Metropolitan Methodios Celebrates the Dormition and Installs Fr. Yanni Michaelidis as Proistamenos in Somerville

Sunday, August 16, 2026

On Saturday, August 15, Metropolitan Methodios celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Somerville, Massachusetts, where he formally installed the Rev. Fr. Yanni Michaelidis as the new Proistamenos of the historic parish.

Joining His Eminence at the altar were the Rev. Fr. Christopher Foustoukos, the former Proistamenos of St. Vasilios Church in Peabody, where Fr. Yanni had previously served as assistant priest, and Deacon Vasilios Panagopoulos. The church was filled with parishioners and visitors who gathered to celebrate the joyous feast of the Dormition and to welcome Fr. Yanni as he began his new pastoral ministry in Somerville.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Methodios called forward the members of the Parish Council and the Ladies Philoptochos Society to be present for the installation of Fr. Yanni. Surrounded by the faithful of his new parish, Fr. Yanni formally assumed his responsibilities as Proistamenos of the community.

In his remarks, Metropolitan Methodios encouraged Fr. Yanni to remember the many lessons he learned during his years of service alongside Fr. Christopher in Peabody and to carry those experiences with him into his new ministry. His Eminence spoke of the importance of family, reminding Fr. Yanni to cherish his own family while embracing the parish community entrusted to his pastoral care as an extended spiritual family.

Metropolitan Methodios also called upon Fr. Yanni to remember with gratitude the priests who served the historic Somerville parish before him, to keep them in his prayers, and to honor their faithful service through his own priestly ministry. His Eminence encouraged him to serve with love, humility, and devotion, living out the Orthodox Christian faith and faithfully caring for the spiritual needs of the people entrusted to him.

Following the installation, the parish hosted a reception welcoming Fr. Yanni and his family to the Somerville community. The celebration provided an opportunity for parishioners to offer their prayers and best wishes as the parish began a new chapter in its long history under the pastoral leadership of its newly installed Proistamenos.