father dRev. Dr. Dimitrios G. Moraitis
>> email: FatherD@stparaskevi.org

Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Saint Paraskevi Web site.  The members of the community of St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Shrine Church in Greenlawn, New York feel a tremendous responsibility not only to spread the light of Christ to all who come our way, but also to share with everyone the miracles that take place in our holy shrine through the intercessions of St. Paraskevi.

St. Paraskevi is the patron saint for health of the eyes, as well as the general health of all.  While the saint was being tortured in the later part of the second century, she healed the local ruler of his blindness, the same one who was ordering her to be tortured.  After the ruler received his eyesight, he stopped her torture and converted to Christianity.  Unfortunately, the next ruler had Paraskevi beheaded.  At the place of her martyrdom in Asia Minor, a small chapel was built in her honor, as was the custom at the time. 

Miraculously, a natural spring started flowing from beneath the church and many who came to drink from this water were healed, especially those with eye problems.  Hence, St. Paraskevi came to be known as the patron saint for eyesight. 

In the late sixties, a family from our church helped build a grotto-shrine in the saint’s honor and brought back holy water from the holy spring of the original St. Paraskevi Church.  The holy water was placed in a mixing tank and constantly runs through a spout in the wall of the shrine. 
Since the late sixties, hundreds of people have reported to us that they have received miraculous cures as a result of drinking the holy water or sprinkling it in their eyes.  We receive requests from all over the world to ship the holy water, and people from as far a California go on pilgrimages to our shrine to receive the blessings, holy water and hope from this holy place.
St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Shrine Church is more that just a parish community, it is a holy site, and we feel blessed to be the caretakers of this holy place.

Our ministries go beyond just our 600 member families, but to all people who suffer and need help of Christ’s healing through the intercessions of St. Paraskevi.

If there is anything we can do for you, send you holy water from the shrine, or holy oil from the relics of St. Panteleimon which are housed in our Church, or to simply include you or your family or friends who are struggling with physical or spiritual ailments in our prayers service, please contact us.

We are in your and the Lord’s service,
Fr. Dimitrios Moraitis

 

Formal Education

  • 1992-1993  Florida Atlantic University/Social Welfare Major
  • 1993-1996  Hellenic College Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies
    Graduated as Valedictorian
  • 1996-1998  Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
    Master of Divinity Degree - Graduated with Highest Distinction
  • 2002-2006 Doctor of MinistryDegree Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Ordinations

  • Diaconate  February 15, 1998
  • Priesthood May 16, 1998

Churches Served

2004 - Present St Paraskevi, Greenlawn, NY - Senior Pastor
August 2000 - 2004 Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox  Church - Fayetteville, NC, Senior Pastor
June 1998 - August 2000 - St Demetrios, Chicago, Illinois, Associate Pastor

Missions

1999, 2002, 2005 Led 3 mission teams to “Project Mexico” (built residential homes)

Ministries

  • 2001-2003 Chairman of the Metropolis of Atlanta Winter Youth Rally
  • Community 2000-2003 Chaired the first Feed Fayetteville an Ecumenical mass feeding
    Involvement and information sharing program.
  • Served on the Board of Directors for The Partnership for Children  as the faith community representative.
  • Led  three teams at Operation Inasmuch (a local ecumenical home  repair and community rebuilding project)
    Participates in two different ecumenical clergy groups
  • Military April 2003 – August 2004 - Served as the interim contracted civilian Orthodox Chaplain for Ft. Bragg Army Base and Pope Air Force Base, Served the Russian Orthodox Community on Post.
  • 2005 - Present - Director of the Long Island InterGOYA
  • Co-chaired HIHI (Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiate)
  • Guest Lecturer - St Vladimirs Seminary
  • Direct Archdiocese District Representative for the Archdiocese Benefits Committee

 Personal