Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Reverend Father James Pavlow, Pastor
Reverend Father George I. Paulson, Pastor Emeritus
Reverend Father Savas Constantinou, Pastor Retired
The Reverend Father James Pavlow
Father Jimmy was named the new priest at Saint Nicholas in June of 2005 and became the third head priest of Saint Nicholas in its 25 years of existence. Father Jimmy, his wife Antonia, and their children came to us from the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Sophia in Valley Forge, PA.
Father Jimmy grew up in Brooklyn, NY and attended a Roman Catholic high school. He then moved on to Pace University of New York where he earned a degree in Business. Shortly after graduation he was hired by Bank of America and worked for Prudential Securities. Throughout his college and post-college time he harbored a deep desire to become a Greek Orthodox priest. His mother, Lucy, had read scripture to him and his brothers each night as young boys. His early education came at a small, Orthodox parochial school affiliated with the Kemisis Tis Theotokou. In addition, he served as an altar boy under the tutelage of Fr. James Bogiatzis. After working for Bank of America for one year, he decided it was time to devote his life to serving God.
On August 16, 1998, Fr. Pavlow was ordained as a priest from the Holy Cross
Seminary. It was during his time there that he met Antonia, a native of
Bronx, NY, while they were both serving as counselors at a camp at St. Basil's
Academy. They married on June 28, 1998. Three months later, Fr.
Pavlow was assigned to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Houston,
Texas. There he served as one of the three priests to a congregation of
over 1,200 families. In June of 2000, he felt it was time for him to
shepherd his own congregation and was very excited to accept the invitation to
serve as the priest at St. Sophia's in Valley Forge, PA.
Father Jimmy comes to St. Nicholas with a passion for education. He believes the children and youth need a solid understanding of their faith in order to make appropriate decisions as they grow up.
