Parish Clergy

Rev. Demetrios Kazakis, Presiding Priest

Voice: (516) 483-5700
Email: frdemetrios@stpaulhempstead.org

Fr. Demetrios was born in Syracuse, NY and raised in the parish of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church.  He received an Associate's Degree in Communication and Broadcasting from SUNY Oswego in 2005.  He graduated from Hellenic College/Holy Cross with a Bachelor's Degree in Religious Studies and Masters in Divinity '08, and '11 respectively.  

He was ordained as a Deacon by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, on July 30, 2011 and as a Priest by His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, on June 30, 2012.  Both ordinations took place at Kimisis Theotokou, Brooklyn where he served as assistant priest to The V. Rev. Fr. Damaskinos Ganas before being assigned to St. Nicholas in October 2012, and to the Cathedral of St. Paul in June 2025.

Fr. Demetrios married Dianna Doukas on July 12, 2009.  They have a son, Andrew Demetrios, a daughter, Eleni Evangelia, and a son, Stephen Demetrios.  

Deacon Mathew Kakis

Deacon Mathew is the first-born child of Vasilios and Mersina Kakis. He grew up in Jamaica, New York, attending St. Demetrios Church on 139th St. He completed 6 years of Greek School under Despinis Rita Anagnostopoulou. In September 1959 entered Holy Cross Theological Seminary. That year was his favorite academic year of his life but had to withdraw the following year at the sudden death of his father in order to assist his mother to operate the family florist business. The following year, 1961, the family, (mother, grandmother, brother Anthony and sister Anna) moved to Rockville Centre and St. Paul became their spiritual and fellowship home under the guidance of Frs. George Papadeas and Nicholas Magoulias.

GOYA at St. Paul and the metropolitan area was his focus where he made lifelong friendships. In May 1966, he met the love of his life, Betsy Geones at a St. Paul GOYA meeting. They were married on October 9th the same year. Betsy and Mathew were blessed with Basil, Arthur and Mersina, who grew up at St. Paul attending Sunday School and various activities. Six adoring grandchildren, Alexi, Alyssa, Matthew, Christopher, Sofia and Lukas are their greatest joy as it is to every Yiayia and Papou.

In 2008, he was accepted to the Permanent Diaconate Program at Holy Cross. Even though it was an absence of 48 years, it was as though he never left Holy Cross. June 10th he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop Andonios and was honored to be assigned to serve at his treasured home here at St. Paul.