The Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting [EOCS] sponsored by The Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in the Americas [SCOBA] and administrated by the member youth departments of each jurisdictions honored four Orthodox Priests with the distinguished National Prophet Elias Award for outstanding service to Orthodox Youth through The Church and the Boy and Girl Scout programs.  This is the first time that this prestigious award has been presented to priests.

The recipients were: Very Rev. Archpriest John T. Bacon, Chelsea, Massachusetts, Rev. Protopresbyter Angelo L. Gavalas, New York City, New York, Rev. Presbyter Joel L. McEachen, Ansonia, Connecticut, and Rev. Protopresbyter Constantine L. Sitaras, Saint Basil Academy, Garrison, New York.

The presentation ceremony was held at Saint Basil Academy, Garrison, New York and presided by Bishop Demetrios of Xanthos, the Executive Secretary of SCOBA and the National EOCS Chairman, George N. Boulukos.  The chapel was filled to capacity with guests from as far away as Cape Cod, MA to Scranton, PA to honor these four priests and afterwards were treated with a spectacular Lenten meal prepared and served by Scouters from Pennsylvania.   

The presenters were; Bishop Demetrios, the SCOBA Executive Secretary, Michael Anderson, the National Youth Director of the Orthodox Church in America, Andrew Yiannakos, EOCS Chairman Emeritus, and National EOCS Chairman, George N. Boulukos.  The attendees included representatives of Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, and the Orthodox Church in America as well as a large number of Scout leaders from throughout the northeast.

All four priests have devoted and volunteered their spare time in promoting scouting as a viable part of the Orthodox Youth Ministry.

REV. PRESBYTER JOEL L. McEACHEN

Fr. Joel McEachen was born in Jackson Heights, Queens, and moved to Leonia, NJ.    He joined Pack 37, and continued into Troop 37 out of Leonia.  Following graduation from Rutgers, he spent six years in the Armed Forces and Reserves.  After military service, he became a senior program analyst.  During those years, he served as Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 7l and Explorer Advisor for Post 96. 

In 1965, Fr. Joel entered St. Vladimir’s Seminary.  As a seminarian in the New York area, he actively participated in EOCS Scout Retreats. He continued his religious training in Thessalonica, Greece.  When he returned in 1970 Archbishop Iakovos ordained him a priest. He continued to work in the scouting program by becoming Institutional Representative, Merit Badge Counselor. He served as a Greek Orthodox Chaplain at five Boy Scout National Jamborees at Fort A.P. Hill, from 1981 to 1997.

Father Joel administered the Orthodox Scouting Religious Awards from 1974 till 1990, he rewrote the Alpha Omega guidelines, inaugurated the Chi- Rho for Cub Scouts and Girl Scout Juniors, and developed and designed the Eastern Orthodox Adult Scouter Award the Prophet Elias Recognition Award of which he is receiving today.

Daughter Elizabeth was the first recipient of the Chi-Rho Award and her two sons are following in the family tradition by having just earned the Chi-Rho Award.

He is married to Sandra, and father of four children and six grandchildren.  Besides serving as pastor of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Ansonia, CT., he is a senior systems programmer for computers for the City of Bridgeport, CT.


 

REV. PROTOPRESBYTER ANGELO H. GAVALAS

Father Angelo Gavalas is one of the most beloved clergymen in the Greek Orthodox Church.   He has served various Greek Orthodox congregations for over 65 years, devoting much of his efforts to the youth.

He was born in Nashua, NH. As the son of a Greek Orthodox Priest, Fr. Harry Gavalas, he was spent his youth in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Seattle, WA    He is a graduate of Holy Cross Seminary, Brookline, MA. and attended Portland State College and Colgate Rochester Theological School.

Fr. Gavalas has served parishes throughout the United States.  One of his longest assignments was at Three Hierarchs Church, Brooklyn where he served for 22 years.   While serving there, he was a strong supporter of the outstanding Boy Scout Troop, # 531, of which at the time was one of the largest Greek Orthodox Scouting units in the country. 

Because of his involvement with youth and scouting, Archbishop Iakovos appointed him the National Youth Director.  He frequently attended EOCS Retreats and meetings. As youth director, Fr. Angelo promoted scouting nationally and is credited with establishing many scout units. He received the BSA Silver Beaver Award and the Girl Scout Greater New York Council Impact Award for his devotion to scouting.

Fr. Gavalas also served the Greek Orthodox Youth as advisor to GOYA and he is the founder of GOYAL, serving the older youth.

Rev. Gavalas was married in 1950 to the late Presbytera Ismene and they had four children.


 

REV. PROTOPRESBYTER CONSTANTINE L. SITARAS

Rev. Protopresbyter Constantine L. Sitaras currently serves the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America as the Director of the Saint Basil Academy in Garrison, NY, a Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Father Costa has previously served the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese as; Director of Ionian Village (l972-l996); Director of Youth Ministry (l974-l980); Director of Saint Basil Academy (l980-l984); Director of Stewardship Program for the Archdiocese (l984-l996); and Pastor of the Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church in Rye, NY.

Father Costa has been a supporter and friend of Scouting Ministries for many years.  During his first tenure as Director of St. Basil Academy, he worked with the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting in establishing a Retreat and Camping Cabin on the academy grounds, named in honor and in memory of the late Presbytera Ismene Gavalas.  He has been instrumental in opening up the academy doors and grounds for dozens of Scouting Retreats, Camporees and weekend experiences.  He has also been instrumental in providing spiritual leadership to our Scouts by having a priest available to conduct the Sacramental Life of our Church when Scouts are guests at St. Basil. 

Fr. Costa is a graduate of the Hellenic College (Bachelor of Arts), and a Graduate of Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, MA. (Masters of Theology).  He is married to the former Georgia Agelopos, and his son Basil is currently attending Temple University School of Law.

 

VERY REV. ARCHPRIEST JOHN T. BACON

Eagle Scout Fr. John Bacon has served as the pastor of the Church of the Nativity, Chelsea, MA. since l985.   He was elevated to the rank and dignity of Archpriest in March 2000 by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church of America.  Fr. Bacon is a graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.    He received the degree of Master of Theology in l992, and is a member of the Orthodox Theological Society of America.

For the past 25 years, Fr. John has been extensively involved with the Boy Scouts of America.  He has spent many years as both a camp advisor and chaplain at various Boy Scout camps in the New England area.  He was the first Orthodox priest to serve on the Chaplain staff of the National Order of the Arrow Conference.   Father Bacon is a Certified Camp Visitation Specialist for New England and Northeast Region Boy Scout camps.  He has served as Special Director of the Chaplain’s Section in New England. His many Scouting awards and recognitions include; the Scouter’s Training Award, the Roundtable Staff Training Award, the Arrowhead Honor, the Commissioner’s Key, the District Committee Key, Wood Badge Training Award, James E. West Fellow, Order of the Arrow Founder’s Award, the 25 year Veteran Award, District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver and the St. George Adult Religious Award.  He is the OCA representative and New England Outreach Coordinator for the EOCS.

Father John regularly travels over four hours each way to assist in the EOCS Camporees and Retreats.

He has been married for 32 years to Elizabeth, and is the proud father of Daniel and Juliana.