Fr. John Kocolas - Parish Priest
Fr. John Kocolas pursued his undergraduate studies at CSU Stanislaus where he earned a degree in Business Marketing with a minor in Mathematics. With a desire to serve the Church, he graduated with a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 2012. Fr. John and Presvytera Stephanie were married in 2011 and spent their first year of marriage on campus at the seminary. They moved back to California in the summer of 2012 when they were assigned to the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Belmont, CA. Fr. John was ordained a deacon on December 2, 2012 at the Annunciation Church in Modesto, CA and ordained a priest on December 30, 2012 at the Holy Cross Church in Belmont by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco. He was assigned to Nativity of Christ on July 15, 2016 and has been joyfully serving the community ever since.
Fr. Constantine Efstathiu - Priest Emeritus
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Fr. Constantine Efstathiu, following High School graduation, entered Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, graduating in 1965 with a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. Fr. Constantine and Presvytera Kay were married following his graduation and spent the next year in Thessaloniki, Greece, where Father pursued graduate studies at the University of Thessaloniki School of Theology. They returned to the United States and Los Angeles, where Father was ordained a deacon on August 27, 1966, at St. Sophia Cathedral, and the following day, August 28, a priest, at St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church in Pasadena, by the late Bishop Demetrios of Olympou. Upon his ordination, Father was assigned as assistant priest of Holy Trinity Church in San Francisco, where he served one year. In September 1967 was assigned as pastor of St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church in Stockton, CA, where he served for seventeen years. In 1984 he was assigned as pastor of Nativity of Christ, where he served for twenty-seven years, retiring August 28, 2011. Father and Presvytera have been blessed with three children and nine grandchildren.
Rebekah Harmon - Office Administrator
Rebekah Harmon studied at Oklahoma Baptist University where she received a Bachelors in Elementary Education with an English Emphasis. After teaching middle school in Washington State, she moved to California to pursue a Masters in Educational Leadership and a Masters of Divinity with a Youth Ministry Certificate. Following graduation, she taught technology classes to K-8 students in Marin County for 8 years. Married in 2014, Rebekah and her husband David live in San Rafael and attend the Presbyterian Church of Novato where she helps with youth ministry. She began working as the Office Administrator at Nativity of Christ in 2016 and is thankful to be serving the stewards of this community.
Eleni Kelley - Ministries Director
Eleni Kelley graduated with an Interior Design Degree which led her to working in the design industry and management. After some time in corporate sales, she obtained her Teaching Credential and eventually, her Masters in Educational Leadership. For eight years, Eleni was a dedicated teacher, carefully curating curriculum, coaching athletic teams, sitting on leadership boards, and planning monthly community events for students and staff. Her new role as a mother has lead Eleni to take a pause from the classroom and bring all her years of experience to our church, to our community. She is honored to enhance Nativity's ministries and grow our community through education, events, and opportunities for members of all ages.