AHEPAN Dean Whitman receives 2024 St. Photios Award

Dean and Sharon Whitman

AHEPAN Dean Whitman was recognized for service to his church by Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh at the St. Photios Awards Banquet held May 18, 2024, at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Cranberry, Pa.

Dean's wife, Sharon, was also honored at the banquet. The couple has worked tirelessly for many years as volunteers at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading Pa.

With more than 400 in attendance, Metropolitan Savas presented awards to 65 church volunteers from more than 30 different parishes in the Metropolis of Pittsburgh, which covers Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

“Our awardees have given a lifetime of service, skill and love to the Greek Orthodox Church,” Metropolitan Savas said during his remarks. “Their service has borne much fruit in the Lord’s vineyard, and we offer this recognition as an expression of our deep and abiding gratitude.”

Metropolitan Savas presented each honoree with a framed certificate and a pin depicting St. Photios the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople.

This was the 10th year the banquet was held to recognize “unsung church volunteers" and raise money for the Metropolitan’s Benevolence Fund.

Dean and Sharon were nominated for the St. Photios Award by the Parish Council at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church. Both retired from the US Postal Service and devote countless hours of volunteer work for their church.

In addition to being a member of AHEPA Chapter No. 61, where he currently serves as Correspondence Secretary, Dean Whitman is a member of the Saint Xenia Philoptochos Society, where he earned the nickname of "Mr. Philoptochos" and sings in the church choir. 

Previous honorees from Saints Constantine and Helen Church were Tony Phyrillas and Marian Cheri in 2022 and Stathis Gasparis and Marika Krallis in 2023.