of Pastoral Theology and Religious Education. While in Athens, Fr. Sotirios continued to pursue his interest in Byzantine Music; his efforts enabled him to receive a teaching degree in Byzantine Music. On September 1, 2014, Father Sotirios Malamis began his tenure as Parish Priest (Proistamenos) of the Ascension of Our Lord Church.
Fr. Sotirios married Presvytera Stefanie (nee Lialios) on July 8, 2007. On March 2, 2008, he was ordained to the holy diaconate at St. Demetrios in Elmhurst, IL and on November 16, 2008, he was ordained to the holy priesthood at Holy Trinity in Chicago. Fr. Sotirios’ first assignment was at Holy Trinity in Chicago where he served for six years. He also served as the Spiritual Advisor at the Hellenic American Academy from the time of his ordination to the Holy Priesthood until 2013. Since 2013 and until his assignment as Pastor of Ascension in 2014, Father was the Associate Pastor at the Saint John the Baptist Church in Des Plaines, IL. Concurrently, he has been teaching Byzantine music to area students for several years and also expanded the program online nationwide.
Since September 1, 2014, Fr. Sotirios has been the Proistamenos at the Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church in Lincolnshire, IL. In that capacity, he has provided leadership and spiritual guidance during a $9 million, 21-month construction project, which culminated in the opening of a new new church and community center on June 5, 2019. In September 2019, Fr. Sotiri was nominated and elected by the Metropolis of Chicago Clergy Syndesmos to serve as its representative on the Archdiocesan Council. Father was also elected by the Clergy Laity to serve on the Metropolis Council.
Fr. Sotiri and Presvytera Stefanie have three children, Maria, Nikolas and Aimilianos.
(Photo taken December 2022)
John Anton, Pastoral Assistant
Voice: (847) 482-1200
Email: janton@ascensiongoc.com
With the blessings of His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, John Anton began his new appointment as Pastoral Assistant on January 1, 2023 to assist Parish Priest Fr. Sotirios Malamis in furthering the work of Ascension’s ministries, with special emphasis on the Parish’s Youth Groups.
Anton graduated in December 2022 with a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts. In May 2018, he received a BA in Religious Studies from Hellenic College, minoring in Literature and History and earning the Holy Cross Certificate in Byzantine Music. Anton has dedicated many summers to the Metropolis of Chicago’s Fanari Camp Ministries, serving as a counselor and most recently as Staff Director. He has also served in other capacities in the Metropolis, chanting at various parishes, interning in the Communications Department in 2018, and volunteering on the YAL Conference Committee in 2020 and 2022. In his younger years, Anton served as a devout altar boy and was an active member of GOYA.
"I'm excited to join the Ascension family during this 25th anniversary year and to work with Fr. Sotiri in engaging parish ministries," said John Anton. "The Orthodox Church is a central part of who I am, and I thank God for this opportunity to serve at Ascension and help youth, young adults, and the community as a whole grow together in our Christian faith. I'm eagerly looking forward to being with everyone and sharing my love for Christ and His Church with others."
