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| Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh presents Tony Phyrillas with the 2022 St. Photios Award for service to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church during a recent banquet. |
AHEPAN Tony Phyrillas was recognized for service to his church by Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh at the St. Photios Awards Banquet held April 30, 2022, at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Cranberry, Pa.
With more than 400 in attendance, Metropolitan Savas presented awards to 58 church volunteers from 31 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 seventh year the banquet was held to recognize “unsung church volunteers" and raise money for the Metropolitan’s Benevolence Fund.
Tony Phyrillas was nominated by Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading, Pa., along with fellow nominee Marian Cheri, currently serving as President of the St. Xenia Philoptochos Society.
Tony Phyrillas has been attending Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church since his family arrived from Cyprus in 1969. He has served on the Parish Council for 27 consecutive years, including two terms as President and 18 terms as Secretary. He has served on and chaired numerous church committees over the past 30 years. Tony has taught Sunday School for 17 years, the last 13 as Head Teacher for Grades 10-12. He was a charter member and treasurer of the church's Greek School PTO. Tony has served as chairman of the popular Gyro Room at the church's annual Greek Food Festival for the past 30 years. He also oversees an ongoing fundraiser for the church that sells gift cards to parishioners.
Tony has been a member of the Gust C. Kraras AHEPA Chapter No. 61 for 35 years and has held all chapter offices, including 11 terms as president.
The son of Paraskevi Phyrillas and the late Anastasis Phyrillas, Tony is married to Chrysoula (Happas) Phyrillas and they have two sons, James and Patrick.
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| Members of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading, Pa., attended the St. Photios Awards Banquet, where two parishioners - Tony Phyrillas and Marian Cheri - were recognized as their church's 2022 volunteers of the year. |
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| Honorees Tony Phyrillas and Marian Cheri with Rev. Father Theodore Petrides, pastor of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading, Pa. |
